Amendment to Sidewalk Cafe Policy; Domeier
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Amy Domeier, City Clerk
Date: February 14, 2017
Subject: Amendment to Sidewalk Café Policy
_____________________________________________________________________
Staff is requesting the City Council to consider an amendment to City Policy 5 -I –
Sidewalk Café Policy. The current policy states that sidewalk cafes are limited to
businesses that do not have private opportunitie s for outdoor seating in the front or
street side of their building. LTD made renovations to their building last year including
an outdoor patio on the street side of their business. Staff informed LTD that they no
longer qualified to receive a sidewalk café permit. LTD requested that staff reconsider
the policy to allow a sidewalk café at their location.
After the February 7 regular meeting, the City Council held discussions about City
Policy 5-I – Sidewalk Café Policy. Discussion was held regarding parking, traffic, the
artery project, amount of outdoor seating and other opportunities in the area for outdoor
seating on side streets. The City Council directed staff to amend the policy and allow
restaurants on the side streets to be eligible for sidewalk cafes. Staff is proposing the
following amendments:
5. CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
5.01 Site Specifications:
Sidewalk Cafes are limited to restaurants and brewpubs between 7th Avenue
and 13th Avenue. Business must either front Mainstreet or front a right of way
located within half block from Mainstreet. To qualify for a Sidewalk Café, the
business shall not have private opportunities for outdoor seating in the front
of building or street side on Mainstreet.
Sidewalk Cafe area shall be limited to the public right of way abutting the
business to which it is attached.
Sidewalk Cafe may not block access to a bus stop.
Sidewalk Cafe must be located at least 20 feet from any fire hydrants.
Sidewalk Cafe must not block site lines at intersections as determined by the
City Engineer.
The City maintains the right to review and make final determination as to
whether or not a Sidewalk Café would be allowed based on the unique
circumstances related to each business. Factors that will be considered
would include, but not be limited to, public safety, location, impacts to
vehicular and pedestrian traffic circulation, and impacts to parking. The City
maintains the right to review and make final determination as to the location
City Clerk
of each Sidewalk Café based on the unique circumstances related to each
business.
The proposed language would make LTD eligible for the sidewalk café and give City
staff the option to consider traffic and parking when reviewing applications.
If you have any further questions, please let me know.