Woburn City Council Approves Rooftop Dining Rules

WOBURN, MA -- Woburn is poised to join Boston as the only two Massachusetts communities that allow rooftop dining. Last week city council approved zoning changes that would allow downtown restaurants that receive a special permit to build and serve guests on rooftop seating. Council unanimously approved the changes after getting assurances from the planning and building departments that safeguards had been built into the new rules.

The rules were proposed by Mayor Scott Galvin after Hugo Moraes approached city officials about the possibility of rooftop dining, according to the Daily Times Chronicle, which first reported this story. Moraes owns Tudo Na Brasa at 414 Main Street and recently built a three-story building at 434 Main Street that includes first-floor commercial space.

Moraes plans to open a sports bar in the new building, which is also expected to be the first restaurant to apply for a rooftop dining permit. Under the new rules, restaurants would have to meet a number of requirements, including installing safety railings and setbacks from Main Street and other roadways.

For more on this story, see the Daily Times Chronicle. Subscribe to Woburn Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

Photo by Tudo Na Brasa.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).