Newmarket’s downtown could see more restaurant patios next year as the town updates its policy.
Town council gave tentative approval to an update to its downtown patio policy that could allow for two more restaurants to utilize parking spaces for patios within the BIA. The town is also making changes to policy, such as allowing for multi-year applications.
Councillor Bob Kwapis proposed expanding allowed parking space patios from four to six within the BIA.
“I would have a very hard time saying “here’s four” and have friction between who is the favourite, who isn’t, and maybe there’s a little bit of bad blood,” Kwapis said. “I would like to see the flexibility of six.”
The town has typically limited patios that extend into parking spaces to four at a time since implementing the program in 2015. Staff sought direction as to whether to keep the cap in place, with council opting for an increase.
The program allows for three patio types, including small frontage patios where alcohol is not permitted, sidewalk patios and parking space patios.
A staff report said the program has remained popular, including among non-restaurant locations that see the benefit of increased foot traffic. But staff addressed feedback to improve the program, including a change to the application period to give businesses more time to ready patios for the summer, plus multi-year approvals so that businesses can invest in their patios.
Acting manager of regulatory services John Comeau said that given the high demand for the program, policy is needed to guide staff on how to administer it.
A couple of restaurant owners were upset last summer after the town dialled back some pandemic-specific measures that allowed restaurants to build patios in laneways. Comeau said the municipality is not budging on that matter.
“We got a little creative with some of the spaces,” Comeau said. “Now, as we return to normal, we aren’t permitted to approve patios that are in live traffic laneways.”
But anyone can apply for the program under the parameters laid out by the town, Comeau added.
The town is keeping fees mostly the same, with a licence fee of $389 and $0.5 per square foot monthly for patios on town property. The fee is increasing to $0.7 per square foot monthly for the parking space patios.
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said patios add to the downtown, but parking space is at a premium. He added that there could be conflict with any cap.
“I worry about even trying to put a reasonable cap like six on it,” Taylor said. “We’re trying to create an opportunity, but not endless opportunity.”
But Kwapis said a cap would be a good balance, and the town could revisit the issue.
Council proceeded with the cap of six parking lot patios and is due to finalize the decision at its next meeting Dec. 14.
Editor's Note, Dec. 6, 2023: This article and headline has been altered to correct and clarify that the proposed changes to the town's patio program will not increase the size of parking lot patios, but will increase the potential number of parking lots patios from four to six.
