Guelph council approves plan to make seasonal patio program permanent

Richard Overland says it would be "ludicrous" for the City of Guelph not to continue its patio program.

The co-owner of NV Kitchen and Bar in the downtown core says before the pandemic, he had five tables on the sidewalk.

But when COVID-19 hit, and the city quickly moved in the summer of 2020 to create a dining district in the downtown area to help local businesses survive, it helped reinvent the core.

"It has been an amazing attraction for people from all over the city and outside the city to come downtown and experience what a great downtown we have," Overland told CBC News. 

He says he talks to customers regularly about how much they love the patios. He has also heard from locals who have been visiting his restaurant for the 18 years it's been open, and people in town for wedding dress shopping or visiting boutique shops, as well as people who have gone by on the GO or VIA trains and who have spotted the vibrancy of the patios.

"Some of them find me because of these other stores. Some of them find these other stores because of me and it's a really symbiotic relationship and it's just good for everybody," he said. "The patios have absolutely turned the summer from our slowest time to our busiest time."

Staff recommend program continue

Overland offered his thoughts to councillors at Wednesday afternoon's committee of the whole meeting in favour of a staff report that recommends making the seasonal patio program permanent. 

The program is still considered a pandemic mitigation and recovery program but the staff report suggested making it a "permanent destination asset that supports economic opportunities, while balancing the needs and expectations of the business community, residents and visitors."

The staff report says the anticipated annual cost of the program is currently $175,000 and that includes infrastructure, staffing and regular maintenance.

To have a patio in the city, businesses would pay:

• A one-time seasonal patio application fee of $171.
• A one-time seasonal patio agreement fee of $228.
• An annual inspection fee of $260.
• On-street rental would cost $10 per square meter per month.
• HST would be added to all these fees.

Concerns about parking, use of public space

One concern raised in a letter from Doug Minett, who co-founded The Bookshelf bookstore, is that the patios take up on-street parking spots.

"A well-known effect of lack of convenient parking is that frustrated customers head out of the downtown to spend elsewhere," Minett's letter to council says.

A letter from resident Teresa McKeeman also said the patios take public space and make them private and suggested rather than each business having a patio, the city shut down the streets and create seating that anyone can use.

Overland says he's heard people complain about parking, but says a parking garage beside city hall is often empty.

"I honestly believe we have more of a perception of a parking problem than a parking problem," he said, adding the foot traffic benefits all businesses.

"It's not just about me. It's about everybody, right? It's important that everybody in the downtown survives and thrives," he said. "It would be ludicrous for them not to continue it."

In a letter to council, resident Luke Weiler also said he supports the patio program because it has "inarguably made downtown Guelph a more pleasant, inviting and attractive place than it was four years ago."

Councillors approved a plan to make the patio program permanent during the committee meeting. That decision will need to be ratified at a city council meeting later this month.