How Monmouth County restaurants, businesses can make the most of outdoor capacity

As warm weather approaches and restrictions begin to be loosened, although still very much in place, the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners and Monmouth County Division of Planning has put together a guide for restaurants, small businesses and businesses of any kind looking to set up shop outdoors with how and where they can do so.

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The Monmouth County Spring 2021 Outdoor Reopening Guide has the answers to your questions on spacing and design guidelines that will help with preventing crowds from overflowing, ensuring social distancing, delivery zones and other factors when setting up outdoor seating.

Inside this guide you'll learn local rules and some suggestions for how to set up your business outdoors and it includes everything from crowd prevention, physical safety and barriers, designs, how to set up pick-up/delivery zones, parking lots, sidewalks, etc.

"We learned through this pandemic that the restrictions put in place were tough and they were tough for the downtown businesses and the retail shops and restaurants," Monmouth County Commissioner Director Tom Arnone tells Townsquare Media News. "Our goal is to market them and let everybody know what our goals are for Monmouth County to keep everybody open."

Safety is priority number one and along with that comes a set up that works for businesses which will also encourage people to dine or shop there.

"It's not only going to be the patrons that are going to have to work to increase the business model here in the county but it's also going to have to be the businesses because regardless of how people feel about this pandemic, there's still going to be an uncertainty there and we need everybody on the same page," Arnone said.

If everything goes smoothly along those lines, "I think we'll have a real good summer this year."

While this guide is what you need to set up the proper outdoor space, Commissioner Arnone encourages businesses to check-in with their municipal officials in conforming to local zoning rules in their town as well as building and construction requirements before implementing outdoor accommodations.

Whether they are state, county or local guidelines, you still need to follow the rules.

"If you don't follow these guidelines, it could be detrimental to your own business," Arnone said.

You can learn more about the Monmouth County Spring 2021 Reopening Guide with all you need to know at www.visitmonmouth.com and then head to the Monmouth County Division of Planning.

You can follow Vin Ebenau on Twitter and Instagram and email news tips to vin.ebenau@townsquaremedia.com.