City considers outdoor sidewalk cafe area policies
–At the most recent Paso Robles City Council meeting, the council referred a new policy proposal for outdoor sidewalk café areas back to staff to obtain additional public input, and specifically, the inclusion of all businesses potentially impacted by the proposed new standards. The proposed policy would standardize the design and clearance requirements for fenced off areas, and require businesses with outdoor use areas to enter into a standard encroachment permit agreement to protect both parties.
The staff report presented to the city council stated, “Fenced Sidewalk Cafes is becoming more common in the downtown as the number of restaurants continues to increase. While the cafés create additional downtown activity and are enjoyed by restaurant customers, they also reduce the width of the sidewalk area for pedestrians.”
To view the complete report, click here.
