Needham Restaurants Get Leeway On Outdoor Service

NEEDHAM, MA — Needham restaurants are getting support from the Select Board to expand their outdoor service. The board voted on Friday to give the Town Manager’s Office broad authority to allow existing businesses to use more outdoor spaces.

The expansion allows more restaurants to offer seated service in light of the coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed the restaurant experience to take-out and not outdoor dining options.

Needham lauched the take-out initiative early in the pandemic, 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.

“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.

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.