Title
Restaurant Parking Lot Usage Pilot Program Extension for Outdoor Dining - For the purpose of directing the City Manager to extend the Annapolis Outdoor Dining Pilot Program, allowing restaurants to use privately-owned parking lots for outdoor dining for one year or adoption of an outdoor dining ordinance, whichever comes first.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 48-24
Introduced by: Alderman Arnett
Co-sponsored by: Ald. Savidge, Huntley, Gay
AN RESOLUTION concerning
Restaurant Parking Lot Usage Pilot Program Extension for Outdoor Dining
For the purpose of directing the City Manager to extend the Annapolis Outdoor Dining Pilot Program, allowing restaurants to use privately owned parking lots for outdoor dining for one year or adoption of an outdoor dining ordinance, whichever comes first.
WHEREAS, In determining that outdoor dining is a highly desirable offering by local restaurant establishments, the City Council passed R-22-22 in May 2022 to allow outdoor dining on private parking lots and to initiate a six-month study on the effectiveness of this parking lot usage and the impact on the City’s economy; and
WHEREAS, The City completed the study, "Annapolis Outdoor Dining Pilot Analysis," on September 23, 2022, which looked into the impact of outdoor dining on the pilot program restaurants and businesses in the communities near the restaurants, as well as how the loss of restaurant parking for outdoor dining impacted those areas; and
WHEREAS, The study states, "Outdoor dining provides broader economic value to the City and neighborhood as non-restaurant businesses contacted for the study voiced support for more outdoor dining. Not only does it help to stimulate other businesses, but these business owners enjoy being patrons of the restaurants as well."; and
WHEREAS, Adding extra seating during the Parking Lot Dining Pilot Program positively impacted the participating restaurants’ bottom lines, with the study stating, "the extra outdoor seating may be essential to their long-term survival."; and
WHEREAS, The study found that, in its temporary format, parking lot dining has little impact on the City of Annapolis, either positive or negative; and
WHEREAS, The Council adopted:
• R-2-22 on April 25, 2022, extending the Parking Lot Usage Pilot Program until October 25, 2022;
• R-30-22 on October 24, 2022, extending the Parking Lot Usage Pilot Program until April 24, 2023;
• R-2-23 on February 13, 2023, extending the Parking Lot Usage Pilot Program until February 13, 2024;
• R-2-24 on January 22, 2024, extending the Parking Lot Usage Pilot Program until January 22, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Because outdoor dining expands a restaurant's customer capacity, thereby requiring new or amended city permits and approvals, including but not limited to approval by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and amendments to any Special Exceptions granted by the Board of Appeals; and
WHEREAS, Obtaining all necessary approvals and permits may take an establishment several months to complete, it is appropriate to provide the establishments with additional time to come into compliance;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that:
1. The City Manager is directed hereby to extend further the Parking Lot Usage Pilot Program adopted under R-22-22 and extended under R-30-22, R-2-23, and R-2-24 for 12 months from the date of passage of this resolution; and
2. The extended Parking Lot Usage Pilot Program continues under the program's current regulations, policies and procedures.
SECTION II: AND BE IT FURTHER ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this ordinance shall take effect upon passage and shall sunset when an outdoor dining ordinance is adopted or when this resolution expires, whichever comes first.