Tag Archives: Parklets

Pacific Grove Pedestrians Could Regain Walking Capacity If City Approves New Parklet Plans

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Depiction is very different from the fenced in donkey corrals with strings of lights and patio heaters. BUT LOOK AT THAT SIDEWALK!!

New Sidwalk Seatiing

Parklet problems continue in Pacific Grove. The city is pushing back discussions to next week on the future of three parklets on a busy road in Pacific Grove. The main reason for the changes is safety.

“Safety wins over seating,” said Frank Syster who lives in Pacific Grove.

“I think it’s great to have a pedestrian-oriented city, and I think this just makes us more pedestrian, which is great,” said Dea Greenwalt who lives in Pacific Grove.

Pacific Grove Pedestrians Could Regain Walking Capacity If City Approves New Parklet Plans

P.G. Parklet Redesign

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Parklett Parking

Wait, the taxpayers bear the cost of this? No no no. The businesses that are using what was parking spaces need to pay for it.

The new dining area proposal — which could cost taxpayers $250,000 — would route pedestrians on the extended sidewalk around the dining area and toward the street. That configuration, the subcommittee said, would offer more room for pedestrians, including disabled people.

Whatever the council decides next week, members will likely discuss the demolition of Victorian Corner parklet, which is not compliant with a new state law — Assembly Bill 413 — that went into effect Jan. I. T

Another rule that is needed, the spaces need to be occupied more than 3 hours a day 5 days a week. Pointing at you Spotted Duck. Parklet space sits unused until 5 pm except Monday and Tuesday when it’s empty all day.

Spotty Duck Parklet

P.G. Parklet Redesign

Tear Down The Parklets

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Some are empty more than they are used. Some have unsafe conditions.

Parklett Parking

Prompting those letters was an 86-page report by a P.G. Planning Commission subcommittee that recommended 14 rules for parklets. Those rules would have meant all existing parklets would have to be torn down; some could have and rebuilt much smaller, and at least five of the current 13 parklets would have been eliminated entirely.

Despite pleas from restaurant owners who said the new rules would hurt their businesses in a time of inflation and other challenges, the Planning Commission voted 4-1 on Dec. 8 to send the recommendations to the City Council.

 

Some of the commission’s recommendations went beyond what was required by existing codes, said John Kuehl, the city’s chief building official. While the planning commissioners were concerned about safety, Kuehl suggested that some people’s perception of what’s safe may not correlate with laws already in place.

Tear Down The Parklets

Forest Avenue Demolition Derby Day

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Good thing there were no parklets in the way

The first accident happened around nine in the morning. The driver was trying to park but hit the gas instead of the break driving into Bookmark Music Store on Forest Avenue. No one was hurt but significant damage was done to the storefront. Then about an hour later — a second driver drove into the side of Mum’s Furniture Store. The shop is also in downtown Pacific Grove and it is also on Forest Avenue, just one block away from the first accident

Forest Avenue Demolition Derby

Parklets Proposing Permanency?

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Keep one eye on the street.

Parklett Parking

Business and civic leaders in Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel are all expressing enthusiasm for the “parklet” concept. Businesses can add outdoor space by creating parklets that move tables out onto city properties, such as sidewalks and parking spaces.

City officials in Monterey are considering removing one lane on Alvarado Street to provide for more room for businesses to expand outside. Carmel has made sidewalks available for more than 30 restaurants and Pacific Grove is hearing nothing but glowing responses to the 11 parklets that line Lighthouse Avenue.

There are multiple ways to construct parklets, but the two most common are moving tables out onto former parking spaces or moving the sidewalk out to the parking spaces so patrons can sit between the sidewalk and the restaurants.

“It’s safer not putting diners next to traffic,” Johnson said.

Parklets Proposing Permanency?

Ben Harvey Says Close The Streets Off

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Parklett Parking

So we can eat our $22 noodles out in the street with the seagulls.

“So far, we have identified two businesses that are in favor of the street closure out of 33 businesses in the two blocks,” Ammar said in a letter urging the council to not OK City Manager Ben Harvey’s plan and keep all of Lighthouse open to vehicles Besides being unpopular, Ammar said Harvey’s plan lacked transparency and would eliminate 48 parking spaces. The Monday farmer’s market shuts down Central Avenue, which means drivers trying to get through the area would have to be rerouted to Laurel or Pine avenues.

Ben Harvey Says Close The Streets Off

Favaloros Might Just Take Their Fence And Go

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Pick a fight with the Favaloros, eh? That’s what they like. According to the newz, the fence must be bolted permanently to the sidewalk due to liquor rules. So is it a cafe or a bar?Favaloros Fence

City Manager Tom Frutchey told News Channel 5 the city authorized the business to build temporary, movable fencing, but not permanent. Otherwise, he said Cafe Ariana is making public property, private.

On Friday, the city made a visit to the business and said it would help take down the fencing. The city told News Channel 5 it would be willing to weld steel bars to the bottom of the fence so that it’s movable.

Favaloro said she’s ready to close her business of nearly 21 years because the city went back on its word

Please. Leave. Don’t forget to give back the sidewalk you fenced off.

Favaloros Might Just Take Their Fence And Go

Also see the video segment with the owner’s dramatics.

Favaloro Fences In The Tables So You Can Be Under The Table

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Favaloros Fence

So is is a Cafe or is it a bar? The drama goes on about the loss of the sidewalk in front of Cafe Ariana.

In order to serve alcohol, some type of enclosure is required by the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control. The owners at Cafe Ariana feel the rug is being pulled out from underneath them.

“I think its kind of sad that there’s opposition to this because Pacific Grove has always been a sleepy town and I know we’ve been here for almost 21 years and it hasn’t been getting easier,” Favaloro said.

Favaloro Fences In The Tables So You Can Be Under The Table

Invasion Of The Parklets

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Parklett Parking

 

The City Council on Wednesday will consider approving a pilot project to allow four “parklets” — curbside parking areas converted to another use such as outdoor dining, seating or planters — in the downtown and Central Avenue areas.

The idea is used in many cities to add space for shops in urban areas, says economic development manager Kurt Overmeyer in a council report.

The downtown and Central Avenue commercial areas have the potential to be “high-energy corridors” if they encourage pedestrians and foster better interaction between the street and stores, the report says.

Three downtown businesses and one on Central Avenue are interested in a parklet pilot program if the city pitched in, the report says. Each has at least one adjacent parking space that could be used without hurting the nearby parking supply.

The city is being asked to spend up to $15,000 for traffic barriers to protect the parklets.

Protect the parklets? What about the people crazy enough to dine in the street?

Invasion Of The Parklets