Subject:
Title
Extension and Re-adoption of emergency ordinance to waive zoning regulations to permit temporary outdoor activity through March 31, 2021
Body
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
On June 1, Town Council approved an emergency ordinance to permit temporary waivers for commercial activity outdoors-specifically to assist businesses that were adversely affected by the ongoing pandemic. The emergency ordinance was valid for 60 days and was readopted June 15 to allow businesses to conduct outdoor commercial operations with a temporary permit until September 30, 2020.
Since May 29, Northern Virginia businesses have continued to make changes to business operations to respond to the health crisis. Currently, in Phase Three of the Forward Virginia Plan, businesses - especially restaurants - are permitted to provide service in outdoor and indoor spaces and must adhere to physical distancing guidelines, enhanced cleaning and disinfection practices, and enhanced workplace safety practices.
To assist business owners who have been negatively impacted by the various restrictions related to the novel coronavirus, staff is requesting that Town Council approve extension of the emergency ordinance to permit outdoor business operations to March 31, 2021, to be consistent with the continuity of government ordinance timeframe.
The current emergency ordinance gives the Town Manager authority to issue a temporary emergency outdoor commercial activity permit to businesses and is valid only until September 30.
Applications for the temporary permit are submitted online to the Department of Planning and Zoning. Under normal circumstances, business owners would be required to pursue a formal process, which would delay their ability to reopen and impede support for revitalization of the local economy in Vienna.
Strategic Plan Initiative: This action aligns with two of the Town's strategic goals:
1) Vienna is an economically prosperous community.
2) Vienna is an influential and w...
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