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URD to pilot seasonal 'pedlet' parklet for side‑street restaurants with $25,000 infrastructure proposal
Summary
Staff proposed buying a seasonal 'pedlet'—a sidewalk extension—at an estimated one‑time infrastructure cost of $25,000 to create outdoor seating in leased parking spaces for a pilot with Bitterroot Bistro and property owner Amy Sayer; the URD would own and maintain the pedlet and lease the parking spaces seasonally.
Staff presented a proposal to pilot a seasonal "pedlet" (a sidewalk extension occupying parking spaces) to help side‑street restaurants with narrow sidewalks compete with Main Street businesses.
Executive Director Ellie said the estimated infrastructure cost for a single pedlet is about $25,000 and that the downtown office has $30,000 already allocated toward buying a unit for a pilot. She said Bitterroot Bistro has expressed interest and Amy Sayer, owner of the Downtowner Building, has offered to participate on the permitting side.
Ellie described the expected division of responsibilities: the URD would buy, install, remove and store the pedlet and maintain it; the business would obtain the exclusive‑use/sidewalk cafe permit, provide fencing and other customer‑facing elements, and cover those private costs. Staff said seasonal encroachment leases for the two parking spaces needed for the pedlet are estimated at about $1,200 for a five‑month season under current fee assumptions.
Ellie said the program would be seasonal and the materials removable; ownership by the URD would allow the pedlet to be reused if a tenant changes or a restaurant closes. Staff proposed using URD funds already budgeted for the pilot year to cover installation and the first season of encroachment fees, and to evaluate the pilot before purchasing additional units.
Board members asked about maintenance, storage and whether demand could exceed supply; staff said the URD would standardize pedlets and buy additional units only if the pilot demonstrates demand. Transportation staff and the city’s permitting process would handle the encroachment and exclusive‑use permits. No formal vote was taken; staff said the pilot fits within the current fiscal year budget and asked the board to note the plan.
