Businesses eager to expand their services outside to a parking space or adjacent sidewalk could soon have greater clarity about how to do so.
During the March 22 executive committee meeting, city council voted unanimously on a recommendation to adopt the Extension of Business for Sidewalk, Boulevard and Parking Stall policy to allow businesses to extend their services onto adjacent public sidewalks, boulevards and parking stalls where appropriate.
Furthermore, council also voted to repeal the existing Sidewalk Use for Extension of Business policy and waive the rental fee for parking spaces for this year to help with initial start-up costs for businesses.
The recommendation will become official when council passes it as a motion during an upcoming regular council meeting.
Excitement at city hall
“We’re super excited to bring this forward to council and have it open for this coming summer season,” Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development, said during the meeting. “Our existing policy only allows businesses to extend onto the sidewalk. We don’t have anything to extend into parking spaces. This will allow businesses to rent a parking stall for the summer.”
When the fees are implemented next year, the proposed policy recommends a daily rate of $7.50 to rent parking spaces and $3.40 per day to rent additional spaces. Or, as an incentive to operate during the entire season, businesses can rent a parking space at a seasonal rate of $1,100 and $500 for each extra parking spot.
Businesses with existing sidewalk patios will not have to pay the extension fee, nor will they have to pay to use their own parking lots. They will have to pay, though, to rent a parking stall near their building.
Council reaction
“This is a fantastic idea and I’m glad to see it come forward in such great detail,” said Coun. Crystal Froese. “I’ve spoken to several businesses that are eager to participate … . We’ll definitely see more people on board.”
This policy is great, but city hall needs to actively promote it to the business community, Coun actively. Heather Eby said. City hall has done the work and is excited about it, but the policy will mean nothing if there is no uptake.
Mayor Fraser Tolmie — who supported the idea — thought that the rental fees should be brought in at 50 per cent in 2022 since he wasn’t sure what this year would be like for businesses due to the pandemic. He planned to bring forward this suggestion to the 2022 budget deliberations.
“I will be keeping a close eye on this and paying attention because I would like to see us help the local businesses. And I think we are with doing this,” he added.
City hall’s economic development team “hit a home run” with this proposal, said Coun. Jamey Logan. This will create more fun downtown, while tourists can hop from one patio to another while visiting the city.
Coun. Doug Blanc also liked the policy, noting residents worried about shopping indoors during the pandemic can do so outside.
The new policy
Under the proposed new policy, businesses must obtain a seasonal extension permit to operate in those areas during the summer season — from April 1 to Oct. 31 — and during the winter season from Nov. 1 to March 31.
“The city reserves the right to determine how many parking patios and seasonal boardwalks are suitable per block,” a council report said. “Parking patios and seasonal boardwalks must contain traffic barriers, traffic glow posts, and appropriate fencing.”
The report added that heaters and tents are permitted in these areas if businesses follow safety and design regulations. Meanwhile, only sidewalk patios would be permitted to operate during the winter, while businesses that obtain winter business extension permits would be responsible for snow removal around the perimeter.
The next executive committee meeting is Monday, April 12.
