North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board unanimously approved two local law amendments designed to further assist small businesses impacted by COVID-19 at a recent meeting held on April 22.
The measures are in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the continued requirement to operate at reduced capacity. The legislation allows restaurants, public assembly uses, and certain personal service uses to continue operating outdoors until Dec. 31. Additionally, a code provision limiting the number of sidewalk sale permits that may be issued in a given 12 month period was temporarily suspended.
“With spring here and the summer on the horizon, we want to ensure that our local shops and restaurants can take advantage of the outdoors to keep their customers safe while increasing traffic to their storefronts,” said Bosworth. “It is our hope that these measures will encourage residents to continue supporting our local businesses which are the heart of our downtown communities.”
Businesses participating in this initiative using outdoor heaters and temporary tents must do so in compliance with the New York State Fire Code, the Nassau County Fire Ordinance, and the applicable permit provisions of the Town Code.
This effort is part of the Town’s “Lift Up Local” initiative, which was designed by Bosworth’s internal Business Recovery Response Workgroup. The group’s goal is to find ways to help businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The workgroup, which includes members of the Town Board, has helped establish dining in local parks, expanded outdoor dining programs, created a “parklet” dining program, and facilitated street closures to help attract customers.
