The pilot program could begin in spring 2026.
The overview
Sidewalk cafes, which entail expanding business activity onto the sidewalk, are included in Georgetown’s downtown master plan as a way for businesses to engage pedestrians and have more activity outside their storefronts.
The parklets would build on the sidewalk cafe idea by allowing businesses to set up removable seating and dining areas in striped parking spaces, Georgetown Chief Development Officer Kelly Treitsch said.
Council members showed widespread interest in the downtown parklets, and asked that the pilot program have definitive start and end dates and be geared toward businesses off the square.
Mayor Josh Schroeder said the city should use the pilot program to determine if the parklets are viable and then develop an official city policy for expanded street uses.
Some businesses in downtown Georgetown have already implemented “unofficial” uses of sidewalk cafes, like outdoor shopping racks and sidewalk seating, Treitsch said.
“We see some of these businesses spilling out onto our sidewalks already with chairs and benches and things, so just seeing how we can maybe clean that up a little bit,” Treitsch said.
What they’re saying
District 6 council member Jake French said he’s interested in expanding business uses but has some reservations about parking availability and cost.
“Especially if it's something that extends into parking and takes up parking spaces, I think the city needs to be paid for that,” French said at the Nov. 25 workshop. “We ponied up a lot of money to build a garage. ... I don’t want to see that parking offset just to the advantage of the businesses.”
French also asked city staff to “be conscientious about the enforcement of [the Americans with Disabilities Act] in our downtown sidewalks” as they develop the program.
In case you missed it
Georgetown opened its first downtown parking garage Nov. 21. The garage is one element of the city’s plans for downtown, which also include renovating the square to expand the sidewalks by removing 71 of the 120 on-street parking spots.
