ASPEN, Colo. — Aspen restaurants and retail shops will get an opportunity to expand into the public right-of-way in the downtown core to boost their business.
Aspen City Council unanimously directed staff Monday afternoon to start accepting applications this week from businesses that want expanded outdoor space and start implementing a plan. It is part of the city’s road to recovery from the economic upheaval created by the COVID-19 crisis. Interior seating will be limited for an unknown time because of social-distancing requirements.
A recent survey by the city showed that 92.5% of respondents favored allowing private business use of the right-of-way.
Councilman Ward Hauenstein called that historic direction from the public.
“I don’t know that 93 percent of people in Aspen can agree on what day of the week it is,” he quipped.
The city staff proposal outlined chances for partial street closures or full closures. The full closure would still leave a 20-foot wide access down the center of the street for emergency access.
> For more on this, go to aspentimes.com
RELATED: Safer-at-home order extended to July 1, amended to encourage outdoors, allows pools to open
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Feature stories
