Politics & Government

Should Depot Plaza Host More Events?

Parks and Rec Commission considers possible changes to permitted uses of downtown square tonight.

In a move that has set off a flurry of debate in town, the Mill Valley Parks and Recreation Commission tonight is considering changes to the rules around the use of for such things as live music shows and large special events.

City officials haven’t made a specific proposal for changes, and the commission won’t make a final decision tonight. But since a notification of tonight’s hearing was posted in the plaza on June 13, City Hall has received plenty of feedback on the matter.

Some residents have encouraged city officials to open up the plaza to events like flea markets, holiday-related events like pumpkin carving contests and a farmers market. Others have scoffed at the idea, saying that the city shouldn’t alter the existing ordinance that calls it “a park primarily for uses by the general public on a casual, unstructured basis.”

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The latest debate about the Depot Plaza kicked off when the city’s made a series of recommendation in 2010 to encourage 94941 residents to shop locally. Those recommendations included things like , the for residents and the possibility of increasing nighttime and weekend use of the plaza for events. The City Council asked the commission to evaluate the existing plaza ordinance.

co-owner Doug Canepa, whose family organizes the annual event in the Depot Plaza, has been at the center of the debate. In a lengthy letter to city officials earlier this month, Canepa said that while he encourages using the plaza for more youth, cultural and community events, he is “leery of so-called larger special events. Special events are not necessarily good for business downtown. In fact, to some residents they represent a time to stay away form downtown, as it is crowded and there is no parking."

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Canepa specifically called rejected the possible plaza use by the Friday , which was bounced around several times after last year in the Alto shopping center.

“To have this roving business enterprise take the revenues and leave isn’t fair,” he wrote, adding food trucks as another use he wanted the city to prohibit.

Other residents pointed to the Wine & Gourmet Food Tasting as the type of event that blocks the ”casual, unstructured” use of the plaza by putting up barriers around it to keep out those who haven’t paid the entrance fee to the event.

“There is no need to exclude citizens and families with children from the use of our public space,” wrote Dart and Esther Clark.

The 411: Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, 7 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 26 Corte Madera Ave. Meeting will be webcast here.


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