Title
Emergency Declaration - Outdoor Dining and Alcohol Consumption Measures
Description
Request the City Council adopt an emergency declaration under the declared local emergency to establish temporary guidelines for outdoor dining/alcohol consumption and commercial signs as described in the memo dated June 23, 2020, from the Planning and Development Director. By this declaration, the City of Phoenix would be providing relief regarding certain requirements associated with outdoor dining and commercial signs in an effort to support the vitality of the local business community through the unprecedented challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Report
Summary
The guidelines create a process for restaurants to establish a new or expand an existing outdoor dining area and alcohol consumption without a use-permit hearing if the restaurant operator secures an Administrative Temporary Use Permit (ATUP) at no cost to the applicant. The ATUP submittal requires the applicant to meet certain criteria to qualify, demonstrate how applicable Zoning Ordinance and other applicable codes can still be met, such as Americans with Disabilities Act access requirements and fire lanes access for emergency vehicles. In addition, the applicant must operate the patio area pursuant to the stipulation attached to the ATUP and that the temporary approval may be revoked if an applicant does not comply with the requirements.
The guidelines also reinforce what has been implemented related to temporary signs for businesses since the City Council's Declaration of a Local Emergency The guidelines outline requirements for temporary signs that can be secured without a permit for commercial properties during the period of the local emergency.
Additional details regarding the guidelines are outlined in Attachment A - Planning and Development Director Memo Dated June 23, 2020.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Planning and Development Department.