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New Port Richey business miscue leads to discussion of 'parklets'

 
MICHELE MILLER |  Times Will parklets - outdoor patios constructed on parking spaces - be the next new thing for businesses in downtown New Port Richey? The city is ramping up the conversation with local businesses and residents after Lisa and Kris Bolster, owners of Sip wine bar on Grand Boulevard, built a temporary parklet in early March, and were fined for it. Here, Lisa and Kris Bolster celebrate the temporary parklet on March 5 with customers including Mayor Rob Marlowe, Deputy Mayor Jeff Starkey and the city economic development director, Mario Iezzoni.
MICHELE MILLER | Times Will parklets - outdoor patios constructed on parking spaces - be the next new thing for businesses in downtown New Port Richey? The city is ramping up the conversation with local businesses and residents after Lisa and Kris Bolster, owners of Sip wine bar on Grand Boulevard, built a temporary parklet in early March, and were fined for it. Here, Lisa and Kris Bolster celebrate the temporary parklet on March 5 with customers including Mayor Rob Marlowe, Deputy Mayor Jeff Starkey and the city economic development director, Mario Iezzoni.
Published April 4, 2018

NEW PORT RICHEY — A national movement to turn public pavement into small public gathering spots, known as parklets, has come to New Port Richey. But the first test model caused quite a stir.

The premise of a parklet is to build a structure alongside a sidewalk, and over adjacent parking spaces, to create a small community gathering place. Parklets are popular in places like San Francisco, and images abound online of the elaborate green-leafed oases in otherwise paved-over cities.

A year ago, building a parklet in New Port Richey became a passion for business owners Kris and Lisa Bolster. Their restaurant, Sip, is creating buzz for its fine wine and craft beer, and its cheese and salumi eating and drinking experience.

Last year, the couple went to the city and inquired about building a parklet on two parking spaces in front of their business at 6231 Grand Blvd., in the heart of downtown. City officials were receptive, Lisa Bolster said, and after a year of talks, the owners completed an application. As requested by the city, the owners even made the parklet compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Bolsters thought that was that and put up the city's first parklet — a wooden platform encased by vertical pylons to hold lights. They added planters to make it a green and inviting place where groups could sit and chat.

Proud of their accomplishment, Sip put out word on social media and invited city officials to come see the parklet. On March 5, people came — including New Port Richey Mayor Rob Marlowe and Deputy Mayor Jeff Starkey — who sat on it together.

The experiment seemed to be moving along, in the Bolsters' minds, with the city's blessing. Some people didn't like it, however. During a March 6 City Council meeting, City Manager Debbie Manns announced that the Sip parklet did not have a permit and violated "several ordinances."

City Council member Judy DeBella Thomas blasted the structure that night, calling it a "poke in the eye" to other business owners.

The next day, city officials cited Lisa Bolster for building the parklet without a permit. She has a court date in May regarding the violation. Shocked at the action, the Sip owners moved the parklet off the street and behind their business.

The flap, however, revealed that some council members were intrigued by the idea of a parklet program in the city, and Marlowe called for a work session about them on March 27. The meeting grew heated as the council hashed out the idea.

The appearance of Marlowe and Starkey at the Sip parklet opening prompted City Council member Bill Phillips to inquire about possible Florida Sunshine Law violations. The law bans elected government officials from discussing government business outside of public meetings.

Marlowe and Starkey said they did not discuss city business while sitting together on the parklet. Starkey said he did not know that night the parklet did not have a permit.

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"We did not discuss any city business. I showed up because I wanted to see what the heck it was," Marlowe said.

Lisa Bolster took to the podium and addressed DeBella Thomas' March 6 commentary. Bolster said she took the criticism hard after putting her life savings into a business in New Port Richey.

"A poke in the eye is nothing compared to a punch in the stomach when somebody tells you that you are an abomination to other businesses when you followed everything you were supposed to follow and you put in the kind of investment that we did in our business," she said.

DeBella Thomas apologized, and along with other council members directed staff to create a pilot program for parklets in the city with specific guidelines.

"I was asked what the structure looked like, and in the heat of the moment I said it was an abomination. My bad. It was perhaps a wrong choice of words," DeBella Thomas said. "I love your business, and I am thrilled it is in that place."

The city manager said the Bolsters did not erect the parklet intending to circumvent city regulations, and said the staff would propose a parklet ordinance at a future council meeting.

"I have to say there was no mal-intent. They — by submitting material — thought they had received approval to do it," Manns said.