The Edgartown historic district commission continued a hearing this week on a canvas sail and rain cover structure over the patio at Behind the Bookstore Cafe that has drawn both complaints and praise.

The commission previously granted approval for the cafe to put up three canvas sails to cover the patio area, but the owners put up five sails instead of three. The commission also later granted approval for a retractable rain cover, with the stipulation that it not be visible from the street. The rain cover is in fact visible, a bone of contention with the historic commission.

The commission and the building inspector have notified cafe owners Joyce and Jeffrey Sudikoff that they are in violation of town regulations, and subject to fines of $50 per day.

At the hearing Tuesday afternoon, several people spoke in favor of granting approval, and a number of letters were submitted, mostly in support of the cafe.

“We have an establishment that is well cherished,” said Frank Delli Carpini. “I don’t see anything that looks offensive. If we can come to an amicable solution, we should work with them.”

Others objected to the fact that the Sudikoffs were seeking approval after the structure was already built.

“For those of us who abide by the rules, when they aren’t followed by others, it creates a kind of penalty for the folks who are trying to do it by the rules,” said Christopher Celeste, who owns the nearby Rosewater Cafe.

Attorney Sean Murphy, represented the Sudikoffs, applied for approval of the overhead structure as it is now.

The commission agreed to allow the five sails, with the condition that up-lighting be removed. But members balked at approving the rain cover, asking Mr. Murphy to return with a modified plan that addresses several issues, including a 22-foot-high support post that is visible from Main street when the rain cover is deployed.

No date has been set yet for the continued hearing.