The City of Maple Ridge is hoping to encourage more curbside patios as part of a more vibrant downtown.
Curbside patios, where businesses offer seating in parking spaces, first appeared in Maple Ridge in 2017, and more were allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic so businesses could continue to operate within health guidelines.
The city has recently created an ongoing Seasonal Curbside Patio Program with guidelines for implementation.
The new program does not impact some 38 patios on private property in the city. On May 28, council heard an update on the program from Jeff Baker, the city’s business retention and expansion supervisor.
Baker told council he is seeing more private patios, in response to a customer desire to “experience life al fresco.”
Councillors expressed support for the initiative.
“I was delighted to drive down 224th this afternoon and see my first patio of the season coming together,” said Coun. Sunny Schiller.
Schiller said they create a more inviting downtown, and she would like to hear how they can provide support to businesses.
“I see it being important to a lot of our goals.”
“It’s about patios, and for me it’s broader than that, it’s about place-making” echoed Coun. Jenny Tan, adding that patios help create a vibrant downtown, where visitors see “people out and about.”
There was only evidence of one curbside patio on 224 Street as of the last week of May, in front of the Chameleon Restaurant. Previously there had been others in front of neighbouring Taco Fan, and across the street at Silver Valley Brewing and Mr. Gold, where they sell gelato and other sweets.
In November, city staff asked businesses to have their curbside patios removed, ahead of the new program launch this spring.
So far, the city has received three applications under the curbside program, including two from previous operators. Two other businesses have expressed interest, and another patio has been grandfathered, for a total of six.
There were five or six patios under the previous temporary program, Baker told council.
He said there were “some tough conversations,” because some patio owners didn’t want to have to remove patios, “to hit a reset” from the COVID-era patios to new ones. Two businesses have indicated they will not be participating moving forward without financial support from the city.
Staff said some municipalities or business improvement associations offer financial support to operators so they can build and activate their patios.
Staff noted that it is a city-wide program, and not restricted to 224 Street or downtown, as long as not on Dewdney Trunk Road or Lougheed Highway, and the speed limit does not exceed 50 km/h.
The program will be reviewed at the end of the patio season.
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