Photo / Maureen Milliken
The southern side of Boothby Square, between Pearl and Silver streets, will be closed to traffic between April and November, pending Maine Department of Transportation approval.
March 3, 2021
Portland announces street-closure adjustments for 2021 as outdoor dining season approaches
Photo / Peter Van Allen
Changes to this year's Portland street closing program include beautifying the barriers, including using pebbled cement planters with flowers, and leaving Exchange Street, seen here, open.
By Staff
Portland this year has tweaked its process for closing streets in hope of encouraging outdoor business, using lessons learned last spring, when the program was quickly put together as the pandemic took hold.
Changes for 2021 include minor adjustments to which downtown streets will be closed, with Exchange Street staying open but part of Boothby Square closed, as well as improvements to the street barriers' appearance. Businesses across the city can apply to conduct business outdoors, which will be allowed as of April 5. The application deadline is May 10.
The program will be in effect until April 2022, and public spaces that qualify are closed streets, parklets, the public right-of-way and parks throughout the city. Businesses may also apply to extend their use of private space into the winter.
“We look forward to working with small business owners and residents to help the city thrive safely in the coming year,” said City Manager Jon Jennings. “We welcome any suggestions or proposals to further improve business’ ability to operate successfully and in compliance with State regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Last year, the program was put together quickly once it became clear the pandemic, and mandated business restrictions, would continue through the summer. In October, the city expanded the program through the winter.
Street closures begin April 5
Street closures to allow restaurants and retail businesses to spread out will begin April 5 and be in effect until Nov. 1.
One change from last year is that the southeast side of Boothby Square between Pearl and Silver streets will be closed, something that businesses had requested. Exchange Street, which was closed last year, will stay open.
The state has authority over the street, so the closure will be confirmed pending Maine Department of Transportation approval, city officials said.
Streets that will be closed to vehicle traffic are: Wharf, Dana, Milk between Exchange and Market, and Fore Street on the southeast side of Boothby Square, between Pearl and Silver. Commercial vehicles may access the streets before 11 a.m. daily to make deliveries.
Traffic on Middle Street will be adjusted to one-way only to allow businesses to operate in the public right-of-way, similar to last year.
Streets temporarily closed to traffic will have one soft closure, through which delivery vehicles can travel at designated hours, and one hard closure, delineated by large concrete barricades or planters.
Exchange Street outdoors operations
Businesses on Exchange Street that would like to operate outdoors have a couple of options:
- Those abutting a public park or plaza may submit a plan to operate in that space;
- Apply to operate in up to two contiguous parklets.
Because of the number of businesses on Exchange Street, the narrowness of the street, and the simultaneous use of the street for parking and vehicle traffic, a limited number of parklet spaces will be made available. Applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis, and requests for two contiguous parklet spaces will be granted only after neighboring businesses’ needs are taken into account.
The parklet option, barricade beautification
Businesses not on a closed street may apply for up to two contiguous parklets. All parklet regulations must be met, but if a business can't meet the requirements, city staff will consider safe alternatives.
Parklets on streets with speed limits in excess of 25 mph or on streets with significant vehicle traffic will be required to include one concrete barricade, provided and placed by the city, on all three sides not abutting the curb.
Parklets on streets with speed limits under 25 mph and relatively low levels of vehicle traffic are required to include 3-foot wheel stops on either end of the parklet. City staff will consider requests to place concrete barricades on the short ends of parklets in lieu of wheel stops.
The city has planned several changes to the style and configuration of barricades to make them more appealing, including large concrete planters with a pebbled texture at the ends of closed streets.
Parks Department staff will plant and maintain flowers beginning in May, depending on the weather. In the event of a shortage of planters, concrete barricades topped with wooden planters will be used. Both planters and barricades will be spaced to allow pedestrian and bicycle access, as well as sight lines up and down streets.
The city said it will also welcome private initiatives to beautify and enhance public space further.
Permitting process for business owners
All plans to put furniture or other items on the street must be reviewed and approved by the city's Department of Permitting and Inspections.
Businesses can apply up until May 10 for a permit to put furniture or other items on the street. Permits to operate outdoors that have already been granted will remain in effect until May 10, and business owners must renew by then if they want to continue to operate outdoors.
Business owners who want to continue to operate outdoors after Nov. 1 must apply for a seasonal renewal, which is free. The renewal ensures that structures can accommodate city snow removal and also allows the city to gather information on the number of businesses that plan to operate outdoors during the winter. The deadline is Oct. 15.
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Anonymous
March 3, 2021
Maine will likely achieve herd immunity before summer, based on current and projected vaccination rates. State and local governments need to lift mandates, travel restrictions and occupancy restrictions before peak tourism season. Restaurants and other businesses need to continue to follow CDC guidelines for proper sanitation in order to safely reopen.
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