BROOKLINE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Restaurants in Brookline will be allowed to serve customers outdoors until December, according to the Town Select Board.
The town's extended temporary outdoor seating program was initially set to come to an end on November 1st, but the Select Board voted this week to extend Brookline's outdoor dining until December 7th "in order to support restaurants that were adversely impacted by the stay-at-home orders necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic."
Restaurants that choose to maintain their patio seating through December will have the opportunity to obtain permits for temporary, portable liquid propane heaters in order to maintain a comfortable environment into the colder weeks later this fall.
"Our restaurant community has been hit hard by the impacts of the pandemic, and we're eager to support them however we can as they seek to continue safely serving residents and visitors," Economic Development Director Kara Brewton said. "I'm grateful for the collaborative effort by the Select Board, town staff, the Fire Department and our business partners that helped make this possible."
Under the pilot program, restaurants may utilize propane heaters as long as they meet a variety of safety requirements outlined by the town and Brookline Fire Department. Several departments contributed to the effort to extend outdoor dining into late fall, including the Department of Public Works, Building Department, Fire Department, Department of Public Health, Town Counsel and the Licensing Office.
Restaurants that already have permanent or temporary patio seating will be required to obtain permits to extend their operations into December.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App
(Photo: Getty Images)