Restaurants & Bars
Needham Select Board Gives Restaurants More Opportunities To Serve Patrons Outdoors
The Select Board approved changes earlier this week to allow certain restaurants to safely transform their parking lots into seating areas.
June 12, 2020
NEEDHAM – Friday, June 12, 2020 – To support local Needham restaurants seeking to re-open to diners during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Select Board has voted to give the Town Manager’s Office broad authority to allow existing businesses to use more outdoor spaces in Town to provide service to restaurant-goers.
Find out what's happening in Needhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
This step comes on the heels of the successful take-out initiative, which created picnic spaces around Town for residents to consume their food and beverage takeout al fresco.
The Select Board’s action gives the Town Manager’s Office the authority to grant the necessary local approvals that will allow existing businesses to utilize outdoor seating in parking lots, on-street parking spaces, sidewalks, landscaped yard areas or other appropriate locations to provide more space to serve patrons.
Find out what's happening in Needhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“For our restaurants to emerge from this pandemic successfully and be a part of our community long into the future, we need to think creatively about how the Town can support them,” said Moe Handel, chair of the Select Board. “We’re committed to removing the obstacles and barriers that may prevent local restaurants from recovering and doing so as quickly as possible.”
Applications for modifications to existing permits and licenses to allow for outdoor seating include, but are not limited to right of way occupations, alcohol licenses, common victualers licensing, entertainment licenses, and zoning permits, will be reviewed by Town staff and may be approved by the Town Manager.
The Town is currently working with restaurants and businesses owners to reimagine areas including the Chapel Street and Lincoln Street Parking Lots, areas along Great Plain Ave. and other locations. The Select Board approved changes earlier this week to allow certain restaurants to safely transform their parking lots into seating areas.
Periodic reports from the Town Manager to the Select Board will be given on these applications, and a detailed record of all approved modifications will be maintained on the Town website: www.needhamma.gov.
This press release was produced by the Town of Needham. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
