Staff Report
PREPARED BY: Monica Renn
Economic Vitality Manager
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 12/17/2019
ITEM NO: 20
DATE: December 12, 2019
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Receive an Update on the Parklet Pilot Program and Provide Direction on:
a. Parking Space Usage for Specific Parklet Applications Along W. Main
Street and Montebello Avenue, and E. Main Street
b. Maximum Number of Spaces Allotted Per Business Parklet and the
Related Maximum Number of Parking Spaces Removed from the
Parking Inventory;
c. Future Parklet Applications; and
d. Any Additional Pilot Program Input.
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive an update on the Parklet Pilot Program and provide direction on:
a. Parking space usage for specific parklet applications along W. Main Street and
Montebello Avenue, and E. Main Street
b. Maximum number of spaces allotted per business and the related maximum number of
parking spaces removed from the parking inventory
c. Future parklet applications; and
d. Any additional pilot program input.
BACKGROUND:
At its February 5, 2019 meeting, the Town Council unanimously voted to approve a pilot parklet
program as a public-private parklet partnership for Downtown along Main Street and N. Santa
Cruz Avenue. On May 7, 2019, the Council voted to expand the pilot further to include side
streets within the C-2/Downtown zone given the business interest in the program.
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SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION ON PARKLET PILOT PROGRAM
DATE: DECEMBER 6, 2019
DISCUSSION:
Since the adoption of the parklet pilot program, staff has worked closely with businesses and
property owners to answer questions, process applications, and issue building permits. During
this summer’s one-way pilot program on N. Santa Cruz Avenue, many businesses experienced
how the community embraced the parklets and this further encouraged restaurants to
participate in the parklet pilot program.
To date, staff has received seven applications, three of which have been issued building
permits. The remaining applications are at various stages in the process. There are an
additional three to four businesses that have contacted staff and reported that they intend to
submit applications soon. Below is a summary of the applications received and their status.
Staff has found that the interest from businesses is high, and most businesses are looking to
occupy as many parking spaces as possible that extend in front of their businesses’ building
frontage. With such a high interest and desire for maximum parking s pot occupation, staff felt
it appropriate to check in with the Town Council to understand if there is a desire to modify any
of the parameters of the parklet pilot program or cap the number of parklets that may
participate in the program at this time.
Staff would also like to receive direction from the Council on a particular parklet proposal that
presents a unique situation. There is an active application for a parklet at 145 W. Main Street.
This is a new restaurant that would occupy the former Le Bou langer space and expects to open
Business Address Business Name # of
Spaces Application Status
81 W. Main St Zona Rosa 2 Building permit pending
109 W. Main St Centonove 2 Under construction
217 N. Santa Cruz Ave Rootstock 3 Under construction
9 N. Santa Cruz Ave Pizza My Heart 2 Building permit pending
145 W. Main St Vacant/fully leased to new
restaurant
Requested
4 spaces*
First comments issued, applicant
preparing resubmittal.
*Requested four continuous spaces on
Montebello, second option, two spaces
on Montebello and two spaces on Main.
27-35 E. Main St
27 - Southern Kitchen
29 - Billy's Boston
Chowder House
33 - Vacant
35 - Namaste
4 First comments issued, applicant
preparing resubmittal
21 N. Santa Cruz Andale 2 Building permit pending
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SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION ON PARKLET PILOT PROGRAM
DATE: DECEMBER 6, 2019
DISCUSSION (continued):
in spring/summer of 2020. There are six on-street parking spaces located directly in front of
the business, two parallel parking spaces along W. Main Street and four diagonal spaces along
Montebello Avenue. The business has expressed their understanding and appreciation for
maximizing both outdoor seating and parking availability within downtown and thus applied for
a parklet on four of the six spaces that front their building. The application originally requested
the use of four spaces for two parklets utilizing two spaces on Montebello Avenue and two
spaces on W. Main Street. Through discussions with the applicant, the request currently
proposes a single parklet that would occupy all four of the spaces in front of their restaurant on
Montebello Avenue. The use of four spaces on Montebello Avenue provides the ability for the
restaurant to serve patrons most efficiently and provides for a larger outdoor eating area and
community gathering space in front of Plaza Park. It should be noted that this does create a
particular challenge given that the Farmer’s Market occupies these spaces on Montebello
Avenue each Sunday and has expressed some concern with relocating the booths that currently
occupy these four spaces. Staff attempted to re-connect with the Farmer’s Market to
understand if there continues to be a concern with losing this real estate for the market and at
the time of this staff report has not received any additional response.
Allowing the business to occupy two of the spaces on Montebello Avenue may be the most
desirable way to provide support of both programs; however, the staff looks forward to the
Council’s discussion and direction on this.
While the parklet application at 145 W. Main presents a unique situation, it also speaks to a
larger question in which the staff is seeking direction. Would the Council like to implement a
per parklet cap on the number of parking spaces that may be occupi ed, and/or a total cap on
number of parking spaces that may be removed from the parking inventory for the use of
parklets? Another pending parklet application is for one large parklet divided into four spaces
in front of the Beckwidth Building, located at 27-35 E. Main Street. In this case, the building
owner is the applicant for the parklet and is requesting to remove all of the parking in front of
the building (four spaces) to construct a large parklet divided into four sections to serve the
restaurant spaces within the building.
Staff is seeking the Council’s input on these items so that clear direction may be provided to
the applicants, and so that the Council is fully aware of the interest and investment that is being
received regarding this pilot program. In addition, many stakeholders are asking for a clearer
idea of the duration of the parklet pilot as they weigh the investment that is required to build
and maintain them. Through applicants, staff has learned that the cost associated with
planning and implementing each parklet ranges from $50,000 to $100,000 before they are
furnished. As a result of these inquiries, would the Council like to provide direction or
expectations on the minimum duration of the pilot? Additionally, are there other parameters
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SUBJECT: PROVIDE DIRECTION ON PARKLET PILOT PROGRAM
DATE: DECEMBER 6, 2019
that the Town Council would like to consider implementing, or a benchmark in which staff
should return to the Council with further updates?
CONCLUSION:
After receiving and discussing this staff report, staff is recommending that the Town
Council provide direction on the following items, and any additional provisions that are desired:
• Would the Council like to cap or temporarily cap the number of parklet applications
accepted? If so, what number?
• Would the Council like to cap the number of parking spaces that any given business or
property owner may occupy?
o Specifically, would the Council like to provide direction on the following
applications:
▪ The corner of Montebello Avenue/W. Main Street
▪ 27-35 E. Main Street
• Would the Council like to cap the total number of spaces that may be removed from the
parking inventory for the use of parklets? If so, what would be the maximum number of
spaces?
• Would the Council like to provide direction or expectations on the minimum duration of
the pilot?
• What other input or direction the Council would like to provide to staff?
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact from this action.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.