Blind Dog eyes 3,800-square-foot expansion

Blind Dog Restaurant and Patio. Photo: TownLift // Randi Sidman-Moore

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City Planning Commission gave the nod on Wednesday to advancing a proposal for a 3,795-square-foot addition to the Blind Dog Restaurant. The addition would be located where the current outdoor dining area resides. But, according to Blind Dog owner and executive Penelope Kinsey, there’s no need to worry, “We would never get rid of the patio! And the part that is enclosed will be able to open. We also want to add restrooms to the patio. The rest is a surprise!”

The expansion project, known as ‘The Yard,’ requires a Conditional Use Permit due to its position within the city’s Frontage Protection Zone, an area designed to preserve Park City’s scenic entry corridors.

The proposal comes with parking challenges. The addition would increase the restaurant’s net leasable space from 5,330 to 8,753 square feet, requiring 156 total parking spaces for The Yard complex, which also houses the Boneyard Restaurant and Kimball Arts Center. Currently, the site has 120 parking spaces.

To address the parking deficit, property owners propose sharing parking with the adjacent Emporium complex at 1351 Kearns Boulevard. The arrangement would capitalize on offsetting peak hours—the Emporium’s businesses operate during daytime hours while the restaurants experience peak demand in the evening. Commissioners spoke in favor of the parking agreement to offset the reduction in spaces.

The project faces several hurdles before approval. The Planning Commission must consider the building’s impact on the entry corridor’s viewshed, as the proposed 28-foot height stands approximately 16 feet from the protection zone boundary.

The commission is scheduled to continue reviewing the proposal at its November 13 meeting. If approved, conditions would require the installation of compliant bike parking, enhanced landscaping, and future electric vehicle charging infrastructure.