Arlington County to Explore Permanent Outdoor Dining Options

After expediting the permitting process for outdoor dining during the pandemic, Arlington County wants to "explore ways to make it easier for restaurants to establish or expand outdoor dining after the pandemic ends," reports Joe DeVoe. According to a county report, "staff will be looking to see if some aspects of the program could be worked into the regular outdoor seating approval process."

The report adds, "staff will be working to commence a strategic exploration of whether certain flexibilities provided as part of the TOSA program initiated in response to the COVID-19 emergency should be incorporated into established regulatory provisions for outdoor dining." The process "will have a robust engagement element and would also include public hearings prior to the County Board’s consideration of any recommended policy or regulatory changes that might result from the study."

"When the county passed a continuity of governance emergency ordinance last spring to keep government and business operations afloat, it said any flexibility allowed by the ordinance, such as TOSAs, would expire six months after the declared end of the emergency. But in reality, the document’s section on TOSAs said they expire with the declared end of the emergency." Now, Kate Bates, President and CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, urges the county "to get cracking on the study of permanent options" so restaurant owners can confidently invest in outdoor dining infrastructure for the future.