Outdoor dining is growing up

By Jim Tortolano

An ordinance making permanent outdoor dining uses was approved by the Garden Grove City Council Tuesday night.

The council voted 7-0 to move the status of al fresco dining – now mostly along Main Street in the downtown area – from their temporary status. Businesses now operating on that basis would need to apply for a regular permit.

“I’m excited to see this become permanent,” said Mayor Steve Jones. “It’s one of the few silver linings to come out of the coronavirus pandemic.”

The ordinance, which requires a second reading and final approval in order to become law, creates development standards for outdoor dining not only in commercial areas but also in mixed-use, office professional, industrial and open space zones.

Also on Tuesday night, the council voted 7-0 to approve an urgency ordinance that implements a new state law allowing the owners of homes in single family zones to split their lots in two, and build two residences on each lot.

The planning commission already gave its approval – with some reluctance – to the proposed ordinance. Senate Bill 9 was intended to help ease California’s housing crisis. Critics argue it will end single-family neighborhoods and add to problems with traffic, parking and other impacts on the city’s infrastructure.