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Q&A
Reasons for low number of fully approved outdoor dining applications
0:48:53
·
119 sec
Rob Bookman explains why only 67 restaurants have completed the entire application process for outdoor dining. Key points include:
- DOT's misinterpretation of when the application clock starts, leading to delays
- DOT conducting full substantive reviews before forwarding applications, contrary to the intended process
- The delay in starting the clock put the whole process behind schedule
- Suggestion that changing this approach could speed up future applications
Rob Bookman
0:48:53
That's because of the issue that I I raised, and let me try to be more clear about DOT's misinterpretation of what there's a how the clock starts.
0:49:05
The statute and in your packet that that your committee prepared, there's a there is a chart that DOT produced showing the various steps and how long they're supposed to take.
0:49:15
The first part of that chart is within five days of receiving the complete application, DOT sends it on to the next review agency's community board, and that starts the clock moving.
0:49:26
And if everybody lives with that clock and the controller's office waves their review of the contract which they have and the mayor's office waves their review of the contract, you know, you know, which they have, that's all new stuff in this in in the statute that was not there before that you put in there.
0:49:43
The process could be quick, somewhat quick, three to four months.
0:49:47
But DOT mistakenly, and I call it a rookie mistake, didn't send these applications on within five days.
0:49:56
They did their entire substantive review first.
0:49:59
When they were done with the back and forth with the applicant, the objections, the corrections, revised plans, give me better pictures, all the normal things that an license agency has to do with the application like this, then they started the clock.
0:50:12
Well, that put the whole process behind the eight ball.
0:50:15
So there was no way when people were allowed to apply up to August 3 that by April, they would be done with thousands of applications.
0:50:22
The rest of the process would be done with thousands of applications because they didn't start the clock in August and July like they should have.
0:50:29
That's the main thing.
0:50:30
If they change that going forward, it shouldn't take as many months for new applications, but they haven't changed that yet and they need to.
0:50:37
And, in all fairness, I do wanna say, because again, I don't wanna point fingers here.
0:50:40
On the other hand, the administration was the one who was pushing for all year round outdoor dining and DOT was as well.
0:50:46
And it was the council who said it should be, you know, should be seasonal, and that's turned out to be a big mistake.
0:50:51
So there's mistakes to go around.
Julie Menin
0:50:52
I totally agree.