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WIN WIN Patios Packed On Long Weekend |
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Visitors to downtown Collingwood enjoyed time in the sun on both curbside patios (above) and on patios adjacent to buildings (below) on the long holiday weekend. The patios were packed and Collingwood's downtown became a real people-place over the weekend thanks to council's new bylaw that allows the restaurant and coffee shop owners to decide where their patios should be located on Hurontario Street. |
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| Patios May Locate Adjacent To Buildings Or Curbside Thanks To Revised Bylaw |
It's amazing what compromise will do to solve a dispute! Thanks to the decision of the new Collingwood council, downtown patios are once again a major tourist attraction. Visitors to our historic downtown had a choice of patio locations to sit in the warm spring sun and enjoy the holiday weekend, and they clearly enjoyed spending time relaxing on Hurontario Street. You'll remember that the new Collingwood Council moved quickly to resolve the patio issue that had become a heated debate and a key election issue last fall. Council approved repealing the patio/cafe and merchandise display areas from the Business Licensing Bylaw, to enact a bylaw to regulate patio and merchandise display encroachments on municipally owned property. In a unanimous vote, council revised the bylaw to now permit restaurant owners to choose as to where they wish to locate their downtown patios. As long as a two metre area is maintained on the Hurontario Street sidewalk to allow for pedestrian traffic, a patio may now be located at either curbside or adjacent to the building. Mayor Sandra Cooper was glad to see the patio issue be resolved prior to the busy spring and summer tourist season. "This is one that we have been looking forward to and I thank the town staff for their hard work." Mayor Cooper had said earlier that it was important to resolve the patio debate to allow council to move forward with other important business. "I believe council's unanimous decision will allow for a variety of businesses to flourish. Both patios and display of merchandise more than meet the provincial standards for accessibility along a walkway. I support the downtown as it is an economic stimulus to our community by attracting visitors. A large contingent of residents asked the patios be moved back against the buildings. The decision made by this council fulfills an election promise." Deputy Mayor Rick Lloyd agreed that staff did a great job in pulling together information necessary for council to move forward with the bylaw revision. In addition, downtown merchants are now allowed to display merchandise directly in front of their storefronts or curbside. Council can also direct the relocation of any new tree that was planted creating a barrier from an existing restaurant that previously held a patio permit, to enable those businesses to erect their patios under the new regulations. |
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Downtown Collingwood streets were busy on the long holiday weekend |
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The warm sunshine on Saturday, May 21st, allowed visitors to enjoy the outdoor patios, sample products and listen to music throughout the downtown streets. |
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