Restaurants in the Gaslamp on Fifth Avenue set up dining in the street. Photo by Chris Stone
The San Diego City Council Tuesday tentatively approved the “Spaces as Places” program, which will permanently allow outdoor dining and other amenities in spaces previously envisioned as temporary during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spaces as Places allows for outdoor areas for dining, walking, biking and other activities, and provides ways for temporary outdoor structures to become permanent installations, according to the city.
The council’s vote was 6-2 in favor the program, with Sean Elo-Rivera and Joe LaCava opposed, while Chris Cate was absent.
The ordinance originally proposed limited “streetaries,” or outside dining establishments, on streets with a speed limit of 25 mph or less. Six council members voted to amend that ordinance to allow streetaries on streets with limits up to 30 mph. Elo-Rivera and LaCava said they…
