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Board asks applicant for city code confirmation, flags material concerns for outdoor seating at 385 Broadway
Summary
An applicant proposed an 18‑seat outdoor seating area at 385 Broadway; the board said the location may not meet definitions for a sidewalk cafe and directed the applicant to get a code determination from the Department of Code Administration, and warned that composite/plastic furniture and low planters would not meet material standards in the historic district.
Phinney Design Group architect Brennan Drake presented a conceptual plan for six tables and planter surrounds to create 18 outdoor seats at 385 Broadway. Drake said the seating and planter units are temporary, sit on the concrete and would not permanently alter the building.
Board members said the proposal may fall outside local definitions for sidewalk cafes or outdoor dining and recommended the applicant obtain a written determination from the Department of Code Administration before the board can take an approval vote. Several commissioners also flagged safety concerns and material standards: low planters could be a tripping hazard and the board’s outdoor seating standards require natural materials (metal or wood) instead of composite/resin chairs or synthetic planters.
One board member summarized the material standard: “Natural materials, metal and wood should always be used in the city's historic districts. Plastic, vinyl, artificial plantings and artificial floor surfaces are not acceptable.” The applicant was asked to return with documentation that the use is permitted and with material revisions if necessary; the board did not approve the seating plan at the meeting.
The board encouraged the applicant to coordinate with adjacent tenants about location and to provide drawings showing clearances and a barrier height if the seating is intended to sit in the public right of way.
