The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
No idea how many will participate
By Mark Reaman
Crested Butte will experiment this coming summer with allowing retail merchants to utilize parklets on Elk Avenue and portions of Third Street, similar to the ones used by restaurants. Like the restaurants, participating retailers will have to pay $3 per square foot to set up merchandise in the public right-of-way.
In a memo to the council, Crested Butte planning technician Madison Manning said the staff is not sure how much participation there will be—during the COVID summer of 2020, only five businesses took part when allowed. “While staff is unsure of the level of participation based on the challenge of outdoor retail displays, offering the parklet program to retailers provides an alternative to display merchandise in a way that ensures the sidewalk and brick areas remain clear of items and open for pedestrians,” the memo stated.
Manning told the council at the February 20 meeting that based on their polling of other mountain communities, parklets did not seem to be an overwhelming hit with retailers. She said Telluride discontinued their program due to lack of participation, while Salida and Louisville both allow them, but businesses didn’t take advantage of the offer last summer. Frisco had six retail businesses use the outdoor space for displaying merchandise last year.
Under the Crested Butte program, retailers can only use the space for merchandise display. Businesses not actively using the permitted area as prescribed within two weeks of installation of the parklet will be required to remove the parklet. Pop-up tents, shading elements and flags will not be allowed. Storage of merchandise is not allowed in the parklet. The retailer may not encroach into a sidewalk’s ADA-accessible concrete walkway and use of the brick paver area is not permitted.
Councilmember Jason MacMillan, who has expressed concern over Elk Avenue starting to have the look of an unkempt bazaar, said he is supportive of the summer experiment. “Whatever we think makes a town vibrant and reflects our values is what we are aiming for,” he said. “It is worth a try.”
Councilmember Anna Fenerty noted that portions of Third Street would be allowed to use parklets and wondered if that could also be the case for Second Street. Community development director Troy Russ said that the big difference was that while Third Street has sidewalks, Second Street does not. “There is a lack of functional space over there,” he said.
Russ said town did a special email to all retailers asking for feedback.
The council unanimously agreed that trying the idea was worth the effort for the coming summer and town could watch and learn from the experiment.
“We don’t know how successful it will be here,” concluded Manning. “But we will follow the council direction and try it for a year and come back to council.”
The summer parklet program will run from Tuesday, June 18 until Tuesday, October 1.
