Welland getting restaurants prepared for patio season in 2021

Mr. Mikes Steakhouse Casual co-managers Drew Gowan and Kelly-Ann Broderick get ready to welcome customers to the Welland restaurant's patio last year. KRIS DUBE / TORSTAR FILE PHOTO

By Kris Dube
Courtesy of The Welland Tribune

Whether the provincial government will be allowing bars and restaurants to seat guests outdoors when the weather warms up remains to be seen, but the City of Welland is helping local establishments get prepared for being able to do so.

Through consent at last Tuesday’s council meeting, the city is looking ahead to support local restaurants and retail businesses by extending the 2020 streamlined approval process for temporary outdoor patios and adding outdoor displays for 2021.

In 2020, Welland issued 14 approvals for new or expanded outdoor patios on public or private properties, four for outdoor patios on public lands, and 10 for outdoor patios on private property.

“Recognizing the impacts of COVID-19 will be realized further into 2021, extending council-approved initiatives from 2020 into the 2021 calendar year is another step forward for our community,” said Mayor Frank Campion.

“Adding outdoor displays for retailers to the temporary outdoor patio exemption process will support more local businesses,” he said in a news release.

A road occupancy permit fee for patios of $150, cash-in-lieu of parking for outdoor patios and a site plan exemption fee of $4,688 for outdoor patios is all being waived.

Existing approved outdoor patios and outdoor displays on private property are permitted to continue without the need for additional approval from the city, unless there is a proposal to enlarge and/or create a new patio, said the release.

It is too early what the provincial rules will be in a few months, but it’s nice to see the city handling this issue proactively, Ward 4 Coun. Bryan Green opined at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“I’m sure we will still be dealing with come effects of COVID come May, June,” he said.