NASHUA, NH – The committee on infrastructure voted to send a recommendation for an amended version of O-24-036 – relative to extended outdoor dining – to the full board of aldermen.
Originally, the ordinance sought to eliminate certain on-street parking spaces to be used for extended outdoor dining, and to limit Main Street and some surrounding side streets from two lanes to one in each direction, from May 1 through Oct. 15 for another three years (2025 to 2027).
The response from the public about the extended outdoor dining has been largely negative, particularly when it comes to the Jersey barriers used to separate the outdoor dining space from traffic. Many said that extended outdoor dining conditions caused traffic to worsen on Main Street, some even saying that it hinders emergency vehicles from getting to where they need to go.
Assistant Fire Chief Adam Pouliot said that despite some minor issues that have since been corrected, the barriers have not been a hindrance. He said they do not affect their response to emergencies, and that they had no complaints that they couldn’t get through Main Street.
According to police chief Kevin Rourke, there is no data to support that there’s been problems getting to calls on Main Street.
Nashua City Engineer Dan Hudson said that despite some hiccups when the barriers were first put up, they have not received complaints about traffic, except for one day last summer when an incident on the highway diverted heavy traffic to Main Street.
At a previous meeting, Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons said that he could not vote for the legislation as currently written, and that compromises would need to be made. He suggested keeping two travel lanes on each side of Main Street, and putting the barriers only out to the parking spaces, not into lanes.
Last night he brought forth an amendment to implement such changes to Main Street, which would give participating restaurants a six-foot extension from the sidewalk instead of eight feet. The side streets would continue to operate as they have been according to the legislation.
The amendment to Section 320-92 regarding effective dates and planning reads:
“Effective from 12:01 am May 1st through midnight Oct. 15 every year beginning May 1, 2025 the following streets shall be reduced in vehicle lane size to accommodate outdoor dining as designed in the 2024 year plan: temple street, factory street, East Pearl Street, West Pearl Street. There shall be two lanes open to vehicular traffic in each direction on main street, the placement of barriers along main street shall be consummate with the number of spaces each business adopts on a yearly basis.”
Economic development director Liz Hannum said that while the amendment is an option, she does not recommend it.
She said that, after speaking with some of the restaurant owners, most would likely not participate in extended outdoor dining if it were amended as Clemons suggested. However, she did say some restaurants are reliant on extended outdoor dining and would continue to participate regardless.
As far as complaints about traffic being slower, Hannum said that wanting to go faster down Main Street is not in line with Imagine Nashua Masterplan of creating a more pedestrian friendly, downtown destination, and suggested that people find alternative routes where they could go faster.
“I understand that ideally some of the businesses would rather have the wider space, they would rather have the one lane in each direction, but I think we’ve heard from the public, and I’ve heard from other business owners, that we need to do something differently and I think this sets a good compromise,” Clemons said.
The committee voted 3 to 2 to pass the amendment, and 3 to 2 to recommend the ordinance to the full board as amended.
In favor of the amendment, and recommending the legislation as amended, were Aldermen Chris Thibodeau, Patricia Klee and Richard Dowd.
Opposed were Aldermen Sullivan and O’Brien.
While not on the committee, Alderman Derek Thibeault said that he would not support the legislation when it goes to the full board, and that he will make his own amendment to eliminate the barriers from Main Street entirely, having them only on the side streets.