Popularity sees city OK larger downtown patios

Outdoor patios have proved popular with residents of Greater Sudbury, according to a report going to the city's operations committee Monday.

A staff report recommends removing the 'pilot' designation from the program and making it a permanent feature for downtown bars and restaurants.

“The full sidewalk patio pilot program has generated positive reviews and has added to the vitality of the downtown,” the report says. “The city has not received any complaints with regards to safety, cleanliness, noise, etc, associated with the patio experience in 2014.”

The Downtown Sudbury Business Improvement Area passed a motion April 9 formally asking the city to make the program permanent.

“The extended sidewalk patio pilot project was very successful in 2014, generating very positive feedback from the public, businesses and media, including the need for more of this type of patio, including from a number of Downtown Sudbury BIA members,” the resolution reads.

The BIA staff canvassed downtown merchants for their thoughts on the full sidewalk patio program, the report says. Responses to the member survey were generally very positive.

“For example, 89 per cent of the nine respondents viewed the addition of the full sidewalk patio pilot as positive,” the report says.

Staff is recommending the program be made permanent, with a few conditions. They include not allowing full sidewalk patios on Elm Street and that pedestrian walkways that run parallel to the patio be at least 2.4 metres wide.

The patio project was inspired by a similar initiative that proved popular in Barrie three years ago. Because the patios are located on the sidewalk, business owners have to build pedestrian walkways so people can safely walk around them. In Peddler's case, the walkway took up two parking spaces on Cedar.