Visitors to Traverse City this summer could be eating dinner where cars are usually parked. Outdoor seating may replace some parking spaces this summer in the Cherry Capital.
Yesterday, an ad hoc committee expanded the plan from downtown to the entire city. It would allow so-called "platform cafes" in select parking spaces from May to October.
Jim Carruthers, mayor pro tem and committee chair, says the committee reviewed the proposal.
"We’re just looking at different ideas to make downtown better and more accommodating to our residents as well as our tourists and the people that come here to recreate," he said. "We’re a total tourist destination so we’re just trying to be more open and aware of features that might make the experience of being downtown better."
Businesses who use this outdoor seating would be required to leave enough room for pedestrians to walk without congestion.
Nothing has been decided, according to Carruthers, but there are several issues to discuss.
"Safety is a concern. I mean cars backing in and out of parking spaces. They’re going to have to back in around people," he said. "So what about street cleaning? What about cigarette and leaf build-up? That kind of thing. So there’s some challenges ahead for us to really consider this."
The committee is seeking input from the Downtown Development Authority and the city's merchant association. The committee hopes to have the final ordinance in place by summer. The city commission would make a final decision.