LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Restaurants had to get creative during the pandemic by turning parking lots and patios into outdoor dining spaces.
Now, a Metro Council ordinance would make some of those changes more permanent.
The proposed changes would add a new definition of outdoor dining in the city, and would allow for temporary seasonal outdoor dining.
It would also ease the restrictions on permanent outdoor dining areas.
Councilwoman Madonna Flood (D, 24) said that is one positive that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"There's a new way of doing business that people might not have thought of, or didn't want to do at that time, but now it's become such a catch on," she said.
The Planning and Zoning Committee passed the ordinance Tuesday and sent it to the Business Oversight Committee.
Councilman Robin Engel (R, 22) is on the Planning and Zoning Committee, and said he doesn't believe the restaurant industry is beyond the pandemic's major losses.
"I'm just out here to support the industry if possible," he said.
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