The owners of Tri-City restaurants, bars and breweries now have more time to make their temporary patios permanent.
Last week, Port Coquitlam MLA and B.C.’s Solicitor General Mike Farnworth announced his ministry is giving municipal governments the authority to extend temporary expanded service areas (TESA) from June 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023.
The move is to allow businesses to make the necessary changes as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Some local governments needed additional time to make the needed policy changes and assess applications for permanent structural changes in their communities," Farnworth said in a news release.
"This extension will also give businesses more time to apply and prevent the risk of disrupting patio service during the busy summer season."
Designed as an interim measure, TESAs allowed eateries to have more space when social distancing was required.
Businesses wanting to keep their patios must apply through the Liquor and Cannabis Licensing Portal for a new outdoor or indoor structural change. Permanent approval must meet local bylaws and policy requirements on such things as parking, building codes and use of public land.
Don Luymes, Coquitlam’s general manager of planning and development, told the Tri-City News on Monday that 30 businesses in the city have patio permits — two of which are on public property.
And, to date, there have been no major complaints about their presence.
Luymes anticipates city staff will have a report before council in the next few weeks to review the patio regulations, in consultation with the Austin Business Improvement Association.
Andre Isakov, Coquitlam’s manager of economic development, also said his division will be promoting business patios through social media posts and blogs, and it will be collaborating with the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, BC Ale Trail, WestCoast Foods and BC Route 7 “to create excitement and awareness of all the outdoor dining options in Coquitlam.”
"The TESA extension is great news for the many B.C. restaurants and bars that have innovated and adapted over the past two years," said Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association, in a news release.
"After the pandemic downturn, this decision will take one worry off businesses' plates. As they plan for the future, they can continue to welcome their customers in expanded service areas and benefit from the resulting revenue."
Here's where you can find patios and outdoor seating in Coquitlam: visitcoquitlam.ca/eat-drink/
