New rules coming for uptown patios
Waterloo hopes to launch pilot project to promote ‘patio culture’
WATERLOO — New rules may soon come into play for sidewalk patios in uptown Waterloo.
The city hopes to launch a pilot project soon that will update guidelines for sidewalk patios throughout the uptown and give the public realm a little boost.
Staff is finalizing a report for the new pilot project and gave the city’s finance and strategic committee meeting a sneak peak at a meeting on Monday.
The idea is to promote patio culture in the uptown.
“We’ve gone through a tremendous amount of construction under the LRT project,” said Ryan Mounsey, manager of expansion and retention services.
“The King Street project is underway and now is the time to formalize patio standards like most municipalities.”
Included is an outline for a few proposed patio districts throughout the uptown area. Proposed districts will include King Street North, King Street South, Willis Way, Regina and Erb.
“I’m all in,” Coun. Mark Whaley said. “This is going to be very exciting.”
He asked if the new pilot project will allow retail shops to also spill onto the sidewalks.
Staff said for now this part of the project is just for eatery patios.
“This is a small baby step,” Mounsey replied, adding that the revised rules are part of a bigger uptown revamp.
He pointed out that the city has been working with the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area and Region of Waterloo to finalize the report.
It’s expected to come to council on May 29.
The new project will not affect businesses that may already have patios, Mounsey assured council members. It is also not intended for patios on private property.
It just means that businesses will apply under a new process if the pilot is approved.
“It’s no different from any other year,” Mounsey said. “There are no road blocks on patios right now.”
Mounsey said that although King Street is a regional road, the plan is for the city to handle patio applications.
There are about 460 businesses in the uptown core and more than 60 of them are restaurants and eateries.