Long Beach City Council voted unanimously to reevaluate the process for restaurants and eateries to apply for a permanent parklet, potentially removing the requirement for community group approval.
The city currently has 40 temporary parklets remaining from the 125 that went up in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. Twenty-one of the businesses that applied for permanent parklets were approved to keep them up during the application process while the remaining businesses must remove the structures by Dec. 31.
“We never intended to have veto power given to an organization,” said Eric Lopez, director of Public Works.
As it stands, the 21 restaurants in Long Beach applying to keep their parklets must obtain approval from community groups in order to proceed, meaning these groups have the power to deny a business’s application.
“I am one of those who believe that parklets have made our dining spaces even better. They helped save a lot of our businesses during the pandemic,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “My concern on the process as it stands today is that we’ve been approached by numerous groups who are considered community groups who shouldn’t be, and other groups that want to be considered and are not.”
According to the city council, there are gardening groups in the city that are considered during the process, yet certain business associations such as the Naples Island Business Association are not permitted to voice their opinion.
Councilmember Suzie Price brought the item forward and pointed out multiple times that “the item is not meant to eliminate community input” as it will still remain “a critical factor to be considered.”
She said the current ordinance does not outline which groups in the city can give their input for certain locations, stating that sometimes restaurants have to get approval from three different groups. There is also no direction for how the groups must make their decisions; whether it’s a board decision, a president decision or a majority vote.
“What’s happening is permanent parklet applications can’t move forward and neighborhood groups are asking, ‘How are we supposed to be taking the vote,’” Price said.
Director of Development Services Christopher Koontz pointed out that businesses applying for an outdoor patio must follow a similar process where they “consult” neighborhood groups, though they don’t have to get approval from specific groups based on their location.
Multiple businesses within Belmont Shore took to the podium to speak about the “standstill” they find themselves in. Belmont Shore restaurants also have to go through the coastal permitting process that the City conducts on behalf of the Coastal Commission.
Panama Joe’s owner Fabius Rizk said that businesses in Belmont Shore have worked with neighborhood groups to make parklets smaller and have removed most of the structures.
“I cannot tell you how much parklets have helped our business during the roughly one year we were able to utilize it,” said Kristen Rodriguez of Colossus Bakery. “For context all this took was one parking space.”
Rodriguez spoke through tears that she has heard from residents in Belmont Shore that they plan to veto any parklets that apply in the area.
“I think it’s our lack of clarity in the process that has resulted in this standstill,” Price said. “We cannot have a good policy if we have a blanket policy. I think we need to look at it on a case-by-case basis. We have good actors and bad actors.”
Price asked City staff to return in a week with an updated ordinance, but City Manager Tom Modica said that the quick turnaround means “there’s a small chance we get it right.” Staff will return with updates on Jan. 17, after Price’s term as council member is over.
