San Carlos study session advances a unified downtown design, debates parklets and umbrella colors

San Carlos planning staff presented a draft downtown specific plan study session focused on outdoor dining and streetscape design on Aug. 25, seeking council direction on new operational and design standards.

The city’s planning manager, Lisa Porus, told the council the project team is “here tonight to seek the council’s direction on four distinct policy areas,” and then walked members through proposed allocations from the recently adopted streetscape master plan: generally 8 feet for outdoor dining on many Laurel Street blocks, an optional 5-foot tree-strip that could be used by restaurants and a new public plaza on the 600 block intended for public seating rather than spaces devoted to a single business.

Why it matters: the plan attempts to move San Carlos from the temporary, pandemic-era parklet regime to a durable streetscape with a clearer visual identity, safer pedestrian access and predictable rules for businesses and residents. Council members and downtown business operators repeatedly urged staff to balance a unified look with flexibility for operators who already invested in awnings, planters and furniture.

Key details and proposals - Space allocations: Streetscape designs would provide roughly 8 feet of outdoor dining area on the 600/800 blocks, 9 feet on the 700 block and a 5-foot tree strip that could be used for private dining where conditions permit. Staff said the 5-foot strip may not be available at every storefront (fire hydrants, utilities could prevent it). - No permanent attachments: Code would forbid permanent fastening of structures to pavement and limit freestanding shelters; staff recommend allowing soft retractable side panels and windscreens that are transparent and used only in inclement weather. - Barriers and planters: Staff favor planter-style borders with gaps (no continuous fencing), a maximum of about 3 feet high plus a planting allowance, and discourage bolted fencing, rope barriers, cinder blocks or cardboard displays. - Furnishings: staff proposed allowing furniture to remain overnight (rather than requiring daily removal), but left open grandfathering rules for existing awnings and umbrellas. - Umbrella/awning colors: staff suggested limiting umbrella color choices to a small set from the city palette (subcommittee proposed three colors plus white) and prohibiting advertising on umbrellas; some council members said white stains too quickly and urged lighter but practical colors.

Council and business reaction Business owners and councilors agreed on the need to replace temporary parklets with a consistent vision, but they urged patience and flexibility. Greg Sinclair, a long-time downtown business owner, cautioned that successful outdoor dining requires weather protection and heating and urged the city to avoid short-lived fixes: “You can’t do windscreens, you can’t do all this stuff without structures,” he said, urging power and weather solutions that last.

Several council members said they favor grandfathering high-cost awnings and working with merchants on a phased path to the new standards. Vice Mayor Venites said staff “should be flexible with the business owners” and allow reasonable transition periods; Council Member Dugan expressed support for a small umbrella palette to create a unified look but asked staff to avoid undue burden on merchants.

Next steps Staff will incorporate feedback into the public draft downtown specific plan planned for release in late September, followed by Planning and Transportation Commission hearings in October and City Council adoption hearings in November. The council asked for a follow-up study and additional outreach to downtown business operators before finalizing any strict grandfathering or enforcement rules.

The council did not take final action on design rules at the meeting; staff emphasized the specific plan is intended to be the regulatory document where final standards will be codified and phased in with community coordination.