Santa Cruz Planning Commission moves forward on streamlining outdoor dining regulations
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) - June 20, 2024 10:45 P.M. - On Thursday night, the City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission unanimously passed amendments to the city's outdoor seating rules.
According to the city, the changes will remove the use permit and design permit requirements, reducing costs saving review time for businesses.
ORIGINAL - June 19, 2024 10:36 P.M. - Some businesses are concerned the process to get an outdoor dining permit in the city costs too much and takes too much time to get done.
Temporary outdoor dining has helped many local businesses and restaurants be able to survive during the pandemic, but now many owners are looking into a permanent outdoor seating arrangement.
During the pandemic temporary outdoor dining helped many local business survive. Hula’s Island Grill was one of the few business downtown that expanded their outdoor seating before the pandemic, having it for six years helped the restaurant.
“You can see you know the other side they gave us about maybe a foot and it makes a big difference but we do we. we definitely wish we could have more just because you know that sometimes when we are completely full," Francisco Cervantes general manager of Hula’s Island said.
On Thursday, the Santa Cruz planning commission is hearing concerns about the city's move to make it more efficient for businesses wanting parklets.
The simple building permit would only be for restaurants requesting outdoor patios no larger than 300 square feet.
Commissioner's say many businesses, however, are asking for larger patios.
“We are still in our infancy stages of our small business so for us it’s a bit out of reach, but it’s definitely something we would like to consider in the future," Chelsea Cabrera cofounder of Mariposa Coffee said.
Another concern is the cost, permits for outdoor areas serving alcohol, for example, would need to pay more than 5-thousand dollars and wait three to six months for a review.
The commissioners are proposing removing the use permit and design permit requirements, which could mean a savings between $45,000 to $7,000.
Santa Cruz county brings in many tourism and visitors like Harold Spiva from San Francisco and he likes the idea of having more permanent outdoor seating downtown.
“Santa Cruz county is definitely in need of more outdoor dining so they can expand the experience of enjoyment for tourism as well as the locals who live here," Harold Shiva visiting from San Francisco said.
Many restaurant owners say the permanent outdoor seating will bring in more people into the downtown Santa Cruz area.
This agenda item will be discussed during the planning commission's meeting Thursday at 7 pm.
