Committee approves plan to make outdoor patios permanent

Sudburians are likely to see more outdoor patios at bars and restaurants this summer, after the operations committee approved a plan Monday to make them a permanent part of the city's landscape.

Councillors approved a new policy to govern outdoor patios, which were introduced last spring as a pilot program at Peddler's Pub on Cedar Street.

The Downtown Sudbury Business Improvement Area passed a motion April 9 formally asking the city to make the program permanent. The outdoor patios was inspired by a similar initiative that proved popular in Barrie three years ago. They're allowed to operate from May until October.

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.

The fees charged to businesses to operate the patios will be phased in over four years, with the all fees waived in year one, 75 per cent in year two, 50 per cent in year three and 25 per cent in year four.

BIA chair Jeff MacIntyre said waiving the fees was important because the patios cost about $25,000 to build.

“It is a significant investment for the restaurant owner,” MacIntyre said.

The patio at Peddler provided the business a significant boost last year, MacIntyre said, since downtown restaurants often see a dip in business as the weather heats up as more people head to camp.

“It allowed Peddlers to maintain extra staff through the summer,” he said. “It was a huge success for the downtown.”

The biggest part of the proposed fee structure is a charge the city plans to impose for the revenue from the parking meters the city loses to the walkways around the patios. The city plans to charge about $1,560 for each lost parking spot. In Peddler's case, the patio takes up three parking spaces, meaning the annual fee would be $4,680.

“We'd ask that you'd possibly reconsider that,” MacIntyre said. “Other cities aren't charging anywhere near the same fees.”

“What if we waived all fees?” suggested Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan. “It doesn't seem to me we would be giving up a lot of revenue … Maybe more businesses would get involved.”

Mark Simeoni, the city's acting director of planning services, said revenue from the meters goes into a reserve fund used to find parking solutions downtown. If the city doesn't charge for the lost revenue, it will mean less money for the fund.

“And parking is an issue in the downtown.”

And Ward 11 Coun. Lynne Reynolds said the new policy means that businesses in town centres across the city can open patios, not just downtown. If they prove popular, the amount of lost revenue could add up.

“If we get 10, 15 restaurants doing this, it does accumulate,” Reynolds said. “I think the fees are manageable.”

However, since the fee is being waived in the first year, Infrastructure GM Tony Cecutti suggested waiting until a report on the program after this season before making a decision. They'll have a better idea then how popular they are, and how many parking meters were affected.

“There will be lots of time in the coming months to have a discussion,” Cecutti said.

Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier agreed. While the fees seem a little excessive, there was no rush to make a change, he said.

“I'm sure we can find a happy medium,” Cormier said. “But we don't need to decide that this evening.”

Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini wondered why patios weren't being allowed on Elm Street, since there's already parking meters on the roadway as part of a pilot parking program.

“I think it's a great idea,” Vagnini said. “But why are we restricting Elm Street?”

Cecutti said Elm is an arterial road with heavy traffic volumes. Currently, parking is only allowed during off-peak hours. Unlike parking, he said patios can't be removed to accommodate rush-hour traffic.