Update from Council: Temporary Outdoor Patios and Support for Local Business

Spring is here and patio season isn’t far off! At General Issues Committee (GIC) on March 22, I moved a motion to reduce the costs for Hamilton’s hospitality venues to operate temporary, outdoor patios this year. Passing 15-1 at GIC, the motion guarantees support for local restaurants, cafés, and bars as they continue to rebound from pandemic-related restrictions and limitations. Temporary outdoor patios expand the capacity of a venue and enhance our communities by creating a more animated and pedestrian-friendly city.

There was clear consensus amongst BIAs, including Waterdown Village, that eliminating the City’s application fee to operate a patio, and (when needed) fully subsidizing pedestrian safety infrastructure installation costs, are a welcome development for small businesses in our community. Thanks to the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce for its letter of support to GIC, and to Councillor Tammy Hwang for seconding the motion.

Temporary patio spaces will occupy different settings, including on-street parking spaces, off-street parking lots, sidewalks, alleyways, and boulevards. As a result, sidewalk bypasses are constructed to keep pedestrian traffic safe, where weaving around a temporary patio is required. GIC received an excellent delegation highlighting important accessibility considerations for sidewalk bypass construction, including better use of high-contrast markings, and ensuring level transitions are used throughout the bypass.

The application period to operate a temporary outdoor patio is open now through June 1. Application information can be found here: https://www.hamilton.ca/.../temporary-outdoor-patio-program