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Council asks ordinance committee to study parklets and pedlets for downtown outdoor dining
Summary
Council directed the ordinance committee to research parklet/pedlet models for outdoor dining on Main Street and pursue business outreach; staff will continue work on a core outdoor-dining ordinance for businesses with existing space and explore parklet feasibility separately.
The ordinance committee presented research on outdoor dining options used in other West Virginia cities, including "parklets" that place dining areas in parking spaces and "pedlets" that shift the sidewalk into the parking zone. Staff said Morgantown’s experience suggests the Department of Highways often prefers pedlets on state roads and that initial installation costs can be around $10,000 per restaurant.
Council directed the ordinance committee to pursue further research and business outreach to determine demand, funding options and feasibility for Charles Town’s narrower sidewalks. "The pedlet moves the sidewalk to the parking area and, puts the dining area on the sidewalk," a staff presenter said. Councilors emphasized not imposing costs on small businesses without clear funding models and asked staff to consult with downtown restaurants and DOT as part of the research.
