Hermosa Beach rethinks sidewalk tables
The City Council will reconsider its ban on dining tables on public sidewalks throughout most of town, although upper Pier Avenue will remain off limits for the tables. The city’s recent “Hermosa Clean Sweep” campaign was designed to clear the public right-of-way of non-permitted tables, chairs, business signs and furniture. The move ended almost all outdoor dining on the newly remade upper Pier Avenue, and suspended it along most of Hermosa Avenue. Al fresco dining continued unhindered on the seaside Pier Plaza, where restaurants have long held permits and carried liability insurance to maintain large patios on city-owned pavement,. Outdoor dining also remained at some businesses such as Starbucks coffeehouse on Hermosa Avenue, which holds a permit for outdoor tables that are bolted to the sidewalk. Councilman Peter Tucker persuaded his colleagues to discuss, at an upcoming meeting, the placement of chairs and tables on the public right-of-way for a six-month trial, adding that businesses would have to carry insurance to cover accidents, and allow sufficient access to the sidewalks under the Americans with Disabilities Act. He said he does not want to allow business signs or…
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