Photo courtesy of the town of West Hartford
West Hartford’s mayor says the town will bring back the popular outdoor dining permits that proved a savior for many restaurants and retail landlords in 2020.
“Our vibrant restaurant and retail community is one of West Hartford’s most important assets,” West Hartford Mayor Shari G. Cantor said in a statement. “I am committed to doing everything we can to help our small businesses continue to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for consumers.”
The permits were made possible by Gov. Ned Lamont’s emergency orders, which modified state and local laws to allow outdoor dining in streets and along more sidewalks for the duration of the pandemic. Lamont’s orders are currently set to expire April 20.
The orders allowed restaurants to serve customers in parking spaces outside their storefronts and in outdoor eating areas along Lassalle Road and Farmington Avenue in the town’s center.
Town Manager Matt Hart said he is hopeful that the legislature or the Lamont will extend the emergency rules before they expire. In the meantime, he said, it is important for West Hartford restaurants and retailers to have a clear understanding of how they can operate during the outdoor months of 2021.
“Our restaurants and retailers have been loud and clear – they need predictability in order to invest in equipment and properly plan for the upcoming outdoor season,” Hart said in a statement. “We have heard their concerns, and the proposed ordinance should give businesses confidence that West Hartford’s outdoor dining and retail program will continue in much the same manner for 2021.”
Cantor said she is interested in making some of the changes permanent, but may make tweaks to permit fees, infrastructure needs, and other elements. The proposal still needs Town Council approval.
“A silver lining of the pandemic is that it allowed us to experiment with new outdoor dining and entertainment options, and I have heard from so many residents about how much they enjoyed the new outdoor experience,” Cantor said. “The proposed ordinance gives local businesses the stability they need, while giving us time to evaluate and implement exciting long term changes for the future.”
