Refer Zoning Amendments Patio Program
Motion 23 · Council Meeting, January 17, 2023
Summary
- Proposes permanent changes to the Zoning and Development By-law to allow outdoor patios on private property for businesses (e.g. restaurants, neighbourhood pubs, grocery stores, cabarets) that are currently required by zoning rules to operate entirely within a building.
- The city has allowed temporary patio provisions since June 2020, initially as a COVID-19 pandemic response to help businesses survive while meeting physical distancing requirements; those temporary rules are set to expire March 31, 2023.
- The proposed change would delete the temporary "Section 10.35" patio provision and instead embed permanent patio permissions directly into the relevant district schedules — affecting approximately 7 types of uses across 33 zoning districts.
- Public feedback collected over three years of temporary patio permissions has been broadly positive, with no major complaints or issues identified, supporting the case for making the rules permanent.
- Staff recommend referring the zoning amendments to a Public Hearing, where the public can provide input before Council makes a final decision.
- The General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability recommends approving the amendments in principle, pending the Public Hearing outcome.