Renderings of Upcoming Dining Pier at Copper Canyon (Gaithersburg)

In April we let you know that Copper Canyon Grill is requesting approval for a 1,012 square foot covered dining pier to be located on the RIO Lake. The restaurant submitted its final site plan back in July and the planning commission approved it unanimously at a September meeting. Earlier this week, Copper Canyon released new renderings of what to expect, including the finished product of other ongoing exterior renovations (photos below).

According to the submitted plans, access to the outdoor dining area/pier will be via two gangways attached to the existing boardwalk. The new structure projects 10′-2″ from the boardwalk and will be 12 feet tall from the finished floor. The plan is for the dining pier, referred to as an annex barge by Copper Canyon Grill, to be ready “just in time for the warmer months.”

Gaithersburg Planning Staff supports the proposal for a dining pier in the Rio Washingtonian Lake, finding it in compliance with the approved sketch plan and Schematic Development Plan SDP- 9462-2023. “The dining pier will provide additional outdoor seating for Copper Canyon and will enhance the use of lake. There remains adequate parking for the proposed commercial addition and all applicable development standards have been met.”

Per the application: The pier section above the waterline and below the floor level will be cladded with cedar wood planks. Both the structural columns and roof will be made of wood. Wood vertical slats will be installed above the roof beam and below the roof on the west and east elevations. The roof will contain architectural asphalt shingles with prefinished metal fascia to match the existing restaurant building. A 3′-4″ steel railing system will be present on all four sides. The proposed pier will not contain any screen or permanent walls.