The City of Burnaby says it is supporting local businesses by offering them a chance to apply for room to adapt to physical distancing measures, safely, by temporarily expanding their operations in public space within their current capacity limit.
“Under the current physical distancing guidelines, space is at a premium for businesses,” said a city news release.
The new Active Sidewalks, Open Businesses program will permit local businesses to temporarily (until Oct. 31, 2020) add outdoor seating or otherwise expand into outdoor spaces.
“This space can provide more room for patrons to maintain physical distancing, while reducing permanent business losses in the community. Expansion of business operations currently applies to city-owned sidewalks (public space). Expansion to other open space within private property is currently under consideration by the city.”
Businesses may apply to use this space for:
- restaurant seating;
- merchant displays (e.g. racks, outdoor tables, etc.);
- a pick-up/drop-off kiosk or customer queuing; or
- other uses (applications reviewed on a case-by-case basis).
To take advantage of the Active Sidewalks, Open Businesses program, business operators will need to submit an application. The city has created an expedited system to process applications as quickly as possible.A detailed guide to submitting an application can be found online at burnaby.ca/ActiveSidewalks.
