Outdoor patios could be bigger than ever in Port Colborne this summer
Published March 16, 2022 at 3:38 pm
Much like last year, Port Colborne has yanked the fees for restaurants and bars setting up outdoor patios in an effort to make up for some lost business due to the pandemic.
After city staff talked to the Downtown BIA and local business owners on West Street and Clarence Street, they drew up a report recommending the no-fee set-up for 2022 after a previous 2019 decision that it would costs businesses $300 for erecting a new patio and $50 for a renewal.
“Restaurants and cafés have had to rely on patios the past two years to keep their businesses afloat. The changes that council approved will make it easier to operate a pop-up patio in Port Colborne,” said Mayor Bill Steele after the no-fee approval passed at council.
However, this year’s patios may be a little bit larger if businesses get along well with their neighbours.
Stemming from feedback received during and after a council meeting on February 22, additional information was provided on where patios must be placed in relation to building frontage.
While patios aren’t supposed to extend beyond the frontage of the business, they can if they reach a signed agreement with a neighbouring business to use some of their footage. That means if a restaurant is next to, say, a show store that is agreeable to a longer patio, the two businesses can also jointly sponsor and share a patio platform that spans multiple storefronts.
That said, approval of the placement of any commercial patio in Port Colborne is at the discretion of the city. But another big change? The operating season for patios has been extended from April 1 to November 15.
“Port Colborne’s small businesses have been through and overcome a lot during this pandemic, and the improvements endorsed by council will make for yet another successful patio season,” said Bram Cotton, the City’s Economic Development Officer.
Cotton’s consultations with the local business community uncovered a desire to have pop-up patios be a permanent option in the city. A future staff report will present this option for council’s consideration.