(ffm) Currently, gastronomy businesses are only allowed to offer their products for delivery or pick-up. However, the city of Frankfurt is already thinking ahead and giving the catering industry planning certainty in one respect: the more generous regulations for existing outdoor restaurants will be extended until December 31, 2021.
Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann says: "The ‚Frankfurt Plan' is taking shape! With the extended exemption for outdoor gastronomy, the first building block of the package of measures is being implemented. This is good news for our landlords, who are particularly suffering from the lockdown - and for the people of Frankfurt, who can look forward to another summer with a piazza feeling."
In concrete terms, this means that all catering establishments in possession of a valid special use permit may continue to make generous use of the public traffic areas, provided that road law concerns have not been affected. This regulation was initially valid until April 30 and is now being extended early until December 31.
"The catering industry has undeniably been badly hit as a result of the resolutions relating to the Corona pandemic. It is important to us to set an early signal and to give planning security for the time of the reopening in this point already today", explains Councillor Klaus Oesterling and summarizes: "Restaurants, Cafés, bars, the entire gastronomy, are an important part of our lives. The scheme is a building block. It is a contribution at this time, which we are happy to make because we are aware of the situation of the industry. The city of Frankfurt am Main thus continues to follow its generous line to relieve the businesses."
The head of the Office of Street Construction and Development, Michaela C. Kraft, added: "Anyone who has a special use permit for an outdoor restaurant can extend it without an application with the current regulation. If you have any questions about this, our staff is available by phone and email."
Of course, it still applies that sidewalks and bike paths must remain clear and the areas may only be used with a sense of proportion.
The details are available on the Internet at http://www.ase-frankfurt.de and compiled in a leaflet to be found there.
Those wishing to reapply for an outdoor dining area can do so online at http://www.frankfurt.de/sommergaerten erledigen.
