Temporary Outdoor Dining Permit Applications Accepted By Town

RIVERHEAD, NY — One day after Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said he'd like to "accelerate" outdoor dining across the region, the town of Riverhead began accepting applications for temporary permits.

Recognizing the contributions that restaurants provide to the health of the local economy, Riverhead Supervisor Yvette Aguiar and the town board launched an initiative to allow patrons to dine outdoors through the issuance of temporary outdoor dining permits, as soon as the area meets the metrics and phase for outdoor dining.

Aguiar said town officials anticipate restaurant reopening to be moved to Phase Two of the state's plan to reopen the economy, and have asked all restaurants to follow reopening protocols.

The New York State Liquor Authority has agreed to fast track liquor licenses and the Department of Health has authorized temporary outdoor seating, not to exceed overall maximum seating capacity, a release from Aguiar's office said.

The permit is available to establishments holding a valid use permit and will expire on December 31, Aguiar said. The temporary outdoor dining permit is intended to allow restaurants to safely increase operations while maintaining appropriate social distancing protocols as mandated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Health. A fire inspection will be made prior to granting the permit, town official said.

Outdoor dining idea "under review" Cuomo says

When asked about outdoor dining on Friday, Cuomo said the state was "still looking at outdoor dining guidelines. We haven't decided yet but there is a possibility we could separate outdoor dining." The idea is under review, he added.

According to the release from Aguiar's office, Councilwomen Catherine Kent and Jodi Giglio have been asked to spearhead the effort.

"Restaurants and small businesses have been hard hit the last three months," Kent said. "As we move toward careful reopening, it's important that we do our best to help them in their recovery. Outside dining will help with social distancing guidelines as well as give patrons a chance to take in the beauty of our area."

"When restaurants are permitted to open, their indoor capacity will be reduced to 50 percent of their seating. By permitting them to make up that 50 percent with outdoor seating, we're giving them a chance to survive," Giglio said.

The Town of Riverhead is waiving permit fees and expediting applications, she added.

"I am happy to have the support of our supervisor to lead the charge on the reopening of business in Riverhead," Giglio said.

Applications for temporary outdoor dining permits can be accessed on the town's website, as well as the Riverhead Business Improvement District's website and the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce's website.

In addition, applications may be submitted to the Riverhead building department’s drop box, located at 201 Howell Ave. in Riverhead. All applications will be fast tracked.

Prior to the issuance of a temporary outdoor dining permit, all applicants must
complete and submit an online business affirmation to New York State. A COVID-19 reopening safety plan must be completed and retained on premises. The forms
must be made available upon request by the Department of Health and/or local health
or safety authorities in the event of an additional inspection. Both documents can be found here.

Bellone hopes to "accelerate" outdoor dining countywide

With Long Island entering Phase 1 of the reopening plan for the economy this week, plans are in place to "accelerate" outdoor dining across Suffolk County, Bellone said Thursday — cutting through red tape to ensure restaurants can reopen for outside dining in areas where it may not have existed before.

Bellone announced Thursday that he would be issuing an order that would allow the Suffolk County Health Department, in cases where restaurants are expanding their seating into outdoor areas that were not currently permitted, to grant automatic approval on the local level.

The goal, Bellone said, is that nothing will hinder those restaurants, as soon as they get the state go-ahead to move forward with outdoor dining, to move forward and expand outdoor opportunities for their businesses.

"They have been devastated already and they are looking to expand their business activities and get things going," Bellone said.

Bellone said he has been having daily talks with local leaders in towns and villages, as well as representatives from the business community, about "creative ways" that are being explored to help expand outdoor dining activities into back areas, onto sidewalks, and into tents, for example.

"This is an emergency measure to make it clear to businesses that there will be no impediment to moving forward with expanded outdoor dining activity," Bellone said.

Although restaurants were poised to reopen for seating in Phase 3, Bellone said Gov. Andrew Cuomo has stated that the two-week waiting periods between phases of reopening can possibly be shortened depending on metrics, data, and other factors.

At his press briefing, Bellone thanked Cuomo for his leadership and decisions based on "evidence and data"; he also lauded the healthcare workers, first responders and essential employees, as well as the public, for following the guidance and working together to flatten the curve.

New York State, he said, has a more expansive testing regime and contact tracing program than anywhere in the nation; based on those factors, Cuomo has said in some cases, it might be possible to shorten the two-week time frame between reopening segments of the economy, Bellone said.

Long Island, hit hard by coronavirus, has the advantage of looking to other regions that have reopened first and learning from their experiences, Bellone said. Wearing masks, he said, is key; also, being outdoors is a safe environment, he said.

Suffolk County, Bellone said, is looking at outdoor dining as a place for safe reopening, because it's outside and also, because industry officials have expressed a willingness to implement safety protocols.

Speaking with various associations that represent the restaurant industry, as well as businesses and entrepreneurs, Bellone said, "This is an activity we believe can be done safely."

The county has been discussing safety plans and protocols that restaurant industry leaders and entrepreneurs already have in place, Bellone said.

"Hopefully, this is one area we can see accelerated because the outdoor environment is the safest environment, particularly when putting in safety protocols," Bellone said.

Communities across Suffolk County have pitched ideas for re-inventing beloved events; the "Alive at 5" event in Patchogue may be rebranded as an outdoor dining event, Bellone said.