Restaurant owners interested in converting city parking spaces into additional outdoor seating will be able to apply to the city for a permit to do so.
The Columbia City Council voted unanimously Monday night to make city parking spaces available to restaurants through the end of the year, in response to seating restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The permits would be valid for up to 90 days. Restaurants would be responsible for keeping patrons safe from street traffic by erecting barriers and would be prohibited from interfering with street or sidewalk right of way.
City staff had originally proposed the permits be restricted to 20 days. First Ward Councilmember Pat Fowler, however, moved to extend that time to 90 days, saying few would go to the trouble of setting up dining in parking spaces if they could have it for only 20 days.