Downtown Patio and Retail Display Program Review
Consultation has concluded
NEW Information: March 21, 2023
At last night’s council meeting the following was passed with respect to the Town of Collingwood Temporary Downtown Patio and Retail Merchandise Program.
THAT Council endorse the revisions to the boulevard encroachment program by enacting a by-law to implement revised Town of Collingwood Temporary Downtown Patio and Retail Merchandise Program Standards with the implementation of a further reduced speed limit along Hurontario Street of 30 km/hr, and not endorse the Ontario Traffic Council: Restaurant Patio Guidelines within the Right of Way as the Town’s minimum traffic control standards related to on-street patios, and include a downtown visioning exercise including the future uses of Hurontario Street in the proposed 2024 budget.
AND THAT Council enact and pass a by-law to amend the Fees and Service Charges By-law to implement the fees associated with the Temporary Downtown Commercial Patio and Retail Display Program as provided below.
Retail Merchandise Display – Annual License $80
Sidewalk Café* – Annual License $80
Sidewalk Patio – Annual License $150
On-Street Patio – Annual License $350
The reduced speed limit of 30 km/hr has been applied to side streets in the Downtown as well as Hurontario Street from First to Hume Street.
In this update to the program, sidewalk and on-street patios will be permitted starting May 1 through to October 15 (weather permitting). All fencing is required to be made of black metal, natural wood or natural wood posts with a natural rope in between the posts or a combination ensuring that it remains neutral and in keeping with the heritage district. On-street patio platforms are to be made of a sturdy material to withstand the vertical load at full occupancy. For a full list of requirements, please review the Temporary Downtown Commercial Patio and Retail Display Standard available here: https://collingwood.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/121952/?preview=121954
Please review the changes to the issuance of temporary liquor licenses as set out by the AGCO for those wishing to serve liquor on their patio. Links are provided under the News Feed and listed below.
https://www.agco.ca/notifying-agco-approved-temporary-outdoor-physical-extension-temporary-patio
https://www.agco.ca/blog/alcohol/jan-2023/reminder-new-requirements-temporary-outdoor-physical-extensions-temporary
February 24, 2023
The survey has closed and a staff report has been published to the Corporate and Community Services Standing Committee agenda for March 6, 2023! To view the staff report, please visit our website at: https://collingwood.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=1294.
Thank you to everyone that participated in the survey!
Project Overview
The purpose of the Downtown Patio and Retail Display Program Review is to engage Collingwood residents and stakeholders in the review of this program (post covid). Patios and retail merchandise have been permitted on the sidewalks of Downtown Collingwood for over 10 years, with use of the sidewalk for these purposes increasing each year.
During the pandemic, restrictions were put into place by the province and Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit to protect the health of the general public and reduce the transmission of COVID-19. To assist affected businesses during these hard times to enable the mandated distance requirements, flexibility was provided to use of outdoor spaces providing for additional outdoor seating areas for patrons of our local restaurants, and expanded ability to display retail merchandise on the public sidewalk. Patios were permitted to expand beyond their building frontage upon receiving consent from the neighbouring business and ability to utilize on-street parking spaces to accommodate physical distance separation requirements for additional seating, and use of alternate low-cost fencing materials as it was for a temporary basis. Merchandise displays were permitted during hours of operation, including tents along the curbside which were previously restricted to weekends and holidays. This increased flexibility was permitted through a temporary by-law that was in effect until the COVID-19 provisions put into place by the province and health unit were lifted.
Although the pandemic was difficult for many local businesses, it did provide opportunities that were not available pre-pandemic. With the reinstatement of the original rules for sidewalk patios and merchandise displays, Staff believe there is an opportunity to explore continued flexibility or enhancements to support our Downtown business community as well as patrons enjoyment of downtown patios. Council directed the launch of the community and stakeholder consultation to receive feedback on the satisfaction of the ‘temporary’ program during COVID-19, how we can make changes the existing program ensuring patron safety without negatively impact neighbouring businesses and the prestigious Downtown historic character.
Additionally, Staff are reviewing the new engineering guidelines established by the Ontario Traffic Council for patios located on a municipal sidewalk or roadway. The guidelines relate to patio infrastructure, safety of the patio patrons and public, and accessibility requirements.
Following community and stakeholder consultation and new engineering guideline review, staff will be preparing potential amendments to the existing sidewalk patio and merchandise display by-law for Council’s consideration for the upcoming season.
This project will include the following steps, also outlined in the Timeline along the right of this page:
February 2023: Survey of Downtown Patio and Retail Display Areas located on municipal sidewalks and on-street parking areas
March/April 2023: Draft report and recommendations to Council for consideration
Spring 2023: New Program Implementation
**The survey closed on February 24, 2023. Thank you to everyone that participated.
Does your restaurant have a patio on private property? Are you looking to temporarily expand your existing patio?
A team has been set up to review requests for extensions of patios on private property. This process involves the review of public safety, access, location, and other site-related matters. As of January 1, 2023, licensed patios require municipal approval to expand temporarily. Previously a municipal statement of non-objections was required by the AGCO. Applications will be available in spring 2023. To learn more, please get in touch with planning@collingwood.ca.