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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/5/2022 Item 6a, Kern Delgado, Adriana Molly Kern <molly@slochamber.org> Sent:Tuesday, July To:E-mail Council Website Cc:Jim Dantona Subject:Parklets Attachments:Parklets_ SLO Chamber.docx.pdf This message is from an External Source. Use caution when deciding to open attachments, click links, or respond. Dear Mayor Stewart and Council Members, I hope this email finds you well. Attached, please find a letter from the SLO Chamber regarding the proposed parklet program. We look forward to your discussion of the issue at tonight's meeting and to answering any questions you might have. Thank you for your consideration, Molly Molly Kern Director of Governmental Affairs San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce T: 805.786.2763 C: 805.440.3941 slochamber.org | imagineslo.com 1 July 5, 2022 Dear Mayor Stewart and Council Members, I am writing to you today to share the SLO Chamber of Commerce’s support of your proposed parklet program and ask that a few items be considered for clarification. One of the most visible ways that our community has changed and our City has stepped up to support business in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is the addition of parklets. As we have stated in the past, we are supportive of this work and believe that an ideal parklet program should have a simple, straightforward, and efficient process, include clear, objective design standards & guidelines for maintenance, and prioritize prompt addition and removal of parklets. With these elements, a program can both support a vibrant downtown and also advance equity between restaurants and other businesses in parklet heavy areas. In the draft before you, we are particularly supportive of the improved clarity on design and upkeep expectations, safety and accessibility standards, the clear and predictable approval process, provisions that strike the right balance between flexibility and ensuring that a parklet is not sitting around empty and unused, and the generous timeline that allows businesses to transition into the permanent program. To address the prompt removal of unused parklets — a major concern for businesses without parklets — we ask that you implement a simple intent application this summer to better understand which businesses will be moving forward with a permanent parklet and remove those that will not. To ensure that this process is effective but not costly or burdensome, a modest fee associated with this intent application should roll into the future parklet fee if the process is completed. We are also sensitive to the fact that the largest cost to a business to have a permanent parklet will not be the city fees but everything that goes into building it. Inspired by the pre-approved plans that have been effective in lowering barriers to building ADUs, parklet design and engineering costs could be lowered with the creation of standard plans that can be used ‘off the shelf.’ Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Jim Dantona President/CEO San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce