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Parklets Program
City Council Meeting
Ashwini Kantak, Project Manager
June 10, 2024
Overview of Parklet Program
Parklet Program Location
• University Ave
Downtown & California
Ave. Business District
• Includes car-free portion
of Ramona St
• Excludes car-free portion
of California Ave
2 Architectural Review Board Discussions
3 • Per prior Council direction staff met with the ARB
and an ad-hoc committee to develop the pre-
approved designs:
• February 15, 2024: ARB feedback on initial
design concepts
• March 19, 2024: Ad-Hoc Committee feedback on
draft designs
• May 2, 2024: ARB moved to support revised pre-
approved designs
Proposed Refinements to Ongoing Parklet Standards
4 Topic Current Adopted Standard ARB Feedback Proposed Standard Gap between
Parklets
8-ft gap required between parklets (4ft for each
parklet)
Consider reducing the gap requirement. 8-ft gap between parallel pkg space parklets; 6- ft gap between angled pkg space parklets
3-ft Emergency
Access every 20 ft
Fire may require parklets to implement a 3ft
gap in their parklet every 20 ft for fire access
Clarify the 3-foot emergency access
every 20 feet requirement.
Standard removed.
Roof Height Min. 8’ and max. 12’ Require min. 7’6” head clearance.
Reduce the max. from 12’ to 11’.
Min. head clearance: 7’6”, max height 11’
Gutters/leaders Gutters/leaders required. Remove requirement. Standard removed.
Furnishing
Standards
Furnishings must be high-quality, durable,
outdoor-rated, and nonreflective. Furniture
shall be all-weather and high-quality material.
Remove furniture aesthetic standards. Standards removed.
Planters Planters not permitted Include planters in parklet designs Planters made of wood, steel, plastic, or fiberglass are permitted; maintenance required.
Roof overhangs No overhang permitted Allow 12” overhang along the sidewalk side and 6” overhang on all other sides.
Allow 6” overhang along the sidewalk side and
6” overhang over the travel lane side; no
overhang on the sides of the parklet.
Pre-approved Designs and User Guide
5 Parklet operators save time and money
• Limited need for designer and engineer
• Pre-approved shop drawings allow for expedited
review and approval
Design flexibility and customization
• Parklets can be scaled to different sizes
• Options with and without a roof and in steel and
wood
• Customized look with a variety of allowable finishes
User friendly application guide
• Provides step-by-step instructions to design and apply for a permit, using a pre-approved design
Considerations for Council Action
6 Proposed Action Item Council Approves on 6/10 Council Defers Action Extend the interim parklet program
for parklets and at-grade dining on
car-free portion of Ramona
• Will maintain status quo until outdoor dining standards for car-free streets are adopted
• Ensures Parklets on car-free street portion of Ramona do not need to be rebuilt to standards designed for streets with vehicular traffic
• Ongoing parklet program regulations will apply
• Will need to comply with standards meant for streets with vehicular traffic such as clearances and enclosure heights Implement license fees under the
interim ordinance for this same
section of Ramona
• License fees will need to be paid under interim ordinance • License fees will need to be paid under ongoing parklet program ordinance
Adopt the revised Ongoing Parklet
Program Regulations
• Regulations will incorporate ARB feedback and allow shop drawings for pre-approved designs to proceed
• Pre-approved designs will not be available for use in August, as previously communicated to parklet operators
• Planters will not be allowed; use of planters was a high priority for ARB and parklet operators
• Gutters/leaders will be required, furnishings will be regulated Approved Pre-Approved Parklet
Designs and Associated Draft user
Guide as recommended by ARB
• Pre-Approved Designs and User Guide will be available for use in August
• Parklet operators will save money on a custom design and structural drawings
• Approval process will be streamlined
• Parklet operators will need to pay to develop custom designs • Review and approval process will take longer
• Alternatively, City will need to further defer enforcement of ongoing parklet program; drainage and ponding issues will continue through another winter season
• Parklets of Emerson Street that were removed due to re-paving will either have to wait to use the pre-approved designs or use custom designs
7 Parklet Program Timeline
May August
Late-March/early-April
Stakeholder outreach / ARB review
for Pre-approved parklet designs
May 2, 2024
Architectural Review Board review
of draft pre-approved parklet
designs
July 1, 2024
• Adopted Standards for ongoing parklets
go into effect
• Parklet Pre-applications due to City
• Indicate intent to build/continue
parklet
• Indicate interest in pre-
approved parklet design
• Parklet License Fees due
• Emerson Street parklets must be
removed
July-August
Emerson Street repaving
project August
• Any parklet without a pre-
application must be removed
(8/1/24)
• Pre-approved parklet design and
associated drawings available for
use
• Parklet Applications accepted, pre-
approved parklet applications will
have shorter review time
September
Parklet construction (with
applicable permits) November 1, 2024
Parklets must be in compliance
with new standards
March April June July September October November
June 10, 2024
Council review of pre-approved
parklet designs
March 31, 2025
Parklets on car-free portion of
Ramona St must be in
compliance with new outdoor
dining guidelines, if adopted by
Council.
Recommendation
1. Approve and direct staff to adopt the Revised Ongoing Parklet Program Regulations, including allowing the use of planters on parklets.
2. Approve Pre-Approved Parklet Designs and the Associated Draft User Guide as recommended by Architectural Review Board (ARB).
3. (For consent on June 17) Adopt the attached interim ordinance and resolution to:
a. Extend the interim parklet program for parklets and at-grade dining on the car- free portion of Ramona Street until March 31, 2025, or until outdoor dining standards are adopted for Ramona Street, whichever is sooner; b. Implement license fees under the interim ordinance for this same section of Ramona Street for use of the right-of-way as previously established under the Ongoing Parklet Program.
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