4. Parklets and Street Seats DiscussionPlanning & Economic
Development
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Mike Mornson, City Manager
FROM: Meg Beekman, Community Development Coordinator
DATE: February 10, 2015
SUBJECT: Parklet and Street Seats Policy Discussion
Background
In September 2014 the City installed a parklet on 8' Avenue just north of Mainstreet. The
parklet was up for five days and was part of a national Park(ing) Day celebration where
communities across the country convert on -street parking stalls into public parks. The goal of the
City's parklet project was to activate the street, support local businesses, and create attention for
the future Artery reconstruction of 81' Avenue which will convert the street into a much more
pedestrian focused environment.
By all account, the parklet was a great success. Local businesses took ownership over it; keeping
it picked up and clean; people used it throughout the day and evening to eat lunch, play games,
or just hang out; and it received positive press in both the local Sun Sailor and Star Tribune
newspapers.
Since September two businesses have approached the City interested in creating their own
parklets that could be in place for much longer periods of time. In addition, other businesses have
expressed an interest in having the City put a parklet in front of their store fronts should the
project be repeated.
In light of the interest in the City's parklet, and growing recognition over the lack of outdoor
gathering space specifically for restaurants on Mainstreet, staff has begun work on two distinct
but related programs; a semi-permanent city -owned parklet, and a street seats program that
would allow Mainstreet businesses to encroach into the right of way to create sidewalk cafe
seating.
City -Owned Parklet
The Rotary has expressed an interest in a partnership to design and construct a long lasting
parklet structure for the City. The City would own, maintain, and store the structure when not in
use. It could be brought out and placed in front of businesses willing to host the parklet, meaning
they would keep an eye on it, sweep it off, etc. The parklet could be moved on occasion, but
might be in place for several weeks at a time. The structure would remain open to the public,
have hours of operation and function similarly to the mini-parklet that the City installed this past
fall in front of LTD Brewing.
A parklet policy that would determine where the parklet could be located and how it would be
used would need to be drafted.
The City is especially interested in the possibility to bring attention to Mainstreet businesses
during the Mainstreet reconstruction period. The parklet could be a tool to accomplish some
positive press for Downtown Hopkins during this time.
The Rotary and City are still working out the details of how the parklet would be constructed and
paid for. Attached are images of parklets that are of a similar nature to what is being discussed in
Hopkins.
Street Seats Program
Staff has begun work on outlining a program that would allow restaurants and brew pubs in the
downtown area to encroach into the City right of way in front of their store front for additional
outdoor seating space. The working title for the project is the Street Seats program. The City has
been approached by two businesses interested in pursuing this program. Both Minneapolis and
Edina have programs that allow right of way encroachment for businesses to have outdoor
seating. The difference with these programs and the one Hopkins is looking at is that the
encroachments are located on sidewalks and do not extend beyond the curb line. In the case of
the Hopkins program, the encroachment would allow the business to take up on -street parking
space in front of their business to essentially bump the curb line out, allowing for additional
outdoor seating. The City of Portland has a similar program. The outcome is a structure that
looks a lot like a parklet, but is privately owned and maintained by the adjacent business and
functions like a private outdoor patio. Example photos are attached to this packet.
The goals of the program would be to support local businesses, encourage human interaction,
encourage street activity, and continue the City's art culture. Staff has started to discuss
internally what the process would be for a business to get a Street Seats permit. The discussion
has included:
• Neighbor notification
• Permitting and fees
• Design specifications for the structure itself
• Where the structures can be located
• How they would need to be maintained
• Any operational restrictions that might be appropriate
Staff can discuss these items in more detail the night of the work session.
Next Steps
Staff would like to reach out to the businesses that have expressed interest in this program, and
others, to get feedback on the idea itself as well as the specifics of the draft policy.
Staff needs to continue having internal discussions, including with the Police Department, to
make sure that the policy appropriately balances the needs of the businesses with the needs of the
City and public safety.
Council Action Requested
Please discuss the Street Seats program concept and provide direction on whether this is a
program that the City should pursue. If so, Staff will further refine the regulatory framework for
the program and bring back to the City Council at a future meeting for comment.
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