The prospect of an outdoor cafe at the Country Club of Coral Gables, a few yards away from the historic homes along North Greenway Drive, brought out critics and champions alike Tuesday to listen to the new management team's pitch.

``We want the club to succeed, but not at the expense of the neighborhood,'' said Aldo C. Busot, who lives along North Greenway Drive. ``This is why we have zoning laws.''

Countered resident Julia Carr, who lives on Country Club Prado: ``This is totally what the community needs. Right now there really is no place to just stop and enjoy.''

More than 100 people came to the club Tuesday evening to hear from Nick Di Donato, president of Liberty Entertainment, the club's new manager. Liberty wants to add an outdoor café and restaurant with seating outside, on the side of the club that fronts North Greenway.

Some residents have been vocal opponents to the plan, saying a cafe and restaurant with outdoor seating should not operate within a residential neighborhood.

Liberty's proposal originally called for 40 outdoor seats in the cafe and 68 seats in the restaurant. The company reduced the outdoor seats to 32 in the cafe and 48 for the restaurant after some residents complained. The company also agreed to an 18-month trial period.

``We want this building to become your building,'' Di Donato said. ``We do not want to be closed off.''

As Di Donato showed off the Italian-style menu, described the company's previous projects and explained plans for the club, residents sipped cappuccinos and sampled paninis and gelato. He pointed out where the wood-burning pizza stove would be and where the bulk of the restaurants' tables would sit. Outside, pink tape marked where the tables and chairs would be, which would be behind a row of shrubs and landscaping near the sidewalk.

``We want the cafe to be the epicenter of the community,'' he said.

Tuesday's meeting, which came at the request of the city commission, was a last-ditch effort by the management company to get residents on board.

The commission hired Toronto-based Liberty in June to renovate and reopen the Country Club of Coral Gables. The city signed a 30-year lease with Liberty, which eventually will pay the city $20,000 a month when it opens the renovated banquet hall next fall.

The club had been closed since April 2008 after the previous owner failed to pay rent payments.

Lawsuits with the city are pending.

``We need to have the support of the community,'' Di Donato said after the meeting.

Commissioners, at the last meeting, were deadlocked over whether to allow the outdoor seating. They voted 2-2, with Commissioner Ralph Cabrera recusing himself from the vote.

Cabrera, who spoke with Di Donato between the first and second reading of the proposed measure, cited Florida's Jennings Rule as a reason for his recusal.

Under the rule, elected officials cannot discuss a topic in between first and second hearings with applicants.

Mayor Don Slesnick -- who lives on North Greenway Drive -- and Vice Mayor Bill Kerdyk voted against the seating, while commissioners Maria Anderson and Wayne ``Chip'' Withers voted in favor of the seating.

Slesnick, who did not attend the meeting, said he could have been convinced to change his vote if the neighbors were on board.

``It still seems like there are a lot of concerns,'' he said Thursday in a phone interview.

The council will take up the issue again at its Nov. 17 meeting.

Meanwhile, residents who live on North and South Greenway drives say they will continue to put pressure on the commission.

Vince Damian, who lives on North Greenway Drive and is a frequent critic of the administration, presented a petition of about 40 signatures to Di Donato. He said the street is where people jog and push strollers.

``There are other places to put the seating,'' he said, suggesting on the pool deck.

George Corrigan, a former mayor who lives on North Greenway, said he was ``completely against the outdoor seating.''

``Who needs a big crowd on a residential street?'' he said.

But those who are in support said they are organizing, and began a petition of their own.

``They want to live in a bubble,'' said Gloria Sanchez, who often jogs around the golf course. ``This club is for everyone.''

Nadine Rastelli added: ``We are all Coral Gables residents.''

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