Andover Officials Plan To Provide Public Space For Outdoor Dining

ANDOVER, MA — Andover officials are preparing to offer public space including parking spaces and sidewalks to downtown restaurants when they are allowed to reopen for on-premise dining, they told the Select Board, Monday.

Town Manager Andrew Flanagan will organize a 120 day "community event" where town-owned spaces are available for outdoor seating, Town Clerk Austin Simko said.

Town staff in contact with the town's restaurants hope to respond to challenges already facing restaurants including dwindling delivery/takeout customers and uncertainty regarding when they can reopen. And reopening will not be a panacea.

"Distancing requirements will drastically cut the number of indoor tables," Simko said.

The town will create an application and review process that covers public safety, traffic, parking, zoning, infrastructure and liability concerns, Simko said. The businesses would be able to obtain one-day alcohol licenses.

About eight restaurants are interested in the program, Simko said.

The Board voted to direct Flanagan to recommend specific actions in the future. Additional information from the governor — including a reopening timeline — will be needed before plans can be finalized.

The full meeting video is available here from AndoverTV.

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Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.