The intersection of 2nd Avenue East and 9th Street East in downtown. File photo
Owen Sound council will consider a proposal to create a grant for restaurants this summer that would help them with the costs of establishing temporary outdoor patio spaces.
Coun. John Tamming gave notice he intends to introduce a motion at council’s next meeting to instruct city staff to allocate $30,000 this summer to match funds put up by temporary and sidewalk patio applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis to a maximum of $5,000 each.
Director of Corporate Services Kate Allan told councillors there are no unallocated line items in the city’s 2021 budget, but staff could report back on the implications (of funding this grant program).
Tamming’s notice of motion came after council passed a staff recommendation to allow temporary restaurant and bar patios again this summer, while delegating authority to the city manager to approve the design, layout and placement of sidewalk patios.
Owen Sound will also waive all fees associated with issuing a sidewalk patio permit in 2021.
Extended outdoor patios popped up across Ontario last summer as Covid restrictions left bars and restaurants unable to operate at full capacity, especially for indoor dining.
“There continues to be some level of uncertainty respecting how long COVID-19 public health measures will remain in force and effect,” a report by Owen Sound’s Director of Community Services Pam Coulter explained. “It is anticipated that even following the pandemic, many patrons may continue to opt for outdoor dining and most businesses, notably restaurants and bars, will continue to offer this option for the foreseeable future.”
Coulter said the city approved 10 applications last year for temporary patios to extend a bar or restaurant on private property. There were also four approvals for sidewalk patios, which are located on city property such as a sidewalk or on-street parking space.
Coun Carol Merton asked: “Is there a possibility we could evaluate it to determine if this is something we should consider as a permanent feature for enhancement of our downtown?”
Coulter said once restaurants are back to full capacity there is a parking requirement generated to consider.
Coun. Scott Greig expressed concerns over non-restaurant business owners who had some of their parking spaces disappear last year from the temporary outdoor patios.
“Before we hurdle ourselves to quickly down the pathway of shutting down the whole street, do we have real means of communication with those business owners who last year had some of their parking spaces disappear?” Greig wondered.
Coun. Travis Dodd said if there are only a few patios downtown, he doesn’t think it’s affecting the parking spaces significantly.
“But, if every restaurant and storefront downtown expanded then that’s a discussion we need to have,” Dodd said. “But I don’t see a significant impact in its current form, unless there’s a swarm (of sidewalk patios) I’m not aware of.”
Council will vote on Tamming’s notice of motion concerning the potential $30,000 allocation for restaurant grants at its March 29 meeting.