To many, local businesses represent the backbone of American society. There’s nothing quite like visiting your favorite in-town cafe, restaurant, or specialty shop.
However, small businesses need and should have the support of their local municipality. In Burlington, our town board and Economic Development Office are pushing through policies that not only support our local businesses but also allow additional (and dare we say, creative) expansion opportunities.
Expanded Outdoor Seating Options
During the covid-19 pandemic, many restaurants had to move their services outside to ensure continued business operations while adhering to strict social distancing and other health precautions.
The town acted quickly to approve zoning and permitting that allowed businesses to easily install outdoor seating options. This was especially important for restaurants that may not have had traditional outdoor seating prior to the pandemic.
This proved to be an enjoyable experience for many. The expanded outdoor seating allowed restaurant-goers to escape quarantine and get outside to enjoy a delicious meal in a safe setting. However, the permitting that granted businesses the opportunity to construct these outdoor seating areas was set to expire in April 2022.
But, fortunately, the Town of Burlington has approved continued zoning and permitting to continue allowing the installation of seasonal outdoor seating.
The Town of Burlington approved new zoning and permitting for businesses and property owners so they can easily install seasonal outdoor seating options or maintain the outdoor seating they currently offer customers.
The proposal (Article 2) was adopted because existing outdoor seating permits are set to expire in April 2022. Those provisional permits were approved under the town’s state of emergency declaration amid the pandemic.
However, because the benefits of outdoor seating have proven to be extremely effective in addressing health concerns and promoting business activity, Burlington has now established a transparent and affordable process for business and property owners to keep or introduce seasonal bistro-style seating onsite, along sidewalks, or within protective barriers.
This allows restaurants and cafes in Burlington to effectively expand their customer capacity and more creatively use their commercial properties in a safe and meaningful way.
And hey, who doesn’t love dining outside!?
New Zoning For Experiential Retail Use
Today’s retailers need to stay creative with marketing and in-store experiences, especially smaller businesses competing with online retailers, such as Amazon.
Luckily, Burlington has pushed forward zoning use by-laws that allow retailers to create creative experiences within their locations.
Burlington’s zoning use now includes experiential retail (“Retail, Experiential & Commercial Interactive Venue”) which offers local customers unique experiences beyond browsing or buying products. Experiential retail stores use advanced technology, virtual reality, audio/visual media, exclusive in-store services or events to create memorable in-store experiences.
Complementing experiential retail, Burlington’s zoning use also allows business owners to transform physical retail stores into places for music, dance, art or trade-specific instruction (“Educational Use, For-Profit”).
These zoning by-laws allow current property owners to reinvent their spaces for creative retail experiences and attract new, creative tenants (and customers) to physical properties.
As Melisa Tintocalis, the Economic Development Director for the Town of Burlington, explains, “Consumers can go online and buy just about anything so it is critically important that Burlington provides shoppers with a solid value proposition as to why they should make the effort to come into local stores. The new zoning by-laws will create unique options for customers who are eager to explore and engage – whether its interactive dressing rooms or pottery classes.”