Four restaurants along Elgin Street today received the transportation committee’s approval to open patios, despite residents’ concerns that sidewalks will become too crowded.
Johnny Farina’s, The Standard, Hooley’s Pub, and Town have all been granted patio encroachment permits for the 2013 and 2014 “patio seasons.”
But when the applications were first submitted, city staff solicited public opinion, and, according to a report to the committee, they received objections from residents who said that patios wouldn’t leave enough sidewalk space for pedestrians.
Woody’s Pub was given permission to install a patio last summer, but once it was raised, residents were concerned that the sidewalk had become too narrow.
Sidewalks must have a width of 2.4 metres without obstructions, but because there is much demand for the use of city sidewalks, adherence to this rule is “unworkable,” according to the report. City staff is recommending a 1.8-metre minimum, in line with the standard for new sidewalks being constructed by the municipality.
Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes, in the report, noted the community objections, but said she wants the temporary permits approved “so that the 2013 and 2014 patio seasons can be assessed in order to determine the safety and comfort of pedestrians.”
City staff will monitor the patios over selected high peak hours. They will observe the number of times pedestrians step off the curb and whether the patios cause congestion. Staff will report back to the committee before the 2015 patio season.