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North Hempstead extends outdoor uses through 2021

Rose Weldon
The Town of North Hempstead has approved the extension of permits for outdoor dining through Dec 31. (Photo courtesy of the Port Washington BID)

Businesses can carry on with outdoor seating measures and sidewalk sales through the end of 2021, the Town of North Hempstead has announced.

The Town Board and Supervisor Judi Bosworth unanimously approved two local law amendments designed to further assist small businesses impacted by COVID-19 at a meeting on April 22.

The legislation, initially enacted last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and extended last December, 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,” Bosworth said. “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 state and county fire rules  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 group, 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.

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