The Mountain View Environmental Planning Commission last week approved amendments to the Downtown Precise Plan that authorized outdoor dining and merchandise displays, and repealed the Sidewalk Cafe Program and replaced it with the Outdoor Patio Program.
In addition, commissioners presented research and recommendations at the April 19 meeting to city staff on proposed wider walkways for pedestrians and emphasized the need for greater community outreach, especially for businesses on the corners of Castro Street at Evelyn Avenue and California, West Dana and Villa streets.
The Downtown Precise Plan spans sections of Castro from Evelyn to California. City codes and ordinances related to the Sidewalk Cafe Program, set to end in January, will be carried over to the Outdoor Patio Program.
Among the proposed changes to reduce sidewalk congestion is modifying patios to allow 8 feet of sidewalk space instead of the current 4 feet.
Commissioner William Cranston voiced concern about the sidewalk change, questioning why the sidewalk pedestrian space doubled from 4 to 8 feet, instead of 6 feet. He said he viewed the change “as a one-way trip.”
“Let’s make sure we take the trip that we want; if we decide that later it should have been 6, we’ll never get it back,” he said. “I’m not questioning what staff has done, I’m cautious of one element of the plan.”
According to Lindsay Hagan, assistant community development director, the city plans to institute a grant program to enable businesses to purchase furnishings that meet the rule.
Call for more data
Commissioners, excluding the absent Preeti Hehmeyer, agreed that more research related to the sidewalk space was needed and formally recommended it to city staff.
“We’re perhaps recommending to staff to add data or reassurance that outreach has been done, how much outreach, and ensure that side-street businesses also are talked to and have feedback that is incorporated,” said commission chairperson Joyce Yin, before the 6-0 vote endorsing the changes. “As others have mentioned, it’s really just the reassurance that it has been done, that it is iterative.”
Commissioner Alex Núñez inquired about the feasibility of including how many businesses were contacted, how many responded and how many were on the Castro cross streets; city staff said it was doable.
Commission vice chairperson Hank Dempsey questioned why tents were explicitly banned, especially considering rainy winter conditions. According to city staff, fixtures such as tents were initially allowed because their implementation was the only way for some businesses to earn money during the pandemic. With indoor dining now allowed, tents aren’t as needed.
Many of the furnishings will also be easily movable when needed, as city staff hope to have the sidewalk dining areas along Castro power-washed biannually.
“Nothing permanent is getting installed,” said Dawn Cameron, public works director. “Everything has to be movable – we want to be able to just move things around, learn from it; it will help us get ready for the permanent mall, allow us to stay flexible in working with the businesses and support them to the greatest extent possible.”
City staff plan to bring the final report and changes before the council May 9.
