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Another hiccup on the patio front
23 July 2010
Oops. This week council was asked to respond to an email that identified a few significant snags in our new licensing bylaw that affect numerous downtown restaurants and merchants just as they start to set up for the annual Elvis Festival. Seems we had a few more hiccups with out new licensing bylaw.
First, was the requirement for permits. Seems that not everyone who wanted to erect a tent or patio downtown managed to get an application in on time. We were told staff weren't sufficient to handle all of the expected applications (recall that putting out even a simple table or rack of clothes requires a permit now!). So council was asked to forgive them for the weekend.
I agreed, although I'm not sure where the staffing shortage lies - in bylaw or planning - or how many bodies are required to process an application. Still, let's eschew the petty bureaucracy for the moment and move forward.
Second, patios need heritage-approved fencing, and the manufacturer can't make it soon enough. In fact, it's at least two weeks away from delivery. So we were asked to allow non-standard, non-heritage-style fencing for the weekend. And possibly for the next - long - weekend. Don't forget that these fences aren't free - the BIA is buying them then leasing them back to the restaurants. Another cost to be passed along to you, the consumer.
Again I agreed. After all, I really don't think the earth will be knocked of its axis if a few bits of fencing don't comply with the heritage guidelines for a few weeks. I wonder if we could allow a few umbrellas in non-standard colours, too? or even some with (*gasp*) advertising on them? Might send a few folks into cardiac arrest.
Third, the bylaw requires merchants erect only 8x12' tents. Turns out that's a non-standard size. Anyone can get a 10 x 10' tent at local hardware stores - that's the size most merchants have now, and the size of the town's tents used for the Farmers' Market and other events. But 8 x 12' tents are special order items. The BIA had to do some searching to find a supply and - according to the email - fly them in for the weekend.
At whose expense? Eventually it will be yours: I'm sure the shipping costs will be woven into the lease costs passed along to the merchants who need to get it back from customers. As will the costs of using non-standard-sized tents that have to come as special orders. Ka-ching!
Makes you wonder why no one checked what "standard" tent sizes are - or asked what the town already owns - before the bylaw was crafted.
I agreed, although I'm not sure where the staffing shortage lies - in bylaw or planning - or how many bodies are required to process an application. Still, let's eschew the petty bureaucracy for the moment and move forward.
Second, patios need heritage-approved fencing, and the manufacturer can't make it soon enough. In fact, it's at least two weeks away from delivery. So we were asked to allow non-standard, non-heritage-style fencing for the weekend. And possibly for the next - long - weekend. Don't forget that these fences aren't free - the BIA is buying them then leasing them back to the restaurants. Another cost to be passed along to you, the consumer.
Again I agreed. After all, I really don't think the earth will be knocked of its axis if a few bits of fencing don't comply with the heritage guidelines for a few weeks. I wonder if we could allow a few umbrellas in non-standard colours, too? or even some with (*gasp*) advertising on them? Might send a few folks into cardiac arrest.
Third, the bylaw requires merchants erect only 8x12' tents. Turns out that's a non-standard size. Anyone can get a 10 x 10' tent at local hardware stores - that's the size most merchants have now, and the size of the town's tents used for the Farmers' Market and other events. But 8 x 12' tents are special order items. The BIA had to do some searching to find a supply and - according to the email - fly them in for the weekend.
At whose expense? Eventually it will be yours: I'm sure the shipping costs will be woven into the lease costs passed along to the merchants who need to get it back from customers. As will the costs of using non-standard-sized tents that have to come as special orders. Ka-ching!
Makes you wonder why no one checked what "standard" tent sizes are - or asked what the town already owns - before the bylaw was crafted.
