Restaurants, businesses could expand outdoor seating under City proposal
UPDATE: The City Council unanimously approved the “Right-of-Way Cafe Program” at its meeting Tuesday, April 9.
El Paso, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso businesses may soon be able to set up outdoor seating like they did during the COVID-19 pandemic but on a more permanent basis under a proposal being considered by the City Council.
The City’s Capital Improvement Department is proposing the “Right-of-Way Café Program” which would allow businesses to use City sidewalks and sections of on-street parking to set up outdoor seating areas.
The City Council will consider the proposal during its meeting on Tuesday, April 9.
If approved, this would be a permanent extension of the Sun City Safe initiative established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic when restaurants had to close indoor seating to customers, according to backup material in council’s agenda.
The program would allow for sidewalk cafes and “parking parklets,” which would allow areas with metered parking to be used for seating and tables there.
The proposal seeks to “activate” or help businesses in the Downtown and Uptown (near UTEP and the hospital district) attract more customers in a “safe, pedestrian-friendly manner, aligning with the El Paso Complete Streets 2023 initiative,” according to the council agenda.
A special permit would allow businesses to add additional seating at street-metered parking spots.
Sidewalk cafés, meanwhile, must comply with certain guidelines like not blocking fire hydrants or utility equipment.
Some businesses in the Cincinnati Entertainment District are for the proposal, while others are fine with the way their businesses are running right now.
Javon Jones has worked at Crawdaddy’s for the past three years. He said the whole block is still recovering from the impacts COVID had on businesses. He sees the proposal as something beneficial for the restaurant, especially with summer just around the corner. He said it would create more business for them.
Aida Martinez, a customer who has been coming to Cincinnati Avenue for over 20 years, said she would like to see more outdoor dining options because on weekends it tends to get packed.
John Brady, general manager at Ardovino’s Pizza, said there are pros and cons to this proposal. He says parking is already limited for the pizzeria, and it could take away parking spaces from customers and drive them to other parking lots where parking is more expensive. But he also said that with outdoor tables, it could also bring more customers to the restaurant.
The public will get a chance to share their opinion during a public hearing scheduled on April 23.
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