San Francisco makes parklets program everlasting
The parklets that popped up across San Francisco at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to allow for al fresco dining and shopping are here to stay.
Overseers voted Tuesday for a revised version of the Shared Spaces Regulation, which will allow companies to work permanently outside in spaces built on sidewalks and parking lots.
Legislation, endorsed by supervisors Ahsha Safaí, Rafael Mandelman, Catherine Stefani, and Matt Haney, governs the program and regulates everything from approval fees to application and approval processes.
According to the ordinance, fees will only be introduced after two years. After this period, retail chains will have to pay a fee of up to $ 3,000 per year for a single parking space, while small businesses can apply for a fee waiver, according to KTVU.
I am excited to see our shared space legislation being passed unanimously by the board, which means the parklets and outdoor dining we love so much will now be permanent in San Francisco! pic.twitter.com/jNgeKLZW2V
– London Breed (@LondonBreed) July 14, 2021
“Shared spaces have brought life and tension back to our neighborhoods in an incredibly challenging time. It was wonderful to see friends and families enjoy their community and support their local businesses, ”Mayor London Breed said in a statement. “By taking the steps necessary to make Shared Spaces permanent, we are providing another lifeline for local businesses to thrive and creating a clear path to rebuilding our economy as San Francisco recovers from COVID-19.”
Managers spoke at length about concerns about vandalism and illegal activity that can occur in parklets overnight, and in response, Safaí introduced an amendment to the regulation that allows companies to close parklets from midnight to 7 a.m., KTVU said. The regulatory authorities approved the change.
“We are pleased that the Shared Spaces Legislation has been passed by the Board today, with some important changes submitted by Supervisor Safaí that will make this program work for restaurants, their employees and our community,” said Laurie Thomas, Executive Director by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association and owner of Rose’s Cafe. “We thank Mayor Breed for her unwavering leadership in this groundbreaking policy, the members of the board of directors who supported this, the city officials and their staff for the hard work to bring this together, and the residents and lawyers who worked on it, theirs To share perspectives. “
Sharky Laguana, president of the San Francisco Small Business Commission, called the decision to keep parklets the biggest land use change in San Francisco since the 1906 earthquake. “I’m extremely happy,” Laguana wrote on Twitter. “We have a permanent Shared Spaces program. Outdoor dining is here to stay.”
