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Nov 06, 2024

Woodside community divided on application for outdoor dining and parking lot expansion  - The Almanac

An application has been submitted to the town of Woodside to construct permanent outdoor dining areas next to Buck’s Restaurant and The Village Bakery and to expand the parking lot at Cañada Corners.

An application has been submitted to the town of Woodside to construct permanent outdoor dining areas next to Buck’s Restaurant and The Village Bakery and to expand the parking lot at Cañada Corners. During an Oct. 22 council meeting, community members shared divided sentiments on the project authorized by a land use measure — Measure A.

The measure, which was narrowly passed by voters in 2021, allows for sites in Town Center to be improved for the promotion of art and cultural activities, according to the staff report. The language on the measure mentions improvements to the rear parcel with play structures, parking and trails.

The proposed parking lot expansion on the rear parcel would require zoning changes to an area that is currently zoned residential and would need to be rezoned to commercial. Some 30% of the site is restricted by an Open Space Easement which was implemented in 1980, which the applicant is asking the council to remove for the parking lot expansion, explained Town Attorney Jean Savaree.

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Residents against the development are calling out the restaurants for violating capacity limits under the conditional use permit (CUP) and disagree with developing on open space.

“This project violates everything that Woodside stands for,” said town resident Don Pugh. “Let’s admit it’s not really about outdoor dining. … It’s a restaurant expansion project that needs a whole bunch of parsing to achieve.”

The current parking lot on Cañada Corners has 155 parking spaces and the expansion would add 34 more spaces into the area with an open space easement.

The current CUP imposes restrictions on the number of seats for Buck’s to 120 For The Village Bakery it’s up to 70 during daytime hours and 95 seats during nighttime hours. The parklet will increase capacity for Buck’s 144 and The Village Bakery capacity will increase to 95 in the day and 117 at night.

The temporary COVID-19 CUP allowing outdoor dining has expired but both restaurants have continued using their parklets. The application requests a CUP amendment to allow the two restaurants to build the parklets permanently.

“Why have we not enforced the CUP?” said Kim Hanson, vice chair of the Circulation Committee. “I don’t think adding seats to a noncompliant CUP, even if we add parking, will solve the problem.”

Peter Bailey, supporter of the application and cosponsor of Measure A, claims that the lack of parking and “spillover” on Cañada Road is causing a safety issue. He adds that the property owner and Robert’s Market President Christine Roberts are investing money into the lot expansion.

Residents, such as Christin New, who voted in favor of Measure A, commented that she is experiencing “ballot regret” and feels “duped by Measure A.” New voted in support of the measure thinking it would be used to create an amphitheater or a central community gathering place.

New suggested that if the town wanted to address congestion around Town Center they could introduce a shuttle system, electric bicycles or even horse drawn carriages.

Council member Paul Goeld asked that staff find out how many parking spots are needed and how much seating there currently is in stores on Canada Corner, disappointed that the town didn’t already have those numbers.

“We’re sort of expanding things and building parking and we don’t even know what we’ve got. We may actually have enough parking spaces today,” said Goeld.

After nearly four hours of public comments and discussion, the Town Council decided to continue further deliberation on the plans on Dec. 10, giving town staff and the applicant time to look into redesigning plans with council comments in consideration.