Trista James, Planner, provided an overview of the Proposed Amendments for Outdoor Patios and Outdoor Retail Sales and Display and spoke to proposed amendments to staff’s recommendation as outlined in the Corporate Report.
Councillor Dasko spoke in support of the Proposed Amendments for Outdoor Patios and Outdoor Retail Sales and Display; explained the rationale to add to the recommendation regarding waiving of Committee of Adjustment fees for Minor variances related to existing seasonal patios.
In response to Councillor Mahoney’s enquiry regarding capping parking spaces in plazas, Jordan Lee, Supervisor Zoning Services, explained that parking spaces can be capped at specific properties.
Lia Magi, Legal Counsel, explained that Council can direct staff to look into whether any sites are appropriate for exclusion and noted that if there were no sites specified for exclusion in the by-law, any request to add a site for exclusion after the passing of the by-law would have to be an amendment to the by-law.
In response to Councillor Mahoney’s enquiry regarding direction for staff to exclude one site from the by-law, Jordan Lee, Supervisor Zoning Services, explained that the temporary outdoor Patio Program expires on December 31, 2023.
Chris Rouse, Director, Development and Design, suggested that a 10% cap on any particular property, rather than adding site-specific exclusions, and explained the authorization process.
Councillor Parrish suggested that prior to the Council meeting on Wednesday, staff from Planning and Legal meet with her and Councillor Mahoney to review specific sites of concern in their respective Wards, and consider a recommendation suitable across the City.
In response to Councillor Kovac’s request for clarification regarding whether patios in the city centre are permitted as of right and whether patios would be allowed on sidewalks and roadways, Jordan Lee, Supervisor, Zoning Services clarified that patios in the downtown core are permitted as of right, and that patios erected on sidewalks or roadways would require an encroachment agreement or patio permit.
In response to Councillor Dasko’s enquiry regarding whether plaza’s could be removed from the recommendation at this time, and allow staff and the Councillors to meet before Wednesday to come up with solutions regarding patios in Plazas, Jason Bevan, Director, City Planning Strategies, advised that staff could create criteria for plazas whether it be a percentage, number of parking spaces or businesses, to address the concerns that have been raised.
In response to Councillor Horneck’s enquiry as to whether existing patios can be grandfathered, Trista James advised that it is her understanding that permissions under the Temporary Use By-law cannot grandfathered.
Lia Magi, Legal Counsel, advised that staff would have to review the Temporary Use By-law to determine if there are provisions to allow existing uses to continue and that staff would review this before the Council meeting on Wednesday.
The following person spoke:
- John Pappas, Chair of the Port Credit Business Improvement Area (BIA), spoke in support of patio program and requested that the process to obtain a minor variance be expedited.
In response to Councillor Mahoney’s direction to staff to have recommendation wording that addresses the issues at plazas/malls, Jason Bevan, Director, City Planning Strategies advised that staff would have recommendation wording for Council’s meeting on Wednesday.