It will mostly be business as usual for restaurants with outside eating licenses, with additional safety standards such as maintaining tables six feet away from being implemented. Others will be permitted to put up affordable cafe chairs and tables on specific streets and sidewalks according to an internet application established by the city.
According to the town, the approval procedure is immediate. When the town blocks more roads to traffic next month as part of an ongoing campaign to complete 100 miles of road closures in the city to allow for social distance, more outdoor eating places might open.
Is it necessary for restaurant proprietors to present documents in order to register online?
Yes. The city also needs to know the establishment’s permit number, measurements of the outdoor sitting space, and State Liquor Authority information for businesses that sell alcohol, in addition to the name, address, and phone number. Overall, though, the necessary information appears to be quite simple for owners to get.
What should diners be aware of?
When seeking to acquire a table or waiting to be served, diners must wear some facial covering unless they are seated. New York state regulations urge guests to wear masks at tables while not actively eating or drinking, although anecdotal evidence suggests that few will do so.
When appropriate, restaurants may warn diners that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. The city’s “Test and Trace Corps” will try to identify everyone who has been revealed. Still, the effort isn’t working well, according to the New York Times, with tracers frequently “unable to find sick persons or obtain information from them.” While eating outside is a safer option than eating indoors, customers and businesses must still adhere to social distance standards and other safety protocols.
HOW TO MODIFY AN EXISTING PERMIT
Modifications to an existing permit will need a new permit application submission, as explained in the section on How to Submit a New Permit Application.
Modifications that have been proposed include:
1. Increasing or decreasing the allowed area.
2. Changing the authorized operating hours.
3. Changing the ownership of the company.
4. Changing the name of the company.
What parts of a restaurant are considered “outdoors?”
Front yards, side yards, back yards, courtyards, balconies, terraces, open-air rooftop spaces, private parking lots, and open airboats are examples of outdoor living areas. Restaurants do not require to obtain extra clearance from the transportation department for those spots. They must, however, apply for sitting on sidewalks (if they don’t already have a permit), curbside, and on roadways that are closed to traffic via the internet.
Restaurants have been requested to collaborate with their local business improvement districts (BID) to offer plazas seating options. Furthermore, according to the city, businesses can have many types of outdoor eating spaces available at the same time.
Are the restrooms clean and safe?
When the zoo is accessible to the public, the public bathrooms are shuttered and disinfected regularly. The region is cleansed using a disinfectant cleaner, and high touchpoints are disinfected using an electrostatic sprayer. Every evening, public restrooms are likewise adequately cleaned.