City considers decrease in parklet program fees
Larkspur officials are considering new rates for the city's outdoor dining fee.
The City Council heard a presentation on the topic at its meeting on Wednesday. The session focused on possible changes to the program after concerns were raised by downtown restaurateurs.
The fee has been suspended since a meeting in November. Staff will return with two new options for the council, which will hear public comments on the plan. “We've shown you some options in here,” said Public Works Director
Julian Skinner. The council proposed a fee reduction from $4 per square foot to as low as $1 per square foot. Another option could be a $2 per square foot fee if a business occupies a parking space with its parklet.
The new plan also will consider expansions to outdoor dining, which is only allowed on Magnolia Avenue. The council will later consider surrounding neighborhoods, called the storefront and garden district zones, for expanded access to the outdoor dining program.
The council adopted a framework for the program at a meeting in June 2022, giving staff the ability to implement policy to lease
the public right of way to restaurants. The system applied to encroachment permits for any business using public space.
The fee schedule for the program allowed the public works department to set the cost per square foot at the prevailing market rate. Generally, the system limited restaurants to no more than two parking spaces for parklets and set a cost of $4 per square foot for use of the parking spaces and sidewalks.
Councilmember Gabe Paulson said he supports the modifications in order to promote a quality-of-life benefit such as outdoor