City of Vancouver – Sidewalk Patios Open House

A few tiny notices in the local papers last week announced that the City is holding an open house on the possible expansion of sidewalk patios throughout the Vancouver. The event takes place between 6:00-9:00pm in the East Ballroom of the Holiday Inn at 711 West Broadway.

The notice contained only the following brief statement: “City Council has asked staff to consider ways of significantly expanding the number of outdoor sidewalk patios. This is an opportunity to get your ideas on this program, and how it can be expanded, including the possibility of allowing patios outside of liquor establishments. City staff will be on hand to answer questions.”

Last July, a report by Engineering Department recommended that Council review the Outdoor patio program. Council agreed, and there were media murmurings about the city suddenly becoming more vital and vibrant in its day and nightlife, with the streets animated a la Europe, and more chairs and tables and joie de vivre. The Mayor also went on record in support of expanding the number of outdoor patios. The review of the patio program was supposed to be mostly complete by now, but it appears that it is a little behind schedule.

At present, however, it’s not clear if there’s been any additional planning or proposals developed since the July report. There’s no new information on the City’s website, and it’s not clear if the $9,000 that Council allocated for consultancy work on the subject is part of this present open house.

Among the issues to consider are:

• The impact of patios as a form of “privatizing” the public space of the street – versus the increased animation of streetscapes;
• The types of patios that might be allowed, and how to mitigate potential conflicts between users. As the July ’06 staff report noted: Permitting more patios … “would expand the opportunities for animating the streets and for socializing, but could also result in more noise disruptions to the city’s residents.” (This is particularly the case in the case of liquor-serving establishments, though it could conceivably apply to any establishment with a patio);
• The design of patios – and how they can best be integrated (sized, distributed) within the existing fabric of the city.

Further information:

• City of Vancouver, Engineering Department. Review of Expansion of Sidewalk Patio Program and Minor Amendment to Guidelines. July 3, 2006
• City of Vancouver, Engineering Department, Sidewalk Patio Program – webpage