In-street patios for downtown Main Street eating establishments just got a much bigger price tag attached to them, thanks to council.
Canmore council approved a pilot project three years ago to allow temporary patios to be constructed by approved food and beverage businesses in the parking lane along Main Street.
With the pilot officially over, council was asked earlier in May to approve another three years for in-street patios, with a few changes to the policy.
However, with a $200 fee to register and $100 a year fee for an in-street patio, Mayor John Borrowman felt the price tag to use up parking spaces in the downtown core was too low.
As a result, the mayor put forward a successful motion to increase the yearly rate to $1,000 to have a patio – which is on top of the $10,000 each one costs on average to construct.
Borrowman said there is already incentive for businesses to create in-street patios regardless of having low fees.
“It seems to me there is a strong incentive for creating these patios regardless, “ he said. “That incentive is what we call in the business world, profit.”
The mayor said an in-street patio provides businesses a significant increase in seating and $1,000 fee per year should not be a disincentive.
“The patios add vibrancy to the downtown, they absolutely do – it’s a no brainer,” Borrowman said. “But there is a cost associated to the Town around creating a vibrant downtown with higher standards for municipal infrastructure like benches and lighting. It is a symbiotic relationship. The success of businesses on Main Street revolves around what we do. Honestly, I don’t think $1,000 a year is any sort of disincentive.”
Although council approved the change, Councillors Sean Krausert and Rob Seeley voted against it, saying the purpose of the program is to encourage vibrancy, not discourage businesses from participating with high fees.
Manager of planning Alaric Fish said the original rationale behind having in-street patios was to create vibrancy in the downtown core, increase the amount of time people spend in the area and make it more of a destination.
Fish said the pilot has been a success and popular with businesses and patrons, however, a new policy and operating procedure was needed to formalize the process for approving patios.
The recommended fee of $200 for an application and $100 per year for a permit was to reflect the staff time associated with processing permits and, according to the staff report, were low to encourage development of patios and facilitate their installation.
“This policy directs the chief administrative officer to create the procedure and establish application requirements, as well as make decisions,” Fish said. “In the procedure as proposed, there are design and location requirements as well as insurance requirements.”
Currently, there are 27 eating establishments in the town centre and Fish acknowledged if each one wanted a patio it “may be a bit too much.” While there is no limit to the number that may be approved, he said the decision to approve any single patio is with the CAO or designate.
Asked how having in-street patios fits in with Canmore’s downtown parking strategy (which is still a work in progress), Fish said he appreciates that the municipality is actively trying to increase parking and in-street patios take away parking.
“Really, the objective is a vibrant downtown,” he said. “I am proposing that we wait and see how it goes. I don’t think we have tipped into having too many so far.”
Downtown business association executive director Beth Vandervoort said the issue was discussed at its past board meeting and a number of board members have taken advantage of the on-street patio opportunity.
Vandervoort said if issues arise, in her role with the downtown business association, it is an opportunity for her to get involved and try to resolve it.
