Fees For Dining, Retail Use Of Parking Spaces Considered In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — On Tuesday, Alexandria City Council will consider approval of fees for "parklets," or business use of on street parking spaces for dining or retail.

The city had allowed temporary parklets for dining and retail as part of COVID-19 flexibilities offered to businesses. The permits are free under the temporary program through June 30, 2022. Now the city is proposing fees for the permanent program starting July 1, 2022. City Council had approved a permanent program for parklets in October 2021.

Parklet permits would receive administrative approval from the city if they meet location and design standards. City staff proposed permit fees be cut by 50 percent for the first year due to expenses for designing parklets to new standards. The full fees would take effect on July 1, 2023.

The permit fees would vary by area. In the King Street retail strategy area from the Potomac River to the Metro and one block north and south, fees would be $150 per linear foot each year. That equates to $3,000 for one parking space.

In "equity emphasis areas" such as West End and Arlandria, fees would be $50 per linear foot per year, or $1,000 per parking space.

In all other areas of the city, including the Carlyle, Old Town North, Del Ray and Braddock neighborhoods, the fees would be $100/linear foot per year or $2,000 per parking space.

For non-commercial public parklets, fees would be $15 per linear foot per year or $300 per parking space. Pop-up parklets for up to seven days would have a $100 permit fee plus $40 per day for metered parking spaces and $30 per day for non-metered spaces.

According to a city staff report, 60 applicants requested use of 142 parking spaces during the temporary COVID-19 program. Some businesses no longer use the parking spaces, leaving 32 businesses with a parklet under the temporary program. Most businesses are in Old Town, and some are in Carlyle, Braddock and Old Town North.

City Council will also consider a separate ordinance Saturday to require businesses that want to continue parklets to obtain a permit.