San Clemente council keeps parklets under review while ordering design, enforcement and parking studies

The San Clemente City Council on March 17 directed staff to return with a tightened Parklet dining program that would protect storefront visibility, improve design consistency and free up parking — while approving a separate package of zoning streamlining measures.

The council unanimously introduced first-reading ordinances that move a nine-item zoning cleanup package forward, but members bifurcated the Parklet discussion after more than three hours of public comment. Council asked staff to prepare design standards, an enforcement and inspection plan, and options for caps and fee changes before the council decides whether to extend the temporary program beyond its July 1, 2026 expiration.

Why it matters: Parklets — outdoor dining platforms that occupy public parking spaces — were first authorized as a COVID-era emergency measure and later formalized with design guidelines and fees. Local restaurants say parklets boosted business and downtown vibrancy; nearby retailers say the structures have blocked storefronts and taken scarce on-street parking from customers.

At the meeting staff outlined options including squaring parklet footprints to…