Sidewalk Space Absorbs Council at Meeting

Grappling with the thorny issue of helping local restaurants provide outdoor dining for their customers while keeping sidewalks clear for pedestrians, the Hermosa Beach City Council approved last night a measure that would allow restaurants to provide outdoor seating with a more easily approved encroachment permit rather than a conditional use permit. 

The new measure makes permanent most of a temporary measure passed last fall with some minor revisions as to the requirements for the sidewalk seating.

The council also approved the Affordable Housing Overlay Zone, which would create a four-acre section of the city in which affordable housing would be the priority for development projects.

Prior to the passing of the temporary interim ordinance, restaurants that wanted to provide outdoor seating had to get a conditional use permit, which requires a hearing before the Planning Commission before it can be granted. An encroachment permit, however, can be granted once city staff members have verified that the restaurant's plans meet the requirements laid out by the new measure.

The new requirements include allowing at least five feet of sidewalk space clear, and would ban the sale of alcohol in outdoor areas, nor would restaurants be allowed to put up barriers.

Upper Pier Avenue would be excluded from the measure.

Part of the measure, concerning the placement of sidewalk signs and merchandise racks, was sent back to the Planning Commission for further deliberation.