NOTL approves seasonal patios

The sun will continue to shine on temporary patios in Niagara-on-the-Lake's heritage district.  

At Tuesday night’s committee-of-the-whole meeting, councillors voted to ask staff to create a seasonal program for food and drink establishments – one that won’t require the town to endorse it each year, which is the case of the temporary one currently in place since 2020, started as a result of COVID-19.

A result of a friendly amendment suggested by Coun. Burroughs, the recommendation no longer contained the word “permanent” when it was decided to move ahead with the program for years to come.  

A motion from Coun. Sandra O’Connor was discussed before the staff report on the next steps in keeping the patios open eight months a year.  

She was seeking her colleagues’ approval to sunset the temporary program, terminating it until a permanent one is enacted.  

It was defeated by councillors, who later elected to allow local eateries to continue sitting patrons outside on patio extensions this year from March to October.  

O’Connor argued that her motion should be considered because of the impact patios have on an already “inadequate” parking situation downtown, as well as public benches.  

She’s in favour of patios, but said she’d prefer to see less “patchwork,” and have things paused until a larger plan can be created.  

Allowing retail spaces to have outdoor areas is one example O’Connor said is something that hasn’t been explored.  

“We haven’t looked at it in that context,” she said.  

The program started as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is similar to efforts made in other municipalities in Niagara to support their respective local business communities.  

Coun. Wendy Cheropita said she doesn’t like the idea of cutting the temporary program, which started in 2020, from businesses who may have not fully recovered from the pandemic.  

“To take something like this away is saying ‘I’m not going to support the business community,’” said Cheropita.  

Coun. Gary Burroughs said there is “a lot of work to be done” on the patio program, especially their appearance in the four months a year they’re sitting unused.  

“I don’t like the way they look in the winter,” added Burroughs, who also believes they make the Old Town look “abandoned” four months of the year.  

Interim CAO Bruce Zvaniga said by approving staff’s recommendation, endorsing outdoor eating and drinking areas at establishments where they didn’t previously exist before the program started in 2020, extending it each year will not be necessary.  

It will be monitored, and reports about how the program is operating will be brought to council, he said.  

Planning director Kirsten McCauley said seven downtown businesses currently participate.  

Coun. Maria Mavridis, whose family owns restaurants on Queen Street, declared a conflict of interest on this matter in the opening minutes of Tuesday’s meeting.  

She cited an integrity commissioner probe as the reason for doing so.  

“I do have to declare a conflict until a resolution is found,” she said.  

When the town discussed this issue in November, she did not declare a conflict.