OUTDOOR ACTIVATION
Car Free California Avenue
Bruce Fukuji, AIA AICP
Project Manager
June 17, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Agenda
• Council Direction & Key Context Differences
• Location and Setback Requirements
• Design Elements
• Merchant Feedback
• Context Considerations
• Permitting
2 Council Direction and Key Context Differences
• Council Direction
– Implement a Permanent Parklet Program based on the adopted program City- wide except on Car-Free streets, but adjusted for contextual differences on California Avenue if necessary.
• Context Differences
– No traffic with restricted vehicle access
– Greater density of restaurants (4x University Avenue) – Existing outdoor dining areas greater than permitted with parklet program • Intent
– Enable commercial and community uses of public right-of-way – Priority for walking and biking: openness, transparency, accessibility – Need for flexibility of use throughout the week
3 Space Allocation - Street Zones
Re-organizing street space for car-free mobility, economic vitality and community experience.
TITLE 40 FONT BOLD
Subtitle 32 font
Sidewalk SidewalkRoadway
Frontage Pedestrian Street
Furniture
Access Activity Pedestrian FrontageActivity Street
Furniture
4 Businesses are required to locate their Outdoor
Activation space directly in front of the operator’s
storefront.
Commercial outdoor activation is permitted in the
following three zones as shown in Figure 2.3. Location
Map
● Frontage Zone
● Curbside/Street Furniture Zone
● Activity Zone
Outdoor Activation spaces shall not obstruct or
encroach upon the following:
● 8-foot pedestrian through zone on sidewalks
● 22-foot shared zone
● Designated pedestrian paths of travel
● Property Emergency Access Way
● Designated bike lanes
5 Building Property
Line
Building Property
Line
Figure 2.2. Location Diagram
Location Requirements
6 Area A
Legend
Potential Permitted Zones
Property Emergency Access Way
Fire Hydrant Setback, 15’
Tree Setback, 3’
Drain Setback, 5’
Fire Hydrant Light Post
Setback
Setback Requirements
Area B
Match
Line
Legend
Potential Permitted Zones
Property Emergency Access Way
Fire Hydrant Setback, 15’
Tree Setback, 3’
Drain Setback, 5’
Fire Hydrant Light Post
Setback
7 Setback Requirements
Design Elements
Topics
➔ Platforms
➔ Boundary Elements - Planters
➔ Boundary Elements - Railings
➔ Boundary Elements - Sidewalls and
Weather Screens
➔ Overhead Shelter
➔ Branding and Signage
➔ Lighting
➔ Heating
➔ Electrical
➔ Trash and Recycling
➔ ADA Accessibility
03 Star Progetti
Modular Perimeter Structure
Car-Free California Ave
8 DESIGN ELEMENTS
9 Platforms Planters Overhead
Shelter
Signage
DESIGN ELEMENTS
10 Lighting &
Electrical
Heaters Waste Accessibility
Merchant Feedback
• Equity in outdoor dining areas
• Enable long-term investment and aesthetic improvements • Overhead shelter & heated space for year-round dining – Options for wind protection that don’t block visibility • Choice in design, materials for individual business look – Permit variety of seating, merchandising, decorative lighting, flowers & plants on enclosures, outdoor host stations, hanging blade signs & other elements – No corrugated plastic roofing, overly brightly colored seating, post & rope barriers, unneeded traffic safety
• Interest in Permanent Structures
11 12
Context Considerations
Larger Parklets Per
Outdoor Activation
(Pre-approved or custom)
Pre-Approved Parklets
Overhead Shelter,
Planters & Wind Breaks
(can be retractable)
Water
GasStorm Drain
Water
GasStorm Drain
Water
GasStorm Drain
Custom size
shown dashed
Sewer
Sewer
Sewer
13 02.3 Setbacks (continued)
Area A
Fire Hydrant Setback, 15’
Tree Setback, 3’
Drain Setback, 5’
Fire Hydrant Light Post
Setback
Legend
Context Considerations
Gas Main
Potential Dining
Current Outdoor Dining
Adjusted to Fit Setbacks
02.3 Setbacks (continued)
Area B
Match
Line
Legend
14 Fire Hydrant Setback, 15’
Tree Setback, 3’
Drain Setback, 5’
Fire Hydrant Light
Post
Setback
Context Considerations
Gas Main
Potential Dining
Current Outdoor Dining
Adjusted to Fit Setbacks
Outdoor Activation Program Guidelines
Encroachment
Permit Application
Topics
➔ Permit Process
➔ Submittal Requirements
➔ Extension Beyond
Establishment
➔ Removing an Outdoor
Activation Area
➔ Outdoor Activation Area Fee
04 DRAFT
Car-Free California Ave
Application Process
per Adopted Parklet Standards
• Failure to maintain
• Utility Maintenance and Public Safety
• Removal
• Fees
• Application fee
• Renewal Fee
• License Fee (per square foot)
• Annual renewal process
• City reserves enforcement rights
15 2
DIRECTION FROM CITY COUNCIL – 11/6/23
❏ Maintain California Avenue as a car-free street with current areas of street closure to be made permanent.
❏ Pedestrian traffic be directed to the sidewalks to increase visibility of retailers. ❏ Implement a Permanent Parklet Program based on the adopted program City- wide except on Car- Free streets, but adjusted for contextual differences on California Avenue if necessary. ❏ Create two-way slow bike lane down the center of California Avenue in the car- free area. ❏ Install gateway way signs at Cambridge and Sherman on El Camino, and on Page Mill. Install wayfinding signage on California Ave primarily to promote retail businesses and events. ❏ Conduct regularly scheduled street clean up and maintenance. ❏ Initiate a branding program based on the historic and contemporary strengths of the California Ave/Mayfield district.
❏ Explore reorienting the stalls of our farmers market to face the other businesses to be more synergistic and or other options that could benefit the farmers market and the existing businesses consistent with pedestrian traffic.
Street Section with Below Grade Utilities
18 16
Two-Way Slow Bike Lanes on Shared Streets
Potential investment levels are TBD, pending project definition, phasing and other considerations.
Per NACTO:
• Different Zones
• Detectable Edges
• Custom Markings
• Clear Signage
• Physical/Visual Cues
21 Existing California Avenue with Two-way Slow Bike Lanes
21 ADAPTIVE STREET with Public Spaces
23 REIMAGINED STREET with Public Spaces
Potential investment levels are TBD, pending project definition, phasing and other considerations.
Outdoor Dining Existing and Permitted
23 Sidewalk Roadway
-
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
Existing Dining with Encroachments Existing Sidewalk + Parklet Program Activation Per-Setbacks Activation Setbacks + Existing Encroachments 6/17/2025 24
VISION
FOR A COMMUNITY STREET
Car-free experience
Economically vibrant
Flexible & open
Inclusive & safe
Clean & well maintained
24