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Gilroy council declines new Monterey Street parklets, allows existing Tempo parklet to remain under conditions
Summary
Following a downtown committee recommendation, the council voted 4–3 to prohibit new parklets on Monterey Street while allowing the existing parklet in front of Tempo/Temple Kitchen & Bar to remain until ownership or tenancy changes, subject to inspection and conditions to prevent encroachment.
The Gilroy City Council voted 4–3 on April 14 to accept the downtown committee’s recommendation to prohibit new parklets on Monterey Street between First and Tenth streets and on side streets between Railroad and Eagleberry streets, while allowing the existing parklet in front of Tempo/Temple Kitchen & Bar to remain under specified conditions.
Staff told the council the downtown committee studied other cities’ parklet programs and concluded that complying with the City of Campbell’s parklet construction and procurement standards would require the existing parklet to be demolished and rebuilt to meet those standards. The committee voted 7–3 to recommend against allowing a rebuilt parklet on Monterey Street and to require existing parklets to meet Campbell standards.
Several members of the public and business owners urged the council to keep the Tempo parklet, saying it had helped drive downtown activity and that demolition would be punitive to a property owner that invested in revitalization. Opponents, including some councilmembers, said the parklet had not produced sustained street activity, was not universally popular, and in places encroached on neighboring property frontage.
After debate the council approved a motion to (1) not allow any new parklets on Monterey Street, (2) require existing parklets to comply with adopted standards, and (3) allow the existing Tempo parklet to remain until the business changes hands or goes out of business, contingent on an inspection and modifications if it encroaches on adjacent frontage. The motion passed 4–3 on roll call: Council member Bracco — yes; Council member Klein — no; Council member Fugatse — yes; Council member Hilton — yes; Council member Marks — no; Council member Ramirez — no; Mayor Bozzo — yes.
City staff said they will coordinate an inspection and confirm whether the Tempo structure can be modified to meet the non‑encroachment condition or whether removal will be required if modification is infeasible. The downtown committee recommendation and council action also direct staff to require existing parklets to meet the standards being considered (based on Campbell’s rules) for future compliance.
