At least one Coronado City Council member is suggesting a change in downtown parking requirements in hopes of getting take-out restaurants to fill empty retail spaces. But colleagues say the idea may not be as simple, or as welcome, as it sounds.
At a Jan. 20 meeting, Council member Mark Fleming called for a change to off-street parking requirements for “counter-oriented eating and drinking establishments” – a revision to waive the strict requirements for grab-and-go restaurants.
Twenty-three years ago, Coronado decided restaurants need more parking spaces than retail stores because people stay longer while dining. The resulting ordinance applied to all eateries – even restaurants that were set up as small stop-and-go spots, such as coffee or taco shops with no indoor seating.
…It would be easier for this new type of business model to operate in Coronado while causing minimal parking demand.
Council member Mark Fleming
Fleming tied the parking issue to vacant storefronts. In a letter to the council, he argued that if the city could treat grab-and-go food and beverage outlets as retail, “it would be easier for this new type of business model to operate in Coronado while causing minimal parking demand.”
As it stands, retail shops only need one spot per 500 square feet. Restaurants must provide one spot for every 100 square feet, even if they are ‘grab-and-go’ spots with no tables or chairs.
However at the meeting, Council member Carrie Anne Downey said the issue is not as simple as it may seem.
She explained that, when residents called for a review of parking problems, it required the city to revisit its Orange Avenue Specific Plan, and that would mean opening up the local coastal plan (LCP) and permit authority, requiring Coastal Commission approval.
She compared this to going through another housing plan: a rigorous and laborious process that takes years and involves a multitude of different agencies.
Council member Amy Steward agreed with Downey and said “we definitely don’t want to open our LCP.”
Council member Kelly Purvis noted that she hears complaints from city residents that, even under current policies, there is not enough parking on the island.
I’m kind of hesitant to try something where we’re going to reduce parking. I would rather table this for future talk … and don’t reduce parking in our downtown.
Council member Kelly Purvis
“I’m kind of hesitant to try something where we’re going to reduce parking,” Purvis added. “I would rather table this for future talk … and don’t reduce parking in our downtown.”
Mayor John Duncan said if no business owners were advocating for change then maybe it isn’t something the city needs to look at. However, he suggested letting staff study the matter and come back with findings as a future agenda item.
