Task Force Recommends Expanding Outdoor Dining In Arlington

ARLINGTON, MA – The group responsible for developing a reopening plan for Arlington businesses is recommending that restaurants be allowed to expand outdoor seating options. In a letter to the Select Board June 1, the Economic Development Task Force suggested temporary outdoor dining regulations that would allow restaurants to set up outdoor seating on sidewalks, parking lots, street parking spaces or landscaped yard areas around their businesses.

Eateries would have to seek a Temporary Outdoor Dining License, which would be compatible with regular outdoor dining and seating licenses and must be reapplied for annually. Licenses may be ended once the Select Board determines temporary outdoor seating is no longer necessary, according to the proposal.

The task force also recommended extending the suspension of parking fee collection through each phase of reopening, creating 15-minute parking zones in certain building districts to facilitate curbside pick-up and delivery and allowing property owners impacted by the pandemic to request a waiver for the annual fee required by the Registration of Vacant Commercial and Industrial Property bylaw.

Outdoor dining will be allowed under Phase 2 of reopening, which could start as early as Monday. Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to announce the official start date this weekend.