5) THE CITY OF NASHUA the Gate Cy”
Economic Development
To: L. Wilshire, President
Members of the Board of Aldermen
From: T. Cummings, Economic Development Director
Ce: ‘J. Donchess, Mayor
Date: May 17, 2020
Re: Request for Special Board of Aldermen Meeting to Seek Approval to Narrow Main Street
Context for Request
The Covid-19 pandemic is unprecedented in the challenge it has posed not only to our physical health, but
also to our economic health. I have been working closely with local businesses in an attempt to help them
Mitigate financial and economic damage during this difficult time.
The Governor of New Hampshire is now allowing restaurants to open with severe restrictions. The only
on-site dining that will be allowed for the foreseeable future, will be limited to outdoor dining. To that end,
my discussions with area dining establishments has been how to implement the re-opening of their
restaurants, while adhering to State Guidelines to maintain social distancing practices.
Main Street is the heart of our City both figuratively and economically. We have many fine food and drink
establishments that add quality of life for our residents. After much discussion and debate, our best plan
going forward would be to extend outdoor dining into the street/parking spaces, allowing for enough
distance between tables (8 feet table edge to table edge) and enough tables to make these businesses viable.
Proposal
The pian would call for the temporary blocking off of parking spaces; as well, as intermittently blocking
some travel lanes to facilitate this plan and allow for small businesses to begin to recover . Concrete
barriers will be placed along the edge of the road for pedestrian safety. Pedestrian egress and ADA
compliancy will be maintained. There will be one lane open m each direction for vehicular traffic along
with turning lanes. We worked with Nashua Police, Nashua Fire, Public Works, Public Health,
Community Development and the Mayor's Office to move forward with this plan.
1 facilitated two meetings with over sixty (60) participants of various downtown stakeholders. The initial
meeting occurred May 8" and created an opportunity for participants to give feedback on how Main Street
should be narrowed while providing commentary on differing issues and observations that narrowing Main
Street may bring about such as where deliveries need to occur or the amount of curbside/take out business
is part of an individual’s business plan. Based off of this information we developed a plan that adheres to
the concerns of city staff, The plan was refined by numerous individual conversations I had between the
first and second meeting. During the second meeting the draft plan was reviewed in detail and received
overall positive commentary.
Before you is the plan we are seeking to implement. There may need to be adjustments as time goes on and
some flexibility is going to be necessary to ensure timely recalibrations can occur, but the plan before you
has been reviewed and vetted receiving positive remarks to date.
