Street patio seating could become more popular in downtown Parksville, with council looking at a bylaw to permit them on streets directly adjacent to downtown restaurants, cafes and eateries.
The city received a request from Extreme Eatery to allow a licensed patio on the city-owned street, and hopefully in time for the Victoria Day long weekend in May. This area would be in addition to an already existing outdoor seating area where alcohol can be served.
“The outdoor patio season increase of our revenue is about 60 per cent in the summertime," said Oura Giakoumakis with Extreme Eatery, during a presentation to council's April 23 meeting. "From late spring break into the September long weekend, but it also increases the foot traffic to that area and increases the revenue to all of the other neighbouring shops.”
Giakoumakis added the eatery itself is small and only has six indoor tables, and asked the patio on Morison Avenue be permitted to serve alcohol, which will also require permission from Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.
“I’m pretty excited about this," said Mayor Doug O'Brien, who added that street patios add "vitality" to downtown, part of council's strategic plan.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the provincial government began to allow businesses to set up outdoor seating areas, and Giakoumakis says in the past five years the restaurant has increased its hiring of summer staff by about 40 per cent.
Council considered several options that could allow street patios for downtown restaurants, which include a one-off for Extreme Eatery, amend the zoning bylaw, or amend the zoning byaw, plus a street patio bylaw that would allow city staff to approve permits on an ongoing basis.
“Option 2, which I’m recommending, is to amend the zoning bylaw," said Blaine Russell, director of planning and building. "This would be a one-time process so then in the future, someone would just come in for a licence of occupation.”
The zoning change would add street patios to allowed uses in the zone that governs streets in the downtown core.
Council gave two readings to the bylaw and also directed staff to refer the application to the Parksville Downtown Business Association, the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce and the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association.
A public hearing will also be scheduled, after which council will have a chance to vote on third reading and final adoption, with the hope that the rezoning can be completed in time for the May long weekend.
Council also discussed having businesses pay a reduced annual rent of $359.83, approximately half the normal rate, since the street is city property.
O'Brien suggested the city could treat the first three years as a pilot project, with reduced rent, since businesses will incur some startup costs to build the patios.
“Walk before you run. You’ll learn about what works and what doesn’t work and then we’re going to have a really nice addition to our downtown core,” said Coun. Sylvia Martin, who added the number of patios will expand in the future if the city provides a good template at the start.
