Council approves parklets for two more Belmont Shore businesses

Three businesses on Second Street have been approved for parklets this year, using a total of five parking spaces. 

One of Long Beach’s “parking-impacted” areas of the city received the OK for two permanent parklets (outdoor dining areas) from the City Council Tuesday night. 

Following mostly supportive comments from residents, city council unanimously approved permanent parklets for Aroma Di Roma and Open Sesame. Both businesses are located on Second Street in Belmont Shore. Open Sesame’s parklet will sit across the street from the Legends parklet, which was approved in February. 

Belmont Shore has become the epicenter for disagreements on parklets, with some residents citing walkability and neighborhood engagement as major benefits to the community, while others point out the already scarce parking situation. 

Councilmember Al Austin said parklets may be approved on a “first-come, first-served” basis. “I feel like this is going to get more competitive and tougher to approve over time.”

While only four permanent parklets have been approved in Long Beach, three of which are located on Second Street, one of the areas deemed as “parking-impacted” by the City. A total of five parking spaces have been slated for parklet use. 

Public Works Director Eric Lopez said 12 businesses are in the permanent parklet application process. The Signal Tribune contacted Public Works asking how many of these applications are located along Second Street/in Belmont Shore and has not received an answer at the time of publication. 

“We’re going to continue to look for solutions,” said Councilmember Kristina Duggan, who represents the area where both parklets will be located. “When we talk about additional people coming to the parklets, that also is driving the shopping and the economy and the walkability of Second Street, so retail is appreciative of those coming to dine from outside of our neighborhood.”

Members of a resident-formed group “Parking, Not Parklets” accused Duggan of ignoring emails, petitions and concerns from District 3 residents. This group was in direct opposition to the Belmont Shore Business Association, who voiced their support for parklets throughout the meeting. 

Since the Aroma Di Roma and Open Sesame applications both received letters of opposition from residents, the City Council conducted hearings on the items. 

Aroma Di Roma asked to use one parking space to hold six tables and six seats, with one table being ADA compliant. The coffee shop’s application received four letters of opposition and no letters of support. 

Open Sesame’s parklet will take up two parking spots and will housefive tables and 17 seats, with one table being ADA compliant. The restaurant’s application received 10 letters opposed to the parklet and 30 letters in support. 

The Aroma Di Roma and Open Sesame parklets mark the third and fourth approval of permanent parklets since the pandemic-era sidewalk dining, which allowed businesses to erect temporary parklets without formal application or approval process. During the COVID-19 indoor dining restrictions, 112 Long Beach businesses had outdoor dining areas. 

By 2022, most of these parklets had to be removed, and businesses that wished to keep their outdoor dining areas had to apply for a permanent parklet.

The process begins with $2,000 in application fees to the Long Beach Public Works Department, and if approved, annual reapplications. Lopez said that on top of these fees, businesses spend anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 on the design and construction of a permanent parklet.