Portland pilots 'parklet' outdoor dining program
PORTLAND — Businesses that don't have enough space for outside dining, but have adequate parking can now be part of the pilot "parklet" program.
Parklets are outdoor dining spaces that use an on-street parking space. They'll be built on a platform and include tables and chairs. City officials said in a news release they are safely used in cities around the country. The city's pilot program will allow five this year.
The introduction of parklets is allowed by a new state law that gives municipalities the leeway to let establishments with liquor licenses serve customers on city-owned property, the news release said.
Parklets will have to be on a raised platform and use curb stops and other tools to ensure that patrons are protected from traffic. The also must be handicapped accessible. A building permit will be required to construct the platform, which must be built of durable, slip-resistant materials. It must remain for the entire outdoor dining season, from April 1 to Nov. 15, and be removed when the season ends.
The Portland City Council approved an amendment to the City Code, Chapter 25-27, on April 8 to create a new outdoor dining permit and set fees for parklet outdoor dining spaces.
"The pilot project will allow the city to monitor these spaces, ensure public safety and ensure that the initial guidelines and restrictions constitute best practices when it comes to the regulation of these spaces," the release said.
The Council’s Economic Development Committee first discussed the idea of parklets during its February meeting and asked city staff to conduct outreach. City staff met with restaurant operators and other downtown businesses to hear their ideas and concerns.
City Councilor Spencer Thibodeau, who is on the Economic Development Committee and first proposed the parklet idea said the new program is the result of "three years of hard work."
"It will allow local businesses to expand their reach outdoors," he said. "Vibrant cities across the country have realized the continued gains of providing outdoor space in an urban setting. I am excited to see this use expanded to Portland."
Establishments may apply for a parklet permit through the city’s Business Licensing division. The fee is $5,520, which is equal to what the revenue gained from a typical downtown parking space would be.
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