In an effort to help downtown businesses get a leg up this summer, Oak Bluffs selectmen took action on a number of fronts late Friday, approving Sunday street closures, expanded outdoor dining and a drive-in movie theatre at the YMCA.

The town will close Circuit avenue and partly block off Kennebec avenue to vehicle traffic on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., selectmen decided at a meeting Friday afternoon. The board also gave approval for expanded outdoor seating at a number of downtown restaurants, including rooftop dining at one.

The Sunday street closures will begin next weekend.

The proposal had been brought to the board earlier in the week by Larkin Stallings, owner of the Ritz Cafe, and Christine Todd, executive director of the town business association.

Ms. Todd acknowledged the plan will involve sacrifice for some business owners.

“We are all going to have to give up a little bit but it’s all for the good of the town,” she said.

Under the new rules, businesses fronting Circuit and Kennebec will be allowed to use seven feet of space in front of their establishments, and must provide hand sanitizing stations. On Sundays Kennebec, a one-way street running inbound parallel to Circuit, will be closed to vehicle traffic on the righthand side from Offshore Ale to Giordano’s. (Parking will be kept open for Reliable Market customers.) The lefthand side of the street will remain open as a fire lane. Selectmen enthusiastically backed the plan and said they will review things in two weeks and make changes if needed.

“We’re trying to do something to keep commerce on that street,” said selectman Greg Coogan.

The changes in Oak Bluffs come on the heels of a decision in Edgartown early this week to allow expanded outdoor dining and create “parklets” on some downtown property, including parking lots, this summer.

In Oak Bluffs, police will be on hand early Sunday mornings to give friendly reminders to drivers about the 10 a.m. street closures.

In response to concerns from Tim Dobel, the owner of Mocha Mott’s, a popular year-round coffee and breakfast shop on lower Circuit, selectmen also voted to change the parking time limits to 15 minutes in the spaces between the Flying Horses and Giordano’s on Sundays.

Selectmen also approved outdoor seating licenses for seven Oak Bluffs restaurants, with some still pending approval from the town board of health, building inspector and fire department.

The Barn, Bowl and Bistro will set up 12 tables with 48 seats total in its parking lot off Uncas avenue, and is licensed to serve customers until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Dos Mas received licensing for three rooftop tables with 18 seats total. Owner Zared Shai said he plans to add one or two ground-level tables to provide access for people with handicaps.

Jimmy Seas was granted a license for 14 ground-level seats and 16 additional seats on the restaurant’s second-floor porch.

MV Salads plans to add three small tables in the alley off the building.

The Ocean View was approved for two outdoor dining tents that will be located along the front and right side of the building currently used for parking. The tents will hold a combined 144 seats, with service allowed until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The Red Cat Kitchen was approved for three tables with 18 seats in an area behind the building.

The VFW submitted an application that did not have a floor plan, but was approved by the selectmen pending approval by the board of health and building inspector.

In other business Friday, selectmen also unanimously approved an outdoor entertainment license for the YMCA to operate a drive-in movie theatre in the parking lot behind the Martha’s Vineyard Ice Arena.

The Y plans to screen four family-friendly movies a week starting in early July and will run through August. The parking lot will hold 40-50 cars, according to Jill Robie-Axtell, who presented the application on behalf of the Y. Ms. Robie-Axtell said the idea came to life in light of the pandemic, and said the Y has no plans to continue the theatre past this summer.