During the height of the pandemic, OB restaurants erected outdoor dining areas. Photos by Bob Edwards.
The San Diego City Council on Monday, May 22, “reluctantly” consented to new California Coastal Commission regulations that will require restaurant owners in the city’s coastal zone to replace any lost parking spaces taken up by outdoor dining areas they operate on the street, as reported by Lori Weisberg at the U-T.
What is affected is a narrow strip of coastal zone known as the “beach impact area,” defined as a stretch of coastline that begins at the northern end of Torrey Pines State Reserve and runs about 15 miles south to Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. And the boundary extends inland approximately a quarter of a mile or more for much of the zone.
Weisberg reported, “The commission has described that area as a part of the city where there are chronic public parking shortages.”
Approved by the Coastal Commission in December 2022, the outdoor dining rules could go into effect for the coastal zone by July, once the new conditions are finalized.
And now that the Council has finally acted (5 months later) coastal zone businesses can expect to be able to finalize their applications for permits for existing and new outdoor dining areas. Businesses must secure special two-year permits and pay fees for the right to erect dining structures in the public right of way.
The new parking restriction is “much stiffer than what is now in effect for all other parts of the city,” Weisberg reported.
The agency staff at the time raised concerns about outdoor seating in the street, which it argued would inhibit access to the beach areas, which are typically frequented by people driving by car as opposed to mass transit.
Weisberg:
While permanent outdoor dining regulations are in place citywide, they have not been in effect for the city’s coastal zone because they had to first pass muster with the Coastal Commission.
“The Coastal Commission rules are what they are,” Council President Sean Elo-Rivera said Monday. “Closing streets can actually be effective for improving business. This is one of the most San Diego-appropriate programs we could possibly have. It works in Cincinnati, so how could it not work in San Diego?”
While city planning staff advised the council that it had spent weeks in discussions with planners at the Coastal Commission in hopes of softening the restriction, the parking condition remains.
The council vote was in favor of the Coastal Commission’s modifications to San Diego’s “Spaces as Places” outdoor dining program, a temporary measure installed at the height of the pandemic to help eateries buffet the winds of the challenges to remain open. Despite criticisms from local residents and other businesses about the loss of parking, public space and access, the restaurants that survived and thrived due to the new outdoor dining areas found the program very popular. As did many of their customers.
So much so, that the City Council made the outdoor dining measures permanent in 2021. This allowed restaurants to install platforms for seating along unpainted, yellow or green curbs as long as they are at least 20 feet away from an intersection, street corner, alley or driveway.
In her article, Weisberg quotes city planning staff in its report to the council:
“City staff’s position was and is that a car-centric focus on loss of parking spaces discounts the many co-benefits of the Spaces As Places (outdoor dining) program, including increased opportunities for the public to access and enjoy coastal communities.”
What a twisted word-salad. Can somebody unpack that statement?
{ 64 comments… read them below or add one }
So will the loss of parking spaces apply to restaurants that converted their parking lots into eating spaces? It will be easy for Pizza Port to comply but what about Pizzeria Luigi? They converted the entire parking lot into dining and storage space.
I’m still having trouble understanding what the controversy is with Pizzeria Luigi? The other three locations have no parking at all and no one seems to have an issue. The overwhelming majority of people who go to the OB location live in OB.
Zero issue with what Pizzeria Luigi did. That wasn’t public space gifted to them it is theirs to use as they see fit.
The issue is that they have displaced parking spots for the beach area in general. The spots that were available for their establishment no longer exist therefore putting even more pressure on the public parking, which in turn limits coastal access.
The permit and inspection fees charged by the City are not insignificant: https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/dsdib502.pdf
And the Streetary Use fee is approximately $4,800 per parking space per year. see FAQ https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/permits/spaces-as-places
So hardly “gifted to them.”
$4800 a year for approximately 150 square feet is a DEAL in these high value commercial areas
Actually $30/SF is about market rate for retail in SD.
I can get 1000sqft of first floor commercial on Newport for $30k a year aka $2500 a month? That doesn’t sound right but I defer to those who know more than myself.
Yes, pretty close.
Check out this site:
https://www.crexi.com/lease/properties/CA/San_Diego/Retail?placeIds%5B%5D=ChIJSx6SrQ9T2YARed8V_f0hOg0&types%5B%5D=Retail
Only one property near the area referenced appears on that site at $56. It is also not on Newport. Think we need more data here. $30 still seems super low.
Such a step backwards for the city. In place of multiple tables for a small restaurant will be a single car, maybe two. It’ll barely have an effect on available parking, and it will have a much more significant effect on the number of people a restaurant can accommodate (and the amount of sales tax they generate too). Not to mention it’s much more pleasant to walk around and see a thriving community of people enjoying local eateries than cars sitting empty on the street.
But why should taxpayers subsidize small restaurants, who in many instances never even had any seating at all, by giving away the public’s property? Surely these business owners had a plan prior to opening these restaurants that did not include additional outdoor seating before they signed leases and opened to the public.
Let’s turn that question around. Why should taxpayers subsidize parking for people who drive cars? Parking on the street in downtown OB is free.
Ouch. Back to the thought drawing board.
Taxpayers don’t subsidize parking, we actually pay for it with state and local taxes. What are you, 12 years old?
Isn’t that what what subsidizing means?
No, subsidizing means you are paying for something someone else uses, not something you use and that you have paid for through your taxes and fees. How much did your bicycle license and registration fees cost you, and how much of those fees went to pay for the bike lane improvements?
When I was a lad, we had to take our bikes to the police station nearest to us and pay a fee to register our bikes. Now? Zilch.
I don’t know how old you are or where you grew up, but I’m 61 and have never in my life had to register a bicycle. Whatever requirement you had was not universal.
In Ocean Beach in the sixties, we got our bike licenses at the fire station on Voltaire Street. I’m not sure when it stopped. Maybe in the seventies?
Getting back to the important topic, I think it’s great that the emergency outdoor dining will be taken out of the street. Hopefully the sidewalk tables won’t be too close to the curb.
I believe it stopped in the early 2000’s officially. I remember it being a thing in the mid 80’s when I moved to PL although no one seemed to Obie’s by it and I never heard of any enforcement.
If a single person or business is getting the benefit then that is a subsidy. It is not a subsidy when everybody benefits.
Roads are paid for by Gasoline taxes ie users of the road. If you want to pay a 20% additional tax on your restraunt food for outdoor parking spaces turned into eating spaces- put it on the ballot. https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/dpw/roads/roadfnd.html
I just love the smell of half-burned petrochemicals mixing with the smell coming up from my lasagna or pizza, and the added layer of road dust that permeates the air while dining alongside every street in the US adds an indescribable flavor to the nice Cobb salad that I’m eating, along with that distinctly ‘gritty’ topping to the breakfast omelet that makes eggs so pleasurable?
Then there is the noise factor… I mean, really? This is fun? You live at the beach yet all people want to do is dine next to a freaking road???
Why would anybody want to eat a nice meal sitting next to a stinking dirty noisy street is absolutely beyond my comprehension. I just don’t get it.
sealintheSelkirks
I don’t get why you spend a significant amount of time commenting on a place you don’t live in.
CK – Seal used to live in OB and at the beach in San Diego. He’s one of our most celebrated commenters – although his comments are soooo long that I wonder if others can weed through them.
At any rate, we welcome comments from folks all over, especially if they’ve lived in OB or PL.
Also, since you live in OB apparently, just because you’re a resident doesn’t mean you’re always on top of local OB issues. Here’s what you said about the OB Library expansion:
“My money would be on the city permanently closing the OB Library and selling off the land. That’s what we are being prepped for right now. Someone please prove me wrong and give an actual reopening date of the library or at least the metrics the city has to reopen it- because there are none.”
Were you proven wrong?
Whether or not the public space that was gifted should be used for parking or not (I fall on the side of not for parking) is a moot point. The City gave away public space for private use for basically nothing. This cannot be allowed to happen.
At the time and circumstances it was the right thing to do.
At least it is not a concern when hundreds of parking spots are lost to make way for rarely used, poorly thought out bike lanes…
While the way in which many of the lanes have been laid out (poorly) I’m thankful they are there. I love riding up and down 30th and now Park Blvd (south of Upas). It’s been really nice riding down there and not having to worry about getting doored.
Ya but Chris, how about those blind intersections where drivers turning right across the bike lane can’t see us coming? I’d much rather bike in traffic, sharing the space, than in a segregated lane that give me no passing options and dangerous blind intersections every block. That’s why I ride on 29th through the neighborhood and not on 30th, which is a deathtrap.
As I said, the lanes could have been laid out much better in many places. 30th may not be the best, but I’ve had no problems. I’m aware of where those blind sections are and know to proceed with caution in those very spots. I still prefer the lanes as they are (even if they could be better) than riding along 30th without them. As for riding parallel streets, sometimes I do depending on where I’m going but I’m still glad for the lanes along 30th and enjoy riding them despite their flaws.
And as I’ve said before, under utilization (which reports of often get’s over exaggerated) it not a good reason for those lanes to not remain.
How is that Chris? Under-utilization (agreed, maybe exaggerated many times) should be the MAIN reason for to remove those lanes. As Mr. Spock so famously said, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few”. In my opinion, the lanes on 30th and probably other places, should have been moved a block over to begin with, off the main thoroughfare.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this.
Too bad the Coastal Commission couldn’t use their wisdom to ban the grabbing of parking spaces on 30tth street, Park Blvd and other heavily parked streets. Instead of the city getting $30/SF for use of the parking, the city paid for the design, posts and paint to take those spaces away. Why would the spaces on 30th street and Park Blvd not be as necessary as those in the beach areas? It might be different if there was a real use of the bike lanes. If you build it they are not coming and Portland has seen a big dropoff in bike use over the past 6 years.
I ride those bike lanes so I am glad for the parking that was taken away. Underutilization is not a good reason to have them removed scoff those who think otherwise. Also the underutilization that people claim is over exaggerated. As for Portland, the drop off is also over exaggerated. Also it’s a mixture of fluctuations that always happen and that the city itself is going through a lot of problems, some if which are resulting in a drop in their population. Either way, bike lanes should remain and more should be built.
Underutilization is absolutely a reason to do away with these recreational bike lanes. Give the people a viable alternative to the current state public transportation and I’d be the first in line to advocate for bike lanes, but until then we should be using our limited resources for the good of the many, not the entitled few.
With all due respect Chris, you have said multiple times that underutilization is not a reason to remove bike lanes, but fail to explain your opinion. I am very curious to your reasoning. Please explain.
I don’t really understand how that even needs explaining. There are many services paid for with tax dollars that only benefit a few. In this case, safety of the few who do ride them. Granted, many are laid out poorly (Harbor Drive is a death trap) but the key is fix what’s wrong with them, not remove them. That will probably get more people to use them. Ive had a few close calls riding down Park south of Upas heading towards DT. Same in some other areas. Call me selfish but I’ve reach the point where I don’t care about the inconvenience these lanes are causing others. I pay the same taxes as them and like most cyclists I DO drive also which means I pay vehicle registration, gas, etc. I ride both recreationally AND commute to work and back (Hillcrest to North Island).
I find it very odd that you are so vocal on a blog that is intended for a specific neighborhood that you don’t live in. And your comments are seemingly only about biking.
Sam, Chris is one of our cherished daily commenters, and he has commented on a wide range of topics and issues over the last few years. We don’t always agree but he (usually) keeps it civil – as I’d hope you do.
Thanks Frank:))
I’ve been commenting on the Rag for years about all kinds of issues. The biking comments are more recent. How is it you don’t know that? Also I DID live just on the outskirts of OB a long time ago. I still hang out there from time to time so my opinions are as valid as any current OB local. Yes I have been commenting a lot about biking because I care about it. The anti bike infrastructure attitudes on here are very surprising to me coming from a progressive blog. That fact you find my comments odd is odd in its own right.
Chris, viz a vis Harbor Dr. as a death trap, I know a large number of daily commuters and other serious riders who will not use bike lanes as configured on 30th St., 5th & 6th Aves, W. Point Loma, etc., as they feel they are an unsafe design for anyone riding at speed. I learned this, to my great surprise, many years ago working on the Bay Route Bikeway (still unfinished).
Plus, we welcome comments from readers all over the city. The Rag is NOT just about OB and PL. We have people from all over the nation that comment occasionally.
Hell Sam, I live way the hell north just below the Canadian border and have been out of the beach areas for half my life now (69 is coming this year) from my birth town of OB and MB where I was mostly raised from 1st grade on. Surfing snow in three different western mountain ranges in three different states since 1987, and I ruled Southside of OB Pier (no brag, I have pics and even put two in my book Massacre Sites!).
And I still find myself with a serious connection to both beach towns though I considered MB a lost cause when I was forced move back to OB in 1980 due to radically spiraling rents as it gentrified horribly in the late 70s. I was going to lose my surf shop-ding repair/fiberglassing repair business but found the perfect place for it and kept going for another 7 years in OB…
Sometimes places get inside one and never leave. OB is one of those places, at least for some of us.
sealintheSelkirks
It’s called the OB RAG. Not the USA Rag. It doesn’t cover nationwide issues. What exactly is your point? You welcome out of staters railing on things that aren’t their concern?!
Mike, what’s your point? State Farm insures more than farms, and even cars in the city (gasp). These people may still have family and friends in the area, or care about what still goes on.
Most of the “out of staters” are people with a strong connection to OB, many having lived here at some time. Mr. seal is just one of those. Just ask yourself a logical question, why else would anyone be commenting here in The OB Rag? Why would anyone who knows nothing about OB have anything to say?
Because they have nothing better to do then troll distant forums. Like Californians trolling other states forums. The locals don’t care. The San diego bike lanes are ALL empty during morning and afternoon commute rush hours. Only used on weekends obviously recreationally which doesn’t lower traffic. One excuse that was made for non use was they aren’t protect by a barrier. FINALLY years later 4 are protecte with curbs or a wall. Pershing dr., part of Friars rd, 5th ave and the Rose Creek Santa Fe st. bike paths/lanes. Those are still empty during rush hour commute times. Park Blvd isnt protected but bus lane is usually empty which wastes space, eliminated parking and causes massive traffic jams the whole length of park Blvd. SUCCESS!
I have to admit Michael, Saturday as I was riding on the Park Blvd bike heading South, it was pretty empty that day which made it pure bliss once I got past Upas. Car traffic was backed up all the way past University. I just breezed by enjoying myself as drivers we beyond frustrated.
Bike lane that is.
Empty all day every day. That’s why I’m driving in the empty bus lane like I do on El Cajon Blvd . Cars are never ticketed . Living outside OB 20 years ago makes your comments null and void. The convoy st bike lane was rejected. Thats after the Mira Mesa bike lane debacle was overturned. The first common sense since Todd Gloria started his reign of stupidity .
The only troll here is you, and you seem to be a pretty frustrated one at that.
Chris, I run and walk in the bike lanes cause their empty all day every day. When I’ve done group bike rides the group refuses to ride in the lane. like it was a total waste of money building them. You admitted you don’t commute by bike when you could ride to the ferry, bring on bike and ride from from the Coronado ferry.
First off, how do you know the bike lanes are empty all day every day? That is not you opinion, that is not your personal observation. Yes many of them are underutilized but what you described is simply not so.
As for the ferry, I didn’t admit anything. I bike from my apartment in Hillcrest down to the ferry landing, take the ferry across to the Coronado side, get off the boat and ride on to North Island. What exactly is that “admitting”?
Those commenters are not making the comments of trolls, you need to lighten up on this one.
Mike, you have some good observations and ideas but you’re way off on your particular rant about the OB Rag. The Rag has never been just about OB and if you have a chance to peruse our archives, you’ll see that. Check ’em out.
Geoff you are for bike lanes and dining areas seizing parking outside of OB? You need to focus on this.
No, I am not for the bike lane mania at all. I think some lanes in some places are a good idea but I do not agree with what this city is doing now. And I am not in favor of keeping the dining stalls in the street. It was a good idea that served a purpose but should not be permanent. If you read The Rag regularly and any of my comments, you would know my positions on this already.
Then remove the OB from the title. Yes in point of fact when it was created it was focused on Ocean Beach, nicknamed OB.
Mike, you’re way off base here and it detracts from your poignant observations re bike lanes, etc. I should know about the OB Rag’s origins, I was there. It was and never has been just about OB.
I think it’s safe to say Mike is just arguing for the sake of arguing. He’s intentionally making some broad strawman assumptions and expressing opinions he doesn’t really have.
Agreed, pretty much just making noise but he calls anybody NOT living in OB a bored troll. That’s quite funny since he’s acting more like that than we ever do.
Hey Mike, I spent from Day 0 in OB, then to MB, then back to OB until I headed north in 1987. Thirty-three years total. My first memory is sitting on the sand west of Cape May Ave getting sand in my diaper.
The old joke ‘you should have been here yesterday’ really applies to you, dude. Bluntly, you missed the best parts. Even the surf used to be better, the beaches were cleaner, and the rents were reasonable.
And yes, I still know people down there. No more family, though, as I had to fly down when my dad died. Seven years later I drove down to bury his older sister my Auntie. Three of my four grandpas are buried in San Diego, both grannies, my little sister in Pt. Loma, and one cousin while the rest of the family scattered to the winds across the country. And there are a whole lot of people I grew up with, surfed with, skated pools with, partied with, fought with, that also died in the last three decades I’ve been gone.
Fear not, I have connections, dude. Long-time ones.
___
As for bike lanes or not bike lanes, you need to think of it this way.
Fossil fuel is a very finite resource and we passed Peak Oil years back. Oil companies are now after the most expensive oil, the hardest to get to, and it’s only going to get more valuable. I actually may live long enough to see gas at $20 or $30 a gallon in the near future.
Or perhaps none for the general public since the military is the largest single user in the US. It suddenly gets scarce? You can count on the military getting whatever is left and dribbles for the politicians and the fabulously wealthy.
Just imagine everybody on a bicycle in the near future and you’ll be able to walk and run in all the lanes…except maybe you’ll get run over by a bike because there will be so many. Seen pictures of Asia on bikes? Doesn’t that look fun?
sealintheSelkiriks