In the early days of Covid, the state passed rules that eased the path to greatly expanded outdoor dining at restaurants across the state. Those rules will expire this coming March 31.
The increased outdoor dining was both a great quality of life improvement for the city and a much needed and appreciated boost for local Newton restaurants.
The Chamber of Commerce has started a petition to urge the City of Newton to put new regulations in place before these state rules expire in March so that we don’t lose the wonderful outdoor dining options that we now have.
If you’d like to see Newton outdoor dining continue, please consider signing the petition here.
Even outside of the context of COVID, outdoor dining is an asset to the community!!!
I’m disappointed that Village 14 provided a link to sign this petition, before any real discussion of the initiative’s merits.
Clearly outdoor dining has proven popular with customers. I’m sure most of the restaurant owners appreciate the free space. But outdoor dining has been the major contributor to Newton’s out-of-control rat problem.
The City of Newton must require a higher level or rodent mitigation measures from restaurants that take advantage of outdoor dining on public property. These measures should be established by the City, and monitored by the Health Department as part of their routine inspections. Failure to employ the required measures [including dumpsters remaining fully closed and covered at all times], should result in a suspension of a restaurants outdoor dining privileges.
These restaurant owners are asking to use public property for free. They need to demonstrate more appreciation and respect by cleaning up after themselves and their customers.
The Public Safety & Transportation committee will be discussing making outdoor dining permanent on December 7 at 7 pm.
Look for details in the Council’s Friday Packet the weekend before: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/city-clerk/city-council/friday-packet
Traversing thru Newton Highlands and Newton Center yesterday (Sunday), it appears most if not all restaurants have packed up their outdoor dining for the season. So now what happens?
Are the concrete barriers and decking going to removed? Unnecessary loss of parking, and poor aesthetics to difficult snow removal, etc…
Matt, that hasn’t been my observation in Newton Centre. Baramor, Thistle & Leek, House of Tandoor, FarmsteadTable, Dings Kitchen and more are fully set up and have heaters