Monday, November 17, 2025
This submission is from Citizens Association of Georgetown President Amy Titus.
The Citizens Association of Georgetown (CAG) participated in the Council of the District of Columbia’s November 5 Oversight Roundtable on the city’s Streatery Program, hosted by the Committee on Transportation and the Environment and chaired by Councilmember Charles Allen. The hearing coincided with ongoing public debate—highlighted in The Washington Post Metro section’s November 13 article, “A Fork in the Road for Streateries”—about the future of outdoor dining in the District.
CAG testified in support of outdoor dining, provided that it remains consistent with Georgetown’s historic character, is sanitary and well-maintained, and does not obstruct pedestrian pathways or planned rapid bus lanes. In its testimony, CAG emphasized several specific positions, many of which were echoed in the Post article:
•All Georgetown streatery applications must be reviewed by the Old Georgetown Board (OGB).
•The city’s streatery regulations—and any accompanying OGB guidance—must be enforced consistently.
•Fees for the use of public space must be fair and uniformly applied, comparable to those charged to residents and other local businesses.
•Streatery permits must be time-limited (e.g., two to three years), with renewal contingent on demonstrated compliance with city and OGB requirements. These permits must not be permanent.
•Community and ANC input must be given meaningful consideration during both the application and renewal processes.
Restaurant owners, Main Street organizations, and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) also testified, expressing concern that the new permitting system is overly complex, burdensome, and financially challenging. Many are seeking extensions and exemptions. Notably, DDOT confirmed that approximately 90% of current streateries are requesting exceptions and strongly oppose the proposed $20-per-square-foot annual fee.
Sharon Kershbaum, Director of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), testified that the new guidelines will take effect on November 30, 2025, when all temporary streatery permits expire. Enforcement actions will begin in January 2026 for any establishments found to be noncompliant. Kershbaum defended the $20-per-square-foot rate as comparable to fees in similarly sized cities and noted that in addition, “there are safety concerns, accessibility issues, and aesthetic issues” that the regulations are designed to address.
CAG remains committed to balancing strong support for local businesses with preserving Georgetown’s historic integrity and ensuring equitable use of public space.