DESTIN — Councilwoman Sandy Trammell says the city has a “parking issue,” and revisiting open deck seating at businesses such as restaurants may be a good place to start.
“We have no standard for any outdoor seating as it is,” Trammell said at a City Council meeting last week. “This isn’t going to affect anyone that’s out there now; anything that’s in existence is grandfathered in.”
As it stands, Destin’s land development code does not factor in outdoor seating decks when it determines the number of parking spaces required for a specific use, such as retail stores or restaurants. For example, full service restaurants are required to have one parking space for every 100-square feet of gross floor area.
Trammell said she would like to see the city reconsider requirements for areas of restaurants that can be closed in and used year-round.