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Town waives fees for outdoor summer patios

February 11, 2021   ·   0 Comments

Restaurant owners will be able to have an outdoor patio this summer in New Tecumseth without having to pay fees or charges.

The Committee of the Whole voted in favour of waiving those fees on February 1 for the 2021 summer season.

The move is designed to provide support to local restaurants in their recovery from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The motion included expanding the program from Alliston to include both Tottenham and Beeton.

“It was a great success and it was really nice in the summer to see all the residents and tourists taking advantage of the situation,” said Ward 1 Councillor William Noye about the short, but successful tryout from last summer. “I hope more businesses will get involved.”

In 2020, Council approved the implementation of Temporary Restaurant Patio Programs in the municipality.

The programs provided restaurants that do not have a permanent patio space on their property with the opportunity to take advantage of the summer weather and offer safe, outdoor dining areas to their customers.

Patios were able to operate in parking lots and adjacent premises on private properties, as well as at curbside locations on Victoria Street in downtown Alliston as part of a pilot project operated in partnership with the Alliston Business Improvement Association.

The curbside program had patios operate on the sidewalk while pedestrian traffic flow was maintained through the installation of temporary ‘bump-out’ sidewalk structures located on some on-street parking spaces.

Last year, eight restaurants were issued permits through the private property stream of the program and three through the curbside location stream. Another ten restaurants contacted the Economic Development Office expressing an interest in the program.

This season, the recommendation was that the program be expanded by included Beeton and Tottenham as well as additional streets in downtown Alliston.

The program’s conditions would be the same as used last summer. This allows patios to operated between May 15, and October 15.

Participating restaurants would be required to adhere to the program’s General Conditions as outlined in the application package.

Last year, the pilot program was put into place relatively late in the season leaving many restaurants unable to take part.

It is hoped that by offering the program prior to the start of the summer season this year, more restaurants can make adjustments and take advantage of the good weather.

By Brian Lockhart
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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