The Town of Herndon is poised to become the latest locality in the D.C. region to test the concept of a “streetery.”
The Herndon Town Council is scheduled to vote today (Tuesday) on a resolution to adopt a new pilot program that would allow businesses to create temporary outdoor dining areas in public spaces, such as sidewalks and on-street parking spots.
Details of the streetery pilot program were shared with the town council at a work session last Tuesday (May 21). The council had directed staff earlier this month to create the pilot that will replace the town’s existing seasonal outdoor dining program, which was established in 2022 but hasn’t gotten any approved participants.
Under the pilot program, businesses will be charged for use of public parking spaces for outdoor dining based on the area’s size. With a maximum of four spaces allowed per business, the rate will be $1 per square foot for the first two spaces and $5 per square foot for the two additional spaces.
The town’s current outdoor dining policies charged $10 per square foot and capped businesses at two shared parking spaces. In order to allow the streetery pilot, staff recommended that the town council repeal those regulations.
Up to 30% of a street block can be used for the pilot program, 10% more than what was allowed under the seasonal seating plan, Herndon Zoning Administrator David Stromberg said.
The pilot program will allow streeteries in six locations:
- Lynn Street
- Station Street
- Pine Street
- Center Street
- Ahmed Lot (726 Lynn Street)
- James Lot (797 Station Street)
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila said he’s anxious to see the pilot program begin because each day that goes by without it is a loss in revenue.
“[The program] lines up with our branding as a destination,” Del Aguila said.
If the resolution is approved tonight, the program will begin immediately and end on Nov. 30. The town will be ready to accept applications for the program tomorrow (Wednesday), staff said.
Streetery pilot permits should be signed by the principal operator of each restaurant as well as the property owner. Permit applications carry a $100 nonrefundable fee to the town’s director of community development, and an annual fee will be charged for rented spaces.
For the next six months, officials will collect data and review the program’s efficacy and its impact on economic development in the town, Stromberg said.
Herndon’s new economic development director, Marc Smith, plans to meet and gather feedback from downtown Herndon business owners, including those who aren’t restaurateurs, but still need parking.
Streeteries began popping up around the D.C. area during the COVID-19 pandemic, as local governments eased outdoor dining rules and let restaurants set up temporary seating areas on sidewalks and in parking lots. While many of those spaces have since been removed, there are still some operating “streateries” in D.C. and Montgomery County, and Alexandria permanently turned parts of King Street in Old Town into a pedestrian-only zone.
