Utica City Hall Looking To Cut Red Tape To Spur Economic Growth

Utica, NY (WIBX) - Cutting through the red tape to help facilitate more downtown business, that's the message coming out of Utica's City Hall.

At a recent meeting, the Utica Common Council's Urban and Economic Development Committee talked about how to spur sidewalk dining.

Mike Griffin, owner of Griffin's Pub on Genesee Street say they've been thinking about expanding outside for years, but the rules surrounding that style of expansion wouldn't allow them to do it. "They're gonna look into shortening the space used to walk and lengthen the space so that we can put tables out there" said Griffin, adding "It may help us, we're going to look into it as soon as the council members figure out what to do".

The Committee will be looking into reducing walkways from 5-feet to 3-feet, thus expanding the amount of table space available to businesses, as well as extending the length of time businesses can engage in sidewalk operations from April 1st to October 31st.