City could close El Patio parking lot

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A zoning issue is threatening to shut down a parking lot owned by the owners of the El Patio restaurant in Central Austin. The owners said the lot is used for overflow parking during their busy lunch and dinner rush hours.

"Where else is there to park amongst all the other businesses around here," said David Joseph, who, along with his siblings, operates the restaurant his father started in 1954. "It's tough."

The long-standing El Patio -- no relative to the fast food chain -- is located near the intersection of Guadalupe and 30th streets in Central Austin. Its overflow parking lot is just west on 30th Street at Guadalup and holds about 15 cars. For 40 years, customers of the restaurant, along with employees, have used the extra lot down along Guadalupe Street when the main one at the restaurant is full.

About nine months ago, however, the Josephs received a notice from the city that the lot was not zoned for parking, but was zoned as residential, and that parking would no longer be allowed. The letter said the Josephs would be fined $2,000 each day they violated the rule by allowing people to park in the lot.

"We closed it up for about three weeks and maybe even a month," said David. "I was watching my customers just go 'round and 'round and finally give up and keep going. I'm talking 30 year customers, 40 year customers, 50 year customers."

Joseph reopened the lot and another notice came in January. A spokesperson for city code compliance said they city was responding to a complaint about parking in the empty lot.

The owners can apply for a new permit and have the property re-zoned, but they worry the neighborhood will not support that option.

"If this lot is closed down, my business will be literally cut in half, if not more," said David.

A court hearing on the matter is set for July.