AIANY Comments on DOT Proposed Rules on Dining Out NYC
AIANY letter to the New York City Department of Transportation on the proposed rules for the Dining Out NYC program. AIANY made the following recommendations:
- Provide clarity on design requirements for slopes, accessibility, alternative materials to fill barriers other than water, easily removable umbrellas and coverings, and screening on roadway side of structures.
- Host design competition to give design professionals an opportunity to demonstrate the possibilities for the design of dining structures with the permanent program rules for restaurants owners to use as a reference and guide.
- Clarify and restructure the timeline for applications, compliance, and removal. Decouple the application timeline for the compliance date. Restaurants should have the flexibility to apply for outdoor dining setups prior to the November 1, 2024 removal deadline. This would allow approved and compliant setups to be built before the deadline, without risk of demolition and waste. This would create an incentive for restaurants to submit their applications to the permanent program early and would reduce waste while also giving DOT a head start in evaluating applications prior to the start of the 2025 seasonal program.
- Provide clear guidance for denied applications on the reason the application was not approved to allow restaurant owners to remedy their application to appropriately comply with the program rules.
- Add section on the waste removal plan and rules for the temporary program structures with the Department of Sanitation.