Technical Review Committee
Committee discussed establishing safety and dimensional criteria for downtown outdoor dining (including use of parking spaces), noted state legislation on sidewalk alcohol service is pending in the Senate after House approval, and reviewed potential seasonal fees and inventory needs (jersey barriers) for summer dining setups.
The Technical Review Committee spent the meeting discussing outdoor dining policies for downtown Amesbury. Members debated safety concerns about placing dining in on-street parking spaces, the need for a standard set of dimensional and safety criteria (sidewalk widths, travel lanes, lighting/cord protection, heater regulations), and whether approvals should require notice or a non-binding signature from abutting businesses. Concerns were raised about removing parking in front of other businesses and the presence of large vehicles downtown; staff noted a recent downtown parking study that found adequate supply and recommended improved signage and a task force to implement study recommendations.
The group reviewed regulatory and operational details: state COVID-era authorization for serving alcohol across sidewalks is set to expire April 1, 2024, but pending legislation in the Senate could make it permanent; private or “sidewalk” liquor service would be managed through the Liquor License Commission with Inspectional Services sign-off. Members also discussed food-truck approvals (inspection and fire permitting), requirements for safe outdoor lighting and heater installations, and a possible seasonal fee structure (June–September) that would require City Council action. The mayor requested an inventory of available jersey barriers for the next meeting. No substantive permit or ordinance votes were recorded at this meeting; the only recorded motions were approval of prior minutes and adjournment.