Open Sesame
Planning Commission appeal hearing: scheduled for Thursday, October 19 at 5 pm.
Zoning Administrator hearing occurred August 14 - application was approved.
The second Second Street applicant to reach hearing stage.
Key precursor to additional, upcoming Second Street applications.
Key Points:
One of the largest restaurants on Second Street.
Already has an extensive number of seats as part of sidewalk dining granted for free by the city in 1997.
Proposed parklet would remove two parking spaces even when parklet is not in use; ripple effects on community are 24/7/365.
20+ parklet patrons and more staff members will create additional parking burdens on Second Street and the neighborhood.
If all current parklet applications on Second Street are approved, 18 vitally needed parking spaces will be permanently lost.
Applications for Open Sesame and other Second Street bars and restaurants could be approved well before Public Works conducts its planned Second Street traffic and curb study. The study should occur before application reviews.
Restaurant patrons waiting to be seated encroach heavily on sidewalk, completely obstructing pedestrians' right-of-way.
Restaurant staff barrelling out of their doors with heavy and hot plates, not looking right or left, not looking out for pedestrians, heading straight for the parklet, causing chaos for those with the right-of-way of the sidewalk... pedestrians.
Sidewalk obstructions: host stand, umbrellas, standing heaters all encroaching onto the sidwewalk.
Neither staff nor management intervene to mitigate these right-of-way and ADA issue.
The LCDP is focused on beach accessibility, beach visibility and beach impacts. Your emailed comments should emphasize how giving up dozens of public parking spaces for bars and restaurants will harm residents' and visitors' ability to reach and enjoy the beach areas. (Think: two spaces AND more bar and restaurant parklet patrons AND more parklet staff, THUS more cars!)
Send your email comment to the Planning Commission now.
The Planning Commission appeal hearing date is TBD. It will be held at Long Beach City Hall in the Council Chambers at 5 pm on a Thursday.
411 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802
Parking is available on the street or at the parking structure on Broadway, just East of Chestnut.