Committee votes in favour of changing Victoria's patio bylaw
Victoria City Council's Committee of the Whole voted in favour of updating the city's patio bylaw Thursday.
The proposed changes would update a four-decade-old bylaw that took a backseat when the city introduced the temporary Build Back Victoria Program.
That program was described as “bureaucracy-lite” in a staff report and allowed businesses to increase capacity while maintaining physical distancing requirements to support economic recovery efforts.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, 98 business in the capital built patios. The program was considered a success by businesses and patrons alike.
“One of the silver linings of this very tough last couple of years is the emergence of patio culture,” said Jeff Bray, chief executive officer for the Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA).
“It adds vibrancy and liveliness to those streets.”
The new bylaw will ensure new patios enhance streetscapes and public spaces, that they are safe and accessible and that the application approval process is fair, flexible and timely.
The DVBA said it welcomes the changes, but stressed flexibility is key.
“We’re very supportive of what staff came forward with,” said Bray. “We just want to make sure we continue to have a flexible permitting program so that the patios work for restaurants as well as for the public, and that means we have to take into consideration that we can be windy, we can be wet, so the patio designs have to allow businesses to have some protection for patrons.”
A draft of the new bylaw is expected to be presented to council in the spring.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.