Hahn shows support for outdoor dining in Downey (UPDATED)

UPDATE: At the request of the applicant, the Planning Commission postponed consideration of the permit request until April 20.

DOWNEY — LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Downey Planning Commission in support of a request to make an outdoor dining area permanent.

Representatives for The Commons at Gallatin Road are seeking a conditional use permit to convert seven parking spaces into permanent outdoor seating.

“I am writing to support The Commons application to make the outdoor dining space they have used during the pandemic permanent,” Hahn wrote in the letter. “During the pandemic, many restaurants turned to outdoor dining as a creative way to keep their doors open and serve their customers safely. Since then, restaurants across the County have transformed sidewalks, parklets, alleyways and private parking lots into beautiful outdoor dining patios. Residents have become accustomed to these additions in their neighborhoods and diners have embraced them, allowing restaurants to be able to recover the financial losses they experienced during the worst of the pandemic.

“Now, I hope we can make outdoor dining we enjoyed these past two years permanent. In fact, my colleagues and I on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will soon be calling for a formal ordinance to make outdoor dining permanent in unincorporated areas.

“There is a lot about the pandemic that I hope we can leave behind, but outdoor dining is something we should hang onto. I urge the Commission to approve the conditional use permit for The Commons at Gallatin Road.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

The Planning Commission is scheduled to discuss the issue Wednesday.