Parklet Program
Purpose:
The City of Battle Ground has put together its first Parklet Program as a way to support local businesses by allowing them to utilize public parking spaces for outdoor eating areas during the COVID Pandemic.
What is a Parklet?
A parklet is a small seating area or green space created as a public amenity on or alongside a sidewalk, especially in a former roadside parking space.
Details:
This option may be utilized by businesses during phase 1 and 2
Materials used to block off outdoor eating areas may remain in place while the city continues to authorize parklets, but should only be open to the public during normal business hours.
Things to consider when designing your outdoor area:
Parklets in the public right of way:
- You may utilize the parking stalls fronting your business. This can be one or more parallel parking stalls or a few angled spaces.
- Outdoor areas should be at least 6’ wide, but can expand the entire width of the parking space(s), as long as appropriate buffers are in place.
- Seating areas should remain accessible and meet ADA standards.
- Parklets should avoid underground utility access and electrical transformer vaults.
- Parklets should avoid corners and intersections in order to allow for safe vehicular travel. It is suggested to provide one parking stall between your parklet and the street corner.
- If avoiding street corners is infeasible, staff will measure the sight distance triangle, which may affect the size of your parklet.
- There should be a 4-foot buffer on each side of your parklet. There should also be a 2-foot buffer between your parklet and the road’s travel lane.
- Make sure your outdoor seating area has appropriate barricades to ensure your guest’s safety.
Parklets in Privately Owned Parking Lots
- You may use parking stalls in front of your business. If this is a shared parking lot you are responsible to obtain permission from surrounding businesses and/or the property owner.
- Seating areas should remain accessible and meet ADA standards.
- Parklets should avoid underground utility access and electrical transformer vaults.
- There should be a 4-foot buffer on each side of your parklet. There should also be a 2-foot buffer between your parklet and the travel lane in the parking lot.
- Make sure your outdoor seating area has appropriate barricades to ensure your guest’s safety.
- If you block off a portion of the sidewalk for outdoor seating, you will be responsible for creating a new pathway that is properly barricaded and meets ADA width requirements.
- Tents and membrane structures having an area in excess of 400 square feet shall not be erected, operated, or maintained for any purpose without first obtaining a fire permit.
- No cooking, open flame, or propane heaters are permitted under tents (regardless of size).
- Fire hydrants and emergency vehicle access cannot be obstructed.
- Tents or membrane structures and their appurtenances shall be adequately roped, braced and anchored to withstand the elements of weather and prevent against collapsing. Documentation of structural stability shall be furnished showing that tent anchorage will resist 135 mph wind speed.
- If you plan on using space heaters please provide this information with your submittal.
- Fire Permit Submittal Requirements –
- Site Plan
- Seating Plan showing exiting, ADA access, and location of fire extinguishers
- Hold Down details and wind resistance calculations for tent anchorage
- Certificate of Flame Resistance for tent fabric
In addition to receiving approval from the City, you may also need to reach out to the State Liquor Control Board (LCB) to serve alcohol outside. Those who have previously obtained LCB permission to serve alcohol at approved outdoor seating locations may need to submit a request to LCB for permit revisions.
To serve alcohol in your parklet, the area must be fenced (for both parking stalls in the public right of way and parking lots) and must be contiguous to the business (within 10’). Sidewalks that are in the public ROW can install an invisible fence (with markers) per WAC 314-03-200.
Parklets are not required to have fencing if alcohol is not being served.
It is the responsibility of the restaurant to obtain any necessary approvals outside of the City of Battle Ground.
How to Apply:
It is up to the business owner to propose a seating concept to city staff to review for approval. Each business must activate and appropriately protect its own space per guidance in the application materials.
As part of your submittal packet, provide a site plan of your parklet containing:
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Applications will be approved on a case-by-case basis.
For parklets on private property, please fill out a preliminary land use application for a temporary use review and submit a copy of your site plan and narrative to the Community Development e-mail address.
For parklets in the city's right-of-way, please fill out a preliminary land use application for a temporary use review, fill out a right-of-way application, and submit a copy of your site plan and narrative to the Community Development e-mail address.
Costs:
Design, installation, and maintenance of the outdoor seating area will be assumed by the business applying for this parklet.
Please contact the Community Development Department for permit fees.