The Town of Carrboro announced on Friday, June 26 that it will temporarily give businesses more flexibility to use private lands and public spaces during the coronavirus pandemic.

Under an emergency proclamation signed by Mayor Lydia Lavelle, the town has created ‘Á la Carrboro.’

Recognizing the unique needs of Carrboro’s varied enterprises, Á la Carrboro will allow businesses to customize their operating protocols to meet physical distancing and other COVID-19 safety standards.

Businesses will be able to do this with Carrboro’s newly relaxed local land use regulations related to parking, signage and the use of open areas.

Carrboro Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Foushee said this means businesses will be able to use outdoor spaces on private properties to conduct business operations and better support physical distancing efforts. These outdoor spaces may include outdoor lawns, on-site sidewalks and parking lots.

“What it does – and it does on a temporary basis – is it gives businesses a little more flexibility in the use of private land and also the opportunity for increased use of access to public spaces during the pandemic,” Foushee said.

According to the proclamation, portions of East Weaver Street and West Weaver Street may be converted to a pick-up lane and a temporary storage of delivery vehicles. Foushee said these areas may also be modified in a manner that increases the pedestrian capacity of businesses.

“This means curbside pickup and maybe some outside dining in places where there normally wasn’t outside dining,” Foushee said. “Also, just realizing the impact that COVID is having on our local businesses.”

Town staff are holding two Zoom meeting office hours to support the business community about these efforts at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8 and 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 9.

Please contact the Economic Development Director Jon Hartman-Brown at jhartman-brown@townofcarrboro.org to request a link to participate in one or both of the remote office hours meetings.

Additional details included in the proclamation can be found here.

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