California Regulators Require Parking Replacement for Outdoor Dining Spaces

The city of San Diego’s Spaces as Places outdoor dining program includes a critical parking requirement mandated by the California Coastal Commission.

1 minute read

August 28, 2023, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The tops of umbrellas for outdoor dining spaces are visible with large buildings in the background on a sunny day in the city of San Diego.

Kirk / Adobe Stock

The California Coastal Commission (CCC), a state oversight board responsible for protecting public access to the coast, has the power to decide the details of local outdoor dining programs—a power recently on display in San Diego when the CCC forced the city to replace parking spaces devoted to outdoor dining.

“The California Coastal Commission has approved the city of San Diego’s ‘Spaces as Places’ regulations requiring some businesses in the coastal zone to replace public parking occupied by outdoor dining,” reports Elizabeth Frausto.

San Diego made its outdoor dining program permanent in October 2021, as reported at the time by Lori Weisberg, but CCC “had concerns about the elimination of parking spots in a narrow strip of San Diego’s coastline known as the ‘beach impact area,’” according to Frausto.

“A loss of parking can mean a loss of public beach access, and the commission asked the City Council to amend the program to require restaurants to replace any public parking they occupy with an equivalent number of spaces elsewhere,” adds Frauso.

The source article, linked below, provides details of which locations are seeking permits under the nascent program.

Tuesday, August 22, 2023 in La Jolla Light

An aerial view of Milwaukee’s Third Ward.

Plan to Potentially Remove Downtown Milwaukee’s Interstate Faces Public Scrutiny

The public is weighing in on a suite of options for repairing, replacing, or removing Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee.

August 27, 2023 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Portland Bus Lane

‘Forward Together’ Bus System Redesign Rolling Out in Portland

Portland is redesigning its bus system to respond to the changing patterns of the post-pandemic world—with twin goals of increasing ridership and improving equity.

August 30, 2023 - Mass Transit

Conceptual rendering of Rikers Island redevelopment as renewable energy facility

Can New York City Go Green Without Renewable Rikers?

New York City’s bold proposal to close the jail on Rikers Island and replace it with green infrastructure is in jeopardy. Will this compromise the city’s ambitious climate goals?

August 24, 2023 - Mark McNulty

A rendering of the Utah City master planned, mixed-use development.

700-Acre Master-Planned Community Planned in Utah

A massive development plan is taking shape for lakefront property in Vineyard, Utah—on the site of a former U.S. Steel Geneva Works facility.

7 hours ago - Daily Herald

A line of cars wait at the drive-thru window of a starbucks.

More Cities Ponder the End of Drive-Thrus

Drive-thru fast food restaurants might be a staple of American life, but several U.S. cities are actively considering prohibiting the development of new drive-thrus for the benefit of traffic safety, air quality, and congestion.

August 31 - The Denver Post

Air pollution is visible in the air around high-rise buildings in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Air Pollution World’s Worst Public Health Threat, Report Says

Air pollution is more likely to take years life off the lifespan of the average human than any other external factor, according to a recent report out of the University of Chicago.

August 31 - Phys.org