Permanent patio program gets mixed reviews from Guelph businesses | 24CA News
Not everyone seems to be happy with Guelph’s new everlasting seasonal patio program.
Council on Tuesday handed a movement to undertake this system that was first rolled out as a three-year pilot program in 2020 as a manner for native companies to remain open throughout the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other municipalities in Ontario additionally allowed companies to increase on the sidewalks and streets throughout the summer season season, particularly within the downtown areas.
Under the everlasting program, companies that use a portion of the road might be charged $10 per sq. metre per 30 days (plus HST). It would value $600 per 30 days or $3,000 per 12 months for a business to place out a 60-square-metre patio.
While extra folks have been visiting downtown eating places and retailers in consequence, some homeowners have objected to the charges which have been established as a part of this system.
“We whole heartedly disagree with the $10 per square metre,” stated Bryan Steele, operator of La Reina restaurant on Wyndham Street who made a delegation by phone to Council on behalf of numerous downtown retailers. “With the proposed fee, Royal Electric and Jimmy Jazz (along with his restaurant) will be unable to put out their patios this summer.”
Steele instructed to Council {that a} payment of $3 per sq. metre per 30 days calling it “more than fair.”
“I hope the patio representatives and city council can find a way to adjust this rate because we can’t afford $10 per square metre.”
Coun. Dominique O’Rourke supplied an modification to the proposed program that may make it “revenue-neutral” by adjusting the service degree whereas protecting the $10 per sq. metre payment. She stated it might not end in drawing from the municipal lodging tax to be able to cowl the prices. The program would value the town $175,000 a 12 months to run. That modification was handed unanimously.
“We have user fees for all kinds of things in the city,” O’Rourke stated. “The principle, wherever possible, is that there is a cost recovery on that. And the businesses will have to make a decision whether it is viable for them or not.”
Other companies like Dino’s Athletic Direct are fearful in regards to the lack of parking that may end in companies taking on avenue house for the patios.
“They are under used many times throughout the day and yet (the patios) are there, … taking up parking spaces that could otherwise be used by shoppers looking to shop in the downtown area,” stated proprietor Dino Scrementi in a letter to council.
O’Rourke stated she desires to see companies in Guelph succeed and believes packages like this could obtain that.
“The reason we are making the permanent seasonal patio program is because we believe it is attractive for people to come to the downtown,” O’Rourke stated. “I love to see us make some of those spaces truly public with swing sets or parkettes so that you don’t have to pay to sit on a patio in what used to be a public space. We are trying to balance that out.”
Council additionally voted to have workers carry an info report back to them every year to evaluate how this system is working.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
