The City of Owensboro announced that restaurants across the city will be allowed to expand sidewalk seating to accommodate more customers once in-person dining services can resume on May 22. The City will also waive permit fees through September.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, City restaurants were only able to place outdoor seating directly in front of their business. City Manager Nate Pagan said they can now extend outdoor seating in front of other businesses, as long as consent is given.
Restaurants can expand their outdoor seating as far as they’d like, Pagan added.
“It applies anywhere but, realistically, this is more applicable for downtown businesses,” Pagan said.
Pagan said many restaurants outside of the downtown area have parking lots and private infrastructure, so they don’t need a permit.
However, restaurants that may use their parking lots to place tents or covered seating for guests may have to talk to the City’s planning commission beforehand, Pagan said.
Initially, the City discussed shutting down sections of downtown streets to give restaurants more room for outdoor seating, but that idea was scratched after business owners said they’d rather keep the streets open.
“We talked to a lot of downtown restaurants, and they preferred the streets remain open for parking,” Pagan said.
Permit fees for outdoor seating are usually obtained at a minor, nominal cost, Pagan said, but those fees will be waived through September.
These changes will take effect May 22, when restaurants can reopen in a limited capacity in accordance with Gov. Andy Beshear’s guidelines for reopening the economy.
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