Resources

Georgetown Coalition for Public Spaces Petitions to Improve Streateries

A petition calling for “common-sense re-adjustments” to Georgetown’s streateries programs, launched by the GCPS calls attention to the many issues with upkeep and maintenance of streateries. September 18, 2023, Georgetowner

Re-Invisioning Outdoor Dining in Georgetown

September 21, 2023, The Georgetown Dish

New York City Will Make Outdoor Dining Permanent, With Caveats

New rules passed by the city council on Thursday will organize the haphazard but popular outdoor dining structures, but will force their removal in winter.

The Georgetown, October 13, 2021 Issue

ANC Commissioners requesting removal of decking. Pages 8-9

France bans heated terraces cutting emissions equivalent to 300,000 cars every year

In a bid to limit carbon emissions, it is now illegal in France for cafes, restaurants, bars and other establishments to operate heated terraces.

New Jersey: Rats and Streateries

Excerpt:

Outdoor Dining Law Changes

With the growing rat crisis, there have been concerns about outdoor dining areas, particularly parklets and streateries, being a primary food source for rats. However, instead of closing these areas, the city council is focusing on ensuring that they are clean and free from rats.

The proposed legislation, set to be voted on in the next City Council meeting, clarifies that owners of outdoor dining areas are responsible for cleaning and pest control. The legislation provides guidelines for property owners, including daily inspections, regular power washing, and scheduled extermination services.

City of Bellingham, WA Streatery Program Assessment

Excerpt from the assessment:

Page 7:

“If restaurants want to expand seating, they should have to pay to do so at their own expense (commensurate with the vast increase in sales from all the additional seats), not at taxpayer expense.”

- Bellingham Survey Respondent

…streateries represent the potential loss of revenue of $18 per parking stall per day, which is highly variable based on the location, hours and frequency of use of each stall. For example, if the 49 parking spaces were utilized 85% of the time during paid parking hours (which is a very high utilization estimate), each stall would generate approximately $4,775 annually, for a total annual revenue of $233,906 into the parking services fund.

Pages 3 - 4:

The number one concern expressed in the survey was the design and feel of streateries, with an emphasis on improving the quality of building materials and providing cohesiveness of the structure with the character of downtown. This issue, particularly the structural integrity, material, and safety aspects, was listed as a primary concern in over 100 of the written survey responses.

Other common recommendations from the surveyed population were to:

1. Add design standards (e.g. not allow at grade with drive lanes, consideration for blocking historic buildings, no plastic, no construction barriers).

2. Either remove them altogether OR add more (or additional consideration of appropriate locations).

3. Support more pedestrian streets, lane or block closures or public spaces in general (with some concerns expressed about the use of drive lanes for this purpose).

4. Charge fees for fairness and to replace lost parking revenue.

5. Consider loading areas/impact on vehicle and bike parking.

6. Increase visibility for vehicles and better site lines for pedestrians.

7. Standardize traffic barriers.

8. Integrate them into the streetscape for more permanence and cohesion.

9. Require cleaning and maintenance.

Other top concerns were displacement of parking, safety while dining, sidewalk congestion for pedestrians, and accessibility/compliance with ADA requirements. Over 50 comments focused on restricting streateries to warmer seasons or providing more heating and protection from the elements for winter comfort.