City Beat: Council bill promotes sidewalk cafes, awnings

by Eric Olson

SBJ Reporter

eolson@sbj.net

A year-old project to ease a Springfield ordinance that guards businesses' use of public rights of way is a vote away from completion after the Nov. 24 City Council meeting.

Council is considering a bill that allows canopy awnings on public rights of way currently illegal, unless authorized and promotes well-kept sidewalk cafes, especially in the downtown area.

The bill authorizes Springfield's Building Development Services to permit awnings, canopies, planters, street furniture and sidewalk cafes on public rights of way under certain circumstances a process City Council previously handled on a case-by-case basis.

The city prohibits such encroachments on, in, over or under any public street, sidewalk or right of way, unless authorized. But with heightened interest in downtown redevelopment, city officials have received more requests for such awnings and canopies.

"Our goal is to encourage more outdoor cafes," said City Manager Tom Finnie. "We think they add a lot, particularly in the downtown area."

The bill, which targets the downtown area where businesses do not have setbacks, would require a $65 encroachment permit for all awnings, canopies, planters, street furniture and sidewalk cafes on public rights of way in city limits. Owners of existing encroachments would have 90 days to comply or remove the items. Finnie said he believes there are about 12 businesses not in compliance.

"This is tremendous and long overdue," said Councilwoman Mary Collette, though she thinks the $65 permit the same as a regular building permit is too high. "There is quite a difference in the scale of those projects."

Finnie said the fee was set so high to interest only those businesses serious about improving their exterior appearance. The city wants quality sidewalk caf developments.

"I anticipate that these are not going to be inexpensive awnings and additions," Finnie said. "That is our goal, so that they are done in a quality way."

Finnie said city staff would look at reducing the $65 fee.

According to the bill, the permit applicant must show reasonable need for the proposed awning, canopy, planter, street furniture or sidewalk caf; that it is consistent with the aesthetic character of the adjacent neighborhood; and that the proposal does not create a nuisance or endanger public health.

Council is scheduled to vote on the matter Dec. 8; the ordinance would be effective upon passage.

Downtown parking

Another council bill would set the parking rates at the Jordan Valley Car Park: $3 for event and daily parking and $50 for monthly parking. The bill authorizes the city manager to increase the fee to $5 per day or event and $70 maximum per month at a future date. Finnie told council free parking will continue at Jordan Valley Ice Park, except for events such as hockey games and when people park there for non-ice-park-related events.

The bill also authorizes Finnie to allow special group parking rates at the car park.

Ruskin Heights

City Council tabled a contentious planned development at the request of the developer. Rookstool Developers LLC's 87-lot proposal for 32 acres at the northeast corner of Battlefield and Blackman roads was criticized and debated for more than an hour at the Nov. 10 City Council meeting.

While seven people spoke against the rezoning bill, mostly due to the development's density in an area defined by larger lots and natural preservation, the harshest of comments came from Councilman Ralph Manley when he called the proposal "one of the greatest rapes of land today."

Residential lots at nearby Natural Bridge Estates and The Terraces are generally three-quarters of an acre to three acres; Ruskin Heights calls for less than a half acre per lot.

Developer Scott Rookstool said he requested the bill be tabled "to take more time and carefully address each of the bordering home owners over there one on one."

Rookstool said he met with six homeowners at the site a day after the meeting. He is looking at changing rear setbacks to increase greenspace between new and existing homes.