Edhat Staff
The Santa Barbara City Council voted to approve a “Citywide Parklet Program” for parklets located within the public right-of-way on Tuesday.
The city currently has approximately 40 outdoor dining parklets.
The program will provide a process for business owners to obtain a license
authorizing placement of a parklet in the public right-of-way along with a $514 pre-application processing fee.
However, if the proposed parklet is in the Coastal Zone the applicant will be required to submit a formal Planning Application at a reduced fee of $5,535 (currently, the fee for this type of Program would be $15,666).
Parklets will be limited to the parking space(s) entirely within the frontage of the business
operating the parklet. If a parking space straddles the line between two businesses, then
it cannot be used for a parklet unless both businesses share the parklet. Parklets will also be prohibited in locations that block drainage or interfere with operation of existing storm drain or utility facilities; and are also prohibited in red zones and blue zones.
Additionally for traffic and safety protection, concrete K-rail must surround the outdoor dining parklet. Parklets will also not be allowed on roads consisting of two vehicle lanes in any one direction.
The vote was 5-2 with councilmembers Eric Friedman and mayor Randy Rowse opposing the program.
Friedman stated the program would negatively impact small businesses and the look of K-rails are displeasing.
Rowse was more concerned about the safety of customers sitting in outdoor parklets and stated he wonders why the council is placing people in the public right of way.
Less than 24 hours before the council’s vote, a parklet was demolished by a passing car in front of Milk & Honey on Anapamu Street. The restaurant was not open at the time and there was no one sitting outside.
In total, there have been four vehicle collisions with parklets since the pandemic.
President of the Coast Village Association, Trey Pinner, stated his associated advocated for removing parklets on Coast Village Road.
“Every time we have this conversation at the association, it’s not about whether we like outdoor dining or not… it’s more about aesthetics, safety, and equity of use of the public right of way,” said Pinner.
If the parklets must remain on Coast Village Road, Pinner said the association is asking for no roof structures and only umbrellas, no K-rails or traffic barriers due to aesthetics, parking enforcement, and approval of adjacent businesses within 150 feet .
Robin Elander, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Downtown Organization, expressed support of a permanent citywide parklet program.
“By implementing a streamlined and affordable permanent permitting process citywide, we can provide existing and new businesses the ability to continue and/or expand their operations. This in turn will allow businesses to accommodate patrons in a way they want to dine outdoors in alignment with our local climate,” said Elander.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Santa Barbara adopted successive ordinances to relax permitting requirements and allow businesses to expand operations into the Public Right-Of-Way. The most recent authorization is set to expire on December 31, 2023.
At the Council meeting on June 27, the Public Works Downtown Team was ordered to return with a Citywide Parklet Program for consideration and approval.
Any new parklets must submit a pre-application before December 20, and existing parklets in the public right-of-way that does not submit their pre-application may be subject to enforcement.
Watch the full discussion from Tuesday’s City Council meeting below:
The discussion about the fate of the State St. promenade will likely go on for years, but for the life of me I can’t understand why we are even still allowing “parklets” elsewhere in the City. They are simply not compatible with moving traffic; they are dangerous, as several recent accidents prove, they take away needed parking and, to be blunt, they are ugly. Putting cement barriers around them will only make them uglier. All of those reasons notwithstanding, though, I object, as a taxpayer, to the use of my public roadways – built and maintained at taxpayer expense – to conduct private business.
Please remember to pay attention to the next Council election. Talk to the candidates in your district about these poorly conceived decisions, and support more like Mayor Rowse and Councilmember Friedman. Get involved – the current district-election auto-pilot mode is not working.
Kudos to Erik and Randy for the only two that have common sense!!!!
Still do not understand why the community should give public space to private business for a ridiculously low charge. Maybe those who are without shelter could get a sidewalk space they could call home for a small charge and retreat there each night to camp out? Maybe they could also open a bottle of wine and drink it in view of the public from the safety of their space? Egads, the possibilities are endless. Can I get the franchise to reserve Cabrillo blvd curb space for the parade? and so on
It’s actually worse than that RHS. City staff presented their recommendation on what rents they should charge for the parklets so that they cover the cost to maintain the promenade. City Council arbitrarily cut the recommended amount by more than half – so the city is now operating this at a loss for the sole benefit of bars/restaurants located on State Street.
At least Montecito got it right.
Coast Village Road is part of Santa Barbara City; State Street businesses should have a State Street Association, having the same authority as the Coast Village Road Association, ““Every time we have this conversation at the association, it’s not about whether we like outdoor dining or not… it’s more about aesthetics, safety, and equity of use of the public right of way,” said Pinner. Maybe then the council majority would listen to the public as they certainly do not do so now.
If the parklets must remain on Coast Village Road, Pinner said the association is asking for no roof structures and only umbrellas, no K-rails or traffic barriers due to aesthetics, parking enforcement, and approval of adjacent businesses within 150 feet. ” Unless, of course, Robin Elander were to extend her authority from State Street to CVR.
Midday, Thursday, I walked from Anapamu down to Haley and was surprised at how many shops there still are, especially in the 1100-area blocks. What’s missing are people, visitors, shoppers. Perhaps they, too, are unhappy about the takeover of State by bicyclists!?
I agree with Mayor Rowse and Gerry DeWitt. If I’m not mistaken Solvang got rid of those nightmares. I also agree with the Coast Village Road top guns.