An Old Town Orcutt pizzeria and a Los Olivos café are two of the businesses hoping to keep their outdoor dining areas as Santa Barbara County adopts new rules for parklets.
The county made temporary rules for parklets as part of its COVID-19 recovery plan. Now it’s the code to allow them permanently, Public Works Department director Chris Sneddon said.
The Board of Supervisors voted April 23 to allow “portable and removable” parklets on streets with speed limits under 30 mph.
The rules will come back for final approval on May 7.
Parklets wouldn’t be allowed to take up parking spaces in coastal areas — Isla Vista, Montecito or Summerland — unless they’re offset somewhere else, according to the county.
Guidelines were created for Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Orcutt and Santa Ynez, but parklets could be allowed in other areas if they meet the county requirements.
Each parklet permit would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, according to the Public Works Department.
“I really think outdoor dining is great, it enlivens the street,” Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann said.
“I’m really sorry that it’s going to be a change for some restaurateurs but I think it’s in the interest of the larger community.”
Existing parklets would have to meet the county’s new requirements to get a permit, and it’s unclear if all of the locations would qualify.
“Selfishly we want to see business continue to thrive,” said Robert Spallino, owner of Pizzeria Bella Forno, at 119 E. Clark Ave. in Old Town Orcutt.
He said the community supports his parklet and it adds to the walkable vibe of the community.
“Neighboring businesses benefit from our restaurant being busy because Orcutt offers, and Clark Avenue in our location, a unique view of the hills and the sunset,” he said during public comment at Tuesday’s meeting.
Sam Marmorstein said his parklet for the Los Olivos Wine Market & Café, at 2879 Grand Ave., takes up two parking spots, which is “not going to make a difference” for overall demand.
It adds to the ambience by letting people sit outside and bring their dogs along, he told the Board of Supervisors.
“If I knew I could keep the parklet another one or two years I could make an investment in it and make it look a lot nicer than the orange barriers on there now,” he said.
“We didn’t know from the county how long we could keep it.”
Staff will come back to the supervisors with proposed fees for the annual business roadway encroachment permits.
The county currently charges $1.20 per square foot for outdoor dining fees on sidewalks and other public rights-of-way, and could charge something similar for parklets, according to the Public Works Department.