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Selectboard asks commission to revise sidewalk rules to allow outdoor dining with ADA compliance
Summary
Town staff said the Selectboard requested amendments to the 2016 sidewalk ordinance to permit outdoor dining in specified areas if businesses comply with ADA requirements; Commissioner Ward raised liability concerns about ramps and pedestrian safety.
Town staff told the Planning Commission on June 29 that the Selectboard has requested the commission review the outdoor dining portion of the sidewalk ordinance and consider proposed language allowing restaurants in specific parts of town to use sidewalks for outdoor seating provided they meet ADA requirements. Staff presented suggested language from a Selectboard member intended to clarify the existing ordinance and update language reflecting changes since the ordinance's 2016 adoption.
Commissioner Leon Ward raised a liability concern, saying the town could be liable if someone were injured on a ramp that takes pedestrians on and off the sidewalk. No ordinance language was adopted at the meeting; the item remains under review and staff provided the commission with the suggested edits to consider.
