Committee endorses sidewalk cafe for Dodo Bagels at 5015 Baltimore Ave; planning commission recommended approval

Bill 250830, which would authorize a sidewalk cafe encroachment at 5015 Baltimore Ave. (Dodo Bagels), received agency testimony that the proposal meets city requirements and preserves pedestrian clearway.

Noelle Marconi, Director of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Streets, testified the bill "authorizes Milan Marvelous, the owner, to install, own, and maintain encroachments in the nature of a sidewalk cafe at Dodo Bagels located at 5015 Baltimore Avenue." Marconi said the proposal locates four tables and 14 seats along the north sidewalk (three tables/12 seats adjacent to curb, one table/2 seats adjacent to building) and that "9 feet of clear, unobstructed footway will be maintained." Marconi stated the Department of Streets is not opposed to the proposed encroachment.

Sarah Chu, city planner manager with the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, told the committee the proposal "meets the minimum required dimensions of the complete street policy of the Philadelphia code," and that the planning commission recommended Bill 250830 for approval at its Oct. 16, 2025 meeting.

No members of the public testified on this bill at the hearing. The committee adopted an amendment to Bill 250830 and later voted to report the bill to the full council with a favorable recommendation and to request suspension of the rules to permit first reading at the next session.

The hearing record does not show a roll-call vote on the committee action; the committee's actions were adopted by voice vote and recorded by the chair as "ayes have it."