Pedestrians frequenting Cowrie Street could see some expanded public patio options this summer now that Sechelt council has approved two street patios through their pilot program.
For a second year the Sechelt Downtown Business Association (SDBA) has installed a public street patio in a parking space on the north side of Cowrie Street by the rainbow crosswalk, with council approving a licence to occupy at an April 21 council meeting.
The patio had been installed in the same location last year, with approval and financial assistance from the District of Sechelt, which contributed $1,500 for building materials to the SDBA.
The SDBA also received approval last year to add a second patio across the street, but it wasn’t installed.
This year that second patio will have a home on the same side of Cowrie Street as the current one, in front of PKLS Burgers restaurant, following Sechelt council approval during a May 5 regular council meeting to authorize a licence held by the business.
That licence did come with some reservations from council, however, since the SDBA-owned patio was funded by the municipality.
“I have a concern about these funds coming from us going to benefit a single business,” said Coun. Matt McLean. “I’d much rather this patio be open to any business or any customers because the money did originally come from the District of Sechelt.”
A staff report says SDBA would lend the patio to PKLS and Sechelt Rotary volunteers and SDBA members would install it.
In a letter to the district, the SDBA supported PKLS’s application and use of the patio “to create an additional outdoor space and seating area for their patrons,” as well as creating “vibrancy for our downtown.”
As part of the permit, the restaurant would also receive permission to use sidewalk space for outdoor dining, which it had already been doing informally.
At the meeting, Sechelt corporate officer Jo-Anne Frank gave councillors rationale for the agreement.
“No money has changed hands between Sechelt and PKLS,” said Frank, but the licence of occupation “needed to be put into place with PKLS because of some of the requirements.”
For example, PKLS must carry the required liability insurance.
Frank also noted it wouldn’t be “used for the sole use of PKLS customers.”
“Our thoughts on it is that it’s not a direct assistance to a business, which would not be allowed under the community charter,” said Frank.
McLean said he accepted the rationale, but asked staff to modify the licence wording to reflect the parking space patio would be open to the public.
Councillors voted to authorize the licence with that change incorporated.
Sechelt’s street patio pilot program launched last year to allow businesses to accommodate public health guidelines around social distancing – something all the more important for restaurants this year since indoor dining is banned until the end of the May 24 Victoria Day long weekend.
Through the program, business owners can apply for a licence to occupy District of Sechelt-owned sidewalks and streets to expand seating or sell merchandise.
The pilot will remain in effect until the end of October after it was approved for a second year last December. At that time, SDBA was the only group to apply for a licence.
As of May 7, only PKLS and the SDBA have participated in the pilot, communications manager Julie Rogers told Coast Reporter, adding “other businesses seem to be expanding outdoors onto their own properties.”
The cost to build and install a patio has also been identified as a barrier.
Businesses in the District of Sechelt aren’t the only ones making modifications to free up space for outdoor dining.
Last year the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) supported Bruinwood Distillery in Roberts Creek in its effort to get approval through the Liquor Regulation Branch to expand its service area.
The SCRD left wording open to support other businesses, “so it could be more efficient for others exploring the same options,” SCRD chair Lori Pratt told Coast Reporter.
As far as offering a similar pilot program goes, Pratt said it would for the most part fall outside the SCRD’s jurisdiction since the regional district doesn’t issue business licences.
Instead, businesses would likely have to seek approval through the Ministry of Transportation to use its road allowance or right of ways.
Gibsons Mayor Bill Beamish said the town already has policies and bylaws in place that support patio expansions onto sidewalks.
For example, earlier this year council authorized the installation of a patio at 292 Gower Point Rd. for a commissary, which is replacing the Trading Post.
The patio will extend about one metre onto town-owned land, leaving two metres of unobstructed sidewalk, similar to other restaurants in the area. Construction is slated to begin this spring with opening expected late summer or early fall.
