Public & Outdoor Space Usage During COVID-19: Supporting Asheville’s Economy Safely Protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public is the City of Asheville’s top priority. The City of Asheville is committed to supporting and responding to the changing needs of the community during the COVID-19 crisis and through phases of recovery. With consideration for physical distancing and other safety measures implemented by public health officials, the City has launched new ways to use outdoor spaces – like streets, sidewalks, parking areas and parks – differently, to support economic recovery and other community and business needs. This work relies on collaboration, communication and flexibility across sectors of government, business and community. City staff and City Council received great ideas and proposals in the spring of 2020 and continues to welcome input. Staff is tracking and reviewing recommendations along with current and emerging best practices from other cities. It is critical that planning and implementation for uses of public space is equitable and inclusive. Together, we can improve our collective future by making space at the table for a more diverse set of voices, neighborhoods and partners in those efforts. Intentional and strategic community engagement is key in the rollout and continued operation of these programs. This webpage will continue to be updated regularly. Happening Now The City has an interdepartmental team working to help the community by supporting opportunities to use new outdoor spaces in alignment with public health guidance. Applications are continuing to be accepted for each program below. These programs will continue through the duration of the Local State of NC Emergency declaration. Changes to that timeline may be made. Current Programs Curbside pick-up zones in commercial districts – launched May 2020 Announcement details are here. These zones are located in commercial areas to serve surrounding businesses and services. The zones are not dedicated to individual businesses, but provide opportunities for customers to more easily access curbside pick-up within the surrounding area. A map of current pick-up zones is available here. To request a new curbside pick-up zone, please email parking@ashevillenc.gov. Expanded opportunities for flexible use of private property – launched May 2020 Businesses can request to use their private parking lots, landscape areas, and walkways to expand operations in alignment with public health guidelines. Fill out this online request form to request expanded use of private property. *Requests that fall within the temporary outdoor expansion guidelines are not subject to a formal permit process but must receive authorization through this program application. Announcement details are here. Expanded flexibility for use of sidewalks – launched June 2020 Businesses can request to use areas of adjacent public sidewalk in alignment with public health guidelines. Fill out this online form to request expanded use of sidewalk space. Note that a minimum 6 feet of pedestrian passageway must be maintained. *Requests that fall within the temporary outdoor expansion guidelines for Sidewalks are not subject to a formal permit process but must receive authorization through this program application. Announcement details are here Creation of temporary “parklets” in on-street parking – launched June 2020 Businesses and organizations can request to temporarily use 1-3 public parking spaces adjacent to their storefronts. The guidelines are available here and application here. Contact: Jon Fillman, jfillman@ashevillenc.gov Shared Streets / “Pedestrian Priority Zones” for commerce and recreation Launched June 2020 on “The Block” (portions of Eagle and S. Market) Launched in June 2020 on Banks, Buxton and Collier in South Slope Launched in July 2020 on Wall Street and a portion of College Street More information and guidelines on Shared Street use is here. Contact: Dana Frankel, dfrankel@ashevillenc.gov All application forms can be found on the Development Portal. Current Guiding Principles and Goals Align with the guidance of state and local public health agencies Support the recovery of our local economy and the overall vitality of Asheville’s commercial districts Expand opportunities for safe public access to businesses and services Be flexible to accommodate the changing operational needs of businesses and organizations Introduce new or different uses of public space that support the health, safety and well-being of our community Provide a framework that incorporates opportunities for implementation across varied geographic areas and equitable engagement in decision-making Consider longer-term implementation of successful tools and strategies Recognize that balancing the needs and uses of public space often requires compromise Aim to maximize public benefit while 1) prioritizing responsiveness to the recovery needs specific to COVID-19 and 2) using an equity lens to weigh particular uses over others. Make sure initiatives can respond quickly to the community’s needs without compromising public safety Use public resources responsibly How Can I Submit Ideas or Feedback? Please visit the project’s Public Input page here. Email the team at publicspace@publicinput.com. COVID-19 Resources Find up to date information on COVID-19 in Buncombe County at www.buncombeready.org. With questions about COVID-19 in Buncombe County, call 828-419-0095 or email ready@buncombecounty.org. Physical Distancing Guidance The risk of transmission of COVID-19 is based upon close contact criteria. There are two components to close contact: The physical distance between two people The duration of time spent less than 6 feet apart Individuals briefly passing one another on the sidewalk have a low risk for transmission. This risk is reduced much further if both those people are wearing face coverings. People walking together in a group down the sidewalk at less than 6ft distance have a greater risk, which again can be reduced by wearing face coverings. Please be sure to follow the 3 W’s! Additional Temporary Accommodations to Support Businesses with Recovery Suspended fees for outdoor dining, signage and pushcart permits (current) Waived fees for street parking and city-owned parking garages (through July 2020) Fare-free bus service (current) Public handwashing stations and restrooms – view a map here here (current) Eased restrictions on food truck operations (current) Eased signage restrictions for eating establishments (current) Information and Updates AVL Shares Space outdoor expansion to continue in 2021 Reminders for safety requirements to operate outdoors – Press Release AVL Shares Space extended to January 3 with winter guidelines – Press Release City of Asheville launches shares streets and parklet programs – Press Release City of Asheville expands flexibility for business use of sidewalks in addition to private lots – Press Release City of Asheville launches curbside pick-up program and expands flexibility for business use of private lots – Press Release Application forms and guidelines (also found at develop.ashevillenc.gov) AVL Shares Space outdoor expansion to continue into 2021 Winter Guidelines for all businesses operating outdoors (updated Dec 2020) AVL Shares Space Winter Guidelines (Sept 2020) Winter Outdoor Expansion Request Form Temporary Outdoor Expansion Guidelines (for private property) Temporary Outdoor Expansion Request Form (for private property) Temporary Outdoor Expansion Guidelines for Public Sidewalks Temporary Outdoor Expansion Request Form for Public Sidewalks Temporary Outdoor Expansion Request for Parklets Contact Contact the team at publicspace@publicinput.com. Updated 4/1/2021