Elmhurst Outdoor Dining Deal In Works

ELMHURST, IL – A couple of weeks ago, it appeared that Elmhurst may end the practice of allowing downtown restaurants to use parking spaces for outdoor dining.

On Monday, a City Council committee appeared to have reached a compromise.

Supporters of the parking spaces used for dining – known as parklets – say they add vibrancy to the downtown. But opponents contend the spaces make it harder for customers to reach downtown businesses.

The city began the parklets during the pandemic as a way to help struggling restaurants. It also loosened sidewalk dining rules, which are expected to remain.

On the committee are aldermen Dannee Polomsky, Emily Bastedo and Mark Mulliner.

Bastedo is a fan of parklets, while Polomsky expressed reservations. Mulliner wrestled with the issue.

"I'm really torn on this one," he said. "We've heard from both sides. It's kind of like signs and sidewalks. They're difficult to deal with because everyone has an opinion on them."

But after Monday's meeting, the three generally agreed to a compromise that would scale back parklets.

This year, the parklets were allowed from April 1 to Oct. 31. Under the deal, the period would be reduced to Memorial Day to Labor Day – from 214 days to 103.

The compromise would allow a restaurant to use up to two parking spaces next year, down from three in 2022. The cost for two spaces next summer would be $2,500, a lot higher than this year's $1,000.

The aldermen agreed the orange barriers surrounding parklets were unattractive. They said they wanted covers to be placed on the barriers and flower planters attached on top.

The committee said 10 restaurants could take advantage of the parklets next year, for a total of 20 spaces. Mayor Scott Levin, however, suggested the city could exceed that number by a bit.

By the city's latest count, 19 parking spaces were used this year for parklets, or about 1.3 percent of the city's 1,500 parking spaces downtown.

The aldermen said the city was looking at a broader plan for downtown, which would include the parklets.

"We were moving to a position where we weren't going to have parklets," Polomsky said. "Now we're going to limit the dates. We have a consensus."

The committee plans to meet again this month to vote on the compromise. Then the matter would go to the full council. Alderman outside the committee have shown interest in outdoor dining, with many attending the committee's meetings on the subject.