photo by: Rochelle Valverde

The "parklet" patio of 715 restaurant, 715 Massachusetts St., is pictured on Sept. 18, 2021.

With considerations given to issues such as aesthetics and parking, the City of Lawrence will look to develop a long-term version of a program that has allowed downtown businesses to construct patios and outdoor dining areas in parking stalls during the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted 5-0 to authorize the development of a long-term “parklet” program and directed staff to consider elements such as fees, design standards, safety and parking in the new regulations. The city has waived permit fees for the temporary program, and Mayor Brad Finkeldei said while it may not make sense for some businesses, he expected others would continue using the program under new regulations, and that developing those as quickly as possible was important.

“As I look up and down Mass. Street, and I think things about aesthetics and safety and costs and utilization, I think some of the spaces that are currently there are going to survive no matter what regulations we put in place,” Finkeldei said.

As part of that process, the commission also voted unanimously to extend the temporary format of the program another five months, through March 31, so that the permanent version of the program can be developed. Though there was some discussion about whether that was enough time to develop the regulations, the commission ultimately decided to leave that date in the hopes that the city and the new commission — two new commissioners will be seated on Dec. 7 — would be able to move quickly.

The angled and parallel parking downtown that businesses have converted into outdoor patio space belongs to the city, and both Vice Mayor Courtney Shipley and Commissioner Lisa Larsen said setting a fair price for use of that space would be important. Larsen said she’d want fees for the program to be based on the actual cost of space in downtown.

“Downtown is the highest property value that we have in Lawrence, and so when we’re looking at giving up that space for a parklet, I would want strong consideration for it to reflect the value of the property,” Larsen said.

As part of the meeting, the commission also received the results of a city survey that indicated that a majority of those who responded supported the idea of a long-term program. Among other benefits, the respondents said the program provided more options for patrons amid the pandemic, enhanced the downtown ambience and was of economic importance to businesses. The respondents also voiced some concerns, including the intermittent use of the parklets due to weather and business hours, loss of parking downtown and the aesthetics of the patio structures.

Larsen said she was concerned about whether the commission could realistically approve new regulations within the five-month time frame. She also said she’d want the commission to consider whether to limit the number of parklets allowed per block and the number of parking spaces a business can use for a parklet. She also asked whether the commission should consider questions such as whether there should be just one common dining area per block.

Downtown Lawrence Inc. Executive Director Sally Zogry said in a letter to the commission that the board supports the continuation of the program, but that there are some “complexities to address.” Zogry said predominant areas of concern from DLI members are capping the number of on-street parking spaces per block that can be used as parklets to maintain a mix of parking and parklets; developing an equitable system of assessing fees; providing signage and wayfinding for nearby parking facilities; meeting accessibility and fire code requirements; creating achievable and enforceable design guidelines; and providing assurances of a longer-term program so that businesses can invest in the improvements.

Zogry said DLI was prepared to provide additional feedback and coordination with its membership, and that the design and architecture firm Gould Evans, which helped develop the parklet concept, may also be able to provide guidance.

“Our board feels strongly that the predominant concerns can be met with reasonable regulation,” Zogry said.