City eases patio, outdoor retail rules
Streamlined permit process lets businesses expand capacity quickly
Edmonton businesses no longer need to wait for city approval to open temporary patios, sidewalk cafes or retail spaces outside their storefronts.
Under new guidelines released by the city Tuesday, businesses can fill out an online form to expand their outdoor spaces immediately.
The first phase of Alberta’s economic relaunch, which began last week, allows cafes, bars, restaurants and pubs to open at 50 per cent capacity to keep with physical distancing orders and limit the risk of spreading COVID-19. The city is relaxing its rules around permissions to use outdoor space so that businesses can increase maximum capacity safely.
“New city guidelines developed for temporary outdoor patios, sidewalk cafes and retail expansions focus on safety and shared accountability while reducing administrative requirements,” said city spokeswoman Amber Medynski in a Tuesday news release.
The new regulations take effect Tuesday and will run to the end of 2020.
Businesses will still need to be in compliance with all city regulations and bylaws and have all necessary licensing from other bodies, such as the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis commission and the provincial government.
The city announced last week it is also waiving any fees typically associated with applying to open a patio or sidewalk cafe. Outdoor patios usually require a permit fee of $375 while sidewalk cafes cost $528 for a five-year term.
Ian O’donnell, executive director of the Downtown Business Association, welcomed the changes Tuesday, saying he’s been pushing for years to make the process smoother and more business-friendly.
“We’ve been working alongside the city to identify areas of concern with the permitting process and work with them where reasonable and where applicable to make things more business-friendly, to remove barriers and hurdles and to be able to respond to changing situations more quickly,” said O’donnell.
O’donnell said he hopes the city can find a silver lining in the pandemic by using it to improve different areas of business that could carry on beyond the threat of COVID -19.
Colton Hogg, assistant general manager of Malt and Mortar on Whyte Avenue, said they were already planning to expand their patio into a neighbouring area this summer, but the new process will allow them to increase that addition even further.
“It’s really nice,” said Hogg. “With the new regulations they’re handing down, it’s looking like we have the ability to open it further into the alley than we were allowed to.”
Hogg said he is now planning to submit new applications this week and get updated capacity numbers from Edmonton Fire.
Ben Henderson, councillor for Ward 8 which includes Whyte Avenue, said there is a need not only for additional patio space, but for walking space, as well.
He said he wants to make sure there will still be enough space for pedestrians on the busy high street as patio space is expanded.
“If there’s a way to find some more pedestrian space that can also be used for patio space, and we can do both, I think that would be a win-win in the current climate,” said Henderson.
Last week, Henderson asked administration to look into how the city could expand space for pedestrians along Whyte Avenue. While he is still awaiting answers to those questions, he said he believes the easiest option might be to reduce parking spots. But he’s heard of other options from the community.
“There was one interesting suggestion that I saw from one of the merchants, that we might be able to take all of the space on the north side of the street and then move all the traffic to the southern half of Whyte,” said Henderson.
O’donnell said he has been in talks with city officials about similar initiatives north of the river to potentially expand walking and cycling spaces in areas such as 104 Street and Rice Howard Way.
Meanwhile, the city also announced that it will be implementing more “shared streets.”
Effective Tuesday, 84 Avenue from 109 Street to 112 Street and University Avenue from 109 Street to 114 Street will have expanded walking and cycling areas, and a speed limit of 20 kilometres per hour for local traffic only.
Starting Friday, the following streets will also become shared spaces: 103A Avenue (from Jasper Avenue to 99 Street); Jasper Avenue (103A Avenue to 82 Street); 82 Street (from Jasper Avenue to 112 Avenue) and 112 Avenue (from 82 Street to 112 Avenue).