Pandemic-Era Restaurant Measures Become Permanent

On Monday night the City Council approved amendments to the zoning code codifying some pandemic-era measures for restaurants, including walk-up windows by right, an Administrative Conditional Use Permit process for the on-site sale of alcohol, and outdoor dining on private parking lots and plazas.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the City implemented several temporary measures to assist local restaurants and the local economy. Three of these measures were successful enough to be formally proposed for addition to the Zoning Code,” according to a City staff report.

Mayor Victor Gordo expressed concerns about potential residential impacts caused by the by-right service windows. The Council added performance measures on lighting and amplified sounds, and required a minor CUP for walk-up windows adjacent to residential areas.

“Suddenly you have what was a wall of a restaurant activated with foot traffic, lighting and commercial sales,” Gordo said.

The Economic Development & Technology Committee had voted to recommend the City Council codify the three pandemic-era measures in May.

The amendments would streamline the review process. Restaurants still have to abide by operating hours and local noise ordinance. Prior to the pandemic, the process for the required Conditional Use Permits for a walk-up window and alcohol sales took four to six months.

The amendments would allow outdoor dining in parking areas up to 50 percent of the restaurant’s existing indoor dining area, including any bar area, up to 500 square feet. Any usage above the 50% or 500 square feet would require appropriate new or replacement on-site or off-site parking.

Outdoor dining allowed local restaurants to continue operating and even flourishing in some cases during the pandemic. Since June 2020, Pasadena has issued 46 outdoor dining permits, 29 of which were issued for parking lot dining, as opposed to areas like plazas or courtyards. Currently, 14 permits remain active, with 13 in parking areas and one in a courtyard.

City staff recommended outdoor dining be continued on private property at new and existing restaurants.

The Council unanimously approved the amendments, with Vice Mayor Steve Madison sying, “I appreciated very much Planning’s caution… But I am with the staff, our professional Planning staff, that the project complies with that. And this would be a huge miss if we didn’t approve this project.”

The Council also discussed the potential community use of outdoor spaces created by these amendments, particularly in the context of a proposed Porsche dealership project that was also approved during the meeting.