Laserfiche WebLink
Page 2 of 3 <br />Street and Main Street was inadvertently left out of the area where sidewalk cafes <br />would be permitted. Staff believes that was done in error. The definition references a <br />map that delineated the permitted sidewalk café areas. <br />No other changes to the Downtown Sidewalk Café Area ordinance have been made <br />since 2002. However, since that time, as restaurant activity has continued to expand <br />outside of Broadway, requests for outside seating have been made. <br /> <br />ANALYSIS <br />Sidewalk cafes have successfully operated in downtown since the adoption of the 1993 <br />ordinance. Installation of café seating has contributed to a high quality, pedestrian <br />oriented environments within the areas specified in the ordinance. Through the <br />implementation of the Downtown Precise Plan, legally permitted restaurants and cafes <br />outside the ordinance boundaries are not able to install outdoor seating. <br />Staff proposes a modification to Section 33A.15 that would allow outdoor café seating <br />throughout Downtown within the precise plan area boundaries. This includes “new” <br />areas (e.g., North Plaza near train station) that weren’t contemplated at the time of the <br />last ordinance amendment. This change would allow legally permitted existing and <br />future restaurants and cafes to install outdoor seating (per the existing requirements), <br />which would further the vision and goals of the Downtown Precise Plan. All restaurants <br />would need to go through an approval process, and would have to meet certain <br />requirements and ongoing performance standards. <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVES <br />1. Council may choose not to adjust the definition of Downtown Sidewalk Café Area <br />and retain the existing definition. <br />2. Council may choose to expand the definition of Downtown Sidewalk Café Area to an <br />area larger than the current definition, but smaller than the staff recommendation. <br /> <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />The adoption of the ordinance would not result in a significant fiscal impact. The City <br />could receive additional revenue through the Downtown Sidewalk Café permit program, <br />but these fees would not completely offset the additional staff costs associated with <br />program administration. <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW <br />Adoption of an ordinance amending the definition of Downtown Sidewalk Area is <br />categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality (CEQA) Act, Section <br />15305, “Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations”, in that the expansion of the area <br />where sidewalk cafes would be allowed through the issuance of a permit for <br />encroachment onto the sidewalk area. These permits are considered a “minor <br />7.4.A. - Page 6