Kennewick to allow restaurants to open up parking lot seating

KENEWICK, Wash.-- Last week, Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington Department of Health approved Benton and Franklin Counties to move into a modified Phase 1 of reopening.

The modifications allow restaurants in Benton and Franklin Counties to open restaurants, but only for outdoor dining.

At Tuesday's Kennewick City Council Meeting, council approved an interim regulation to allow restaurants to use a portion of their off-street parking lots for outdoor dining space.

"What this proposes to do is allow restaurant and retail located in commercial zones to temporarily utilize up to 50% of the area devoted to off-street parking as an additional food service area," said City Manager Marie Mosley during Tuesday night's meeting.

The restaurant owners would need to provide a site plan to the city planning department for review and to ensure that the plan meets fire codes.

Those plans can start being submitted on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.