Share your feedback on the Public Review Draft: Outdoor Dining Guide!

I agree with the statement written on 05/28/2022 at 7:52PM, "The permanent placement of parklets is unfair..." As taxpayers in the county of SLO, we have funded the construction and maintenance of the streets and sidewalks for years for the use of transportation and parking, not for parklets (which benefit the restaurants/bars and not other retail businesses). The City Council's consideration of transitioning to a permanent parklet program should be left up to the local tax paying citizens through a vote by ballet not unilaterally imposed upon us. The inequity of the idea of permanent parklets is indeed stunning. To be fair, every downtown business owner should be given the opportunity to set up a parklet, not just restaurants/bars. And, it is unfair to ask downtown SLO's citizens/patrons to continue to endure the logistical headaches the parklets present when attempting to navigate SLO's streets and sidewalks. This idea represents a grand money generating proposition for the City (as pointed out in the 05/28/2022 7:52PM statement). The losers will be: the citizens/patrons of downtown SLO who are accustomed to convenient street parking spaces and not the out-of-the-way and previously underused parking structures; the businesses that are not restaurants and bars; the handicapped, injured or older individuals, who cannot find convenient street parking because it is occupied by parklets. How will parklets present opportunities for non-profit and community organizations when local citizens will be discouraged from driving to downtown SLO because of the safe traffic and parking impediments the parklets present?

The permanent placement of parklets is unfair and unjust for businesses other than restaurants, and to the citizens/ patrons of San Luis Obispo.
The parklets hinder the flow of traffic on the sidewalks and streets. They also create obstacles for emergency vehicles such as the fire department, police, and paramedics. Taxpayers have funded the building and maintenance of the streets and sidewalks in downtown for decades in order for them to be used for transportation, not additional seating areas for restaurants and bars. The inequity of this idea is stunning.
Evidently, the City sees this plan as a windfall money-maker: increased parking fees, more use of under-used parking structures, and increased potential for parking tickets/ fines. Furthermore, the City plans to "sell/ lease" the parklet spaces. The entire idea is rooted in creating more revenue $$ for the City at the expense of added inconvenience and costs for the citizens/ patrons of downtown SLO.

I agree that many parklets sit vacant aside from a few hours some days. The biggest issue is the delivery trucks who then block an entire lane of traffic bringing moving traffic to a sudden merge and causing a very dangerous situation for pedestrians. Then there is the flies and beetles which only get worse in warm weather. The option to pressure wash should be void during our drought.

Please get rid of the parklets. Although they benefitted the restaurants and dining patrons during SLO county's stricter covid restrictions, the parklets are now a nuisance and inconvenience for people who frequent SLO's downtown businesses that are not restaurants. With the increase of traffic due to the lifting of covid restrictions, the parklets are particularly troublesome on Monterey St. between Osos St. and Chorro St. Prior to the parklets, I could make a right turn heading west on Chorro St. onto Monterey St. Now, parts of Monterey St. are blocked by the parklets and barricades that prevent a making this right turn. Also, delivery trucks usually occupy the dedicated drop-off/pick-off zones and block the flow of traffic because of the parklets occupy a lane previously meant for traffic. The city planners did not originally intend for public parking spaces and traffic lanes to be occupied by parklets. Driving in downtown SLO has become complicated and frustrating because of the parklets. The paid public parking lots are not close enough to the downtown businesses for people who suffer from injuries, disabilities or the elderly. It is difficult to see how the parklets benefit any of SLO's downtown businesses other than the restaurants. The restaurants now have additional seating via the parklets increasing the number of patrons and revenue - is this fair to the other businesses? Please return the streets to their original design.

As the owner of a downtown RETAIL business, the loss of parking in the downtown is a large detriment to my business. If I was in the RESTAURANT or BAR business, the parklets would be of benefit.
The current situation is dirty, and very unattractive. I personally would not sit out in the street to eat and drink in downtown San Luis Obispo.
I would prefer the downtown to go back to pre-pandemic streets.I wish the City would encourage retail in the downtown, by making it cleaner, safer and much more convenient to Shop in the downtown.

We feel there is no longer a need for the outdoor dining parklets in downtown SLO. We feel they constitute an eyesore and a public safety hazard as well as an unnecessary financial burden on the city. We are however fully in support of outdoor sidewalk dining, visa vi many European and large US city examples, even smaller communities such as Palo Alto, Los Gatos and Santa Barbara CA. Thank you for the opportunity to give our opinion on this topic.

As a business owner severely affected by the pandemic and the numerous closures and restrictions to our business since 2020, the parklet and outdoor dining was the only silver lining during our COVID-19 pandemic experience. After the citizens of SLO gave their feedback in regards to keeping the parklets, we purchased furniture, lights, structures, and accrued many other expenses to keep our parklet open and looking elegant. If the parklets are removed, we will be at a loss for our investment we made into them as well as the additional business it brings. As COVID-19 cases are currently rising, there is still a great demand for outdoor dining in SLO. It would be foolish to remove the parklets prematurely. I have heard the reservation and criticisms from other businesses regarding limited parking. Though this is a big issue that needs to be addressed, the safety and security of our business, employees, and community members is of much higher priority. Further, having parklets in SLO creates a welcoming environment and a place for folks to enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery we have here in SLO. Our particular parklet happens to be where one of the trolley stops previously existed but the trolley can easily be relocated to avoid the need for removal of parklets. I truly hope that the city makes the decision to keep the parklet program and to help the businesses as much as they can as they continue to struggle as a result of the pandemic.

Patricia Koberl
Owner,
Koberl at Blue Restaurant

1. Costs should be as low as feasible. This should not be a source of additional revenue for the city as businesses are already taking a hit with increased downtown parking fees and meter duration to offset the lost parking revenue from parklets that deters locals from coming downtown and makes it more difficult to maintain staff. This is at a time when shopping plazas are popping up all over town and drawing customers away with their easy access and free parking. Additionally, the benefit of parklets is largely confined to warmer weather months, despite the cost being incurred year round.

2. The fairest way to structure costs is based on square footage.

3. Staged fee implementation is essential given the continued strain on small businesses with staffing challenges, inflation, supply chain shortages, and the financial burden of increased state regulations (for example, retirement account requirement for businesses with 5 or more employees).

4. Design and building approval should be as easy as possible as small businesses do not have the resources to hire engineering firms where engineering is not necessary.

We support the five policy changes (see below) regarding the draft Outdoor Dining Guide as they were articulated in a City and Regional Planning Senior Thesis authored by Cal Poly students Reid Crandell and Aiden Lebow. Their primary faculty advisor was Keith Woodcock, AICP, who has 30 years of planning and development experience. He has advanced certification as a Certified Environmental Planner (CEP) and Certified Urban Designer (CUD).
None of these policies currently appear in this document. They were as follows:
1) the city shall develop design guidelines for parklets,
2) the city shall create independent parklets owned by the city,
3) the city shall develop a permit system to allow private business to operate parklets,
4) the city will charge fees to raise capital from the parklet program, and
5) the city will develop a maintenance program for parklets.

The draft “design guidelines” read more like engineering specifications. Of course engineering specifications are needed. What is missing are guidelines that address the actual appearance of these parklets, more along the lines of our Community Design Guidelines.

Far too many parklets are makeshift with minimal design. The City should desire to find a balance between a cohesive street scene while also allowing room for individual business character. There are many options yet to be explored to create a more cohesive streetscape. For example, the following suggested guidelines (borrowing from the City of San Clemente) are intended to improve the design and aesthetics of parklets by reducing visual clutter and creating a standardized street interface.

A 3-foot buffer zone would provide a consistent appearance and set a regular edge and rhythm. For example, this area could be characterized by traffic rated concrete planters, which should be set at 5’ intervals. The first planter should be set at the corner nearest adjacent oncoming traffic, with subsequent planters spaced every 5-feet.

There should be a list of discouraged elements such as:
Pop-up tents (except in limited circumstances on private property)
Lattice (wood or plastic)
Plastic fences, trellises, or furniture. Plastic or vinyl furniture should be prohibited.
Excessive decoration
Elevated string lighting
Tall walls, plants or other accessories over 5-feet in height
Banner signs

With regards to the recommendation that the city should create independent parklets owned by the city:

Why couldn’t we provide open access pocket parks and mini-plazas that are free? We might re-imagine the parking strip as a territory that is variously available for uses ranging from picnics, parties, market stalls, street vendors and urban greenery.

It appears inequitable for restaurants to have access to parklets while other businesses do not. Why not provide retailers access to sidewalk space to display their products outdoors? The Parklet Program should specify that there should be no more than six (6) consecutive spaces used for outdoor dining operations. And perhaps most importantly, live entertainment, including but not limited to live music and performances, should not be permitted within the outdoor dining areas. Thank you!

Parklet's Are one of the best things that San Luis Obispo California has ever done. You've created a downtown environment that's actually pleasing. A few decades ago I lived on higuea Street above Jim's campus camera In the Warden building. I had a ringside seat at the downtown goings-on probably one of the best places I've ever lived in my life. Alive, vibrant community lots of activity, parades, people having fun. Well I was a little older than most of the partygoers down below but it was always entertaining And easy to overlook the odd indiscretion. unfortunately San Luis Obispo California has lost that tolerance and the downtown became sterile corporate landscape, no parades, no excitement, fewer mom and pop businesses, A downtown in control! Parklets are a good thing they bring people downtown outside meeting each other and providing an experience that the population needs. Don't regulate them into extinction. It's not all about the money parking enforcement you can go build your empire elsewhere.