S.F. lays groundwork for expanded restaurant and retail activity in public spaces

San Francisco is developing its own program to let tightly-packed restaurant and retail spaces expand into public areas like sidewalks, enabling them to better operate and stay open with social distancing rules in place. As part of the Shared Spaces program, businesses and local merchant associations can apply for a free, expedited permit to share street, sidewalk space or parking lanes for business operations, for instance food pick-up or beverage sales for restaurants. Once dine-in service is…