The welcome return of patio season in Newmarket has some Main Street eateries upset by the town's move to scale back spaces to pre-pandemic levels.
Patio structures began to pop up this week with the arrival of warmer weather, allowing businesses to add seating in parking lots, and on sidewalks and street areas. While the town allowed patios to expand significantly in the past three years to help restaurants during pandemic restrictions and lockdowns, the municipality is now rejecting some applications as it ends the temporary program.
However, Olde Village Free House owner Allan Cockburn is trying to negotiate for more space. He said it made a big difference for his business and believes the expanded patios help bring people downtown.
“If we’re limiting tables, how are we going to bring people to town?” he said. “It just seems so counterproductive … I’m in for everyone having as much space as they can.”
The town introduced the temporary patio program during the pandemic, allowing expanded patios on town-owned lands, including sidewalks, laneways and urban park space, particularly on Main Street. The town had previously offered some space for patios since 2015.
Newmarket Main Street BIA chair Tom Hempen said the town went above and beyond to help businesses in crisis in the pandemic. But he added that the circumstances have changed.
“When we had COVID, the town was very, very quick in reacting,” he said, adding restaurants were offered no-permit expansions into town-owned lands for patios. “It was really appropriate for that time … 2023, we’re in a different situation. We’re in a situation where that community space and those parking spaces are also needed for the rest of the life of the downtown.”
Cockburn identified other restaurants, including Chip + Malt and Ground Burger Bar, that also have to scale back.
“It’s not just about me,” he said. “I want everyone to get as much as they possibly can.”
But Hempen said other businesses on the street need parking, and the town made clear that the expanded patio program would be temporary.
“I feel for the restaurants,” Hempen said. “But I think striking a balance for everybody, benefiting downtown, is very important.”
It is not easy finding a balance, Mayor John Taylor said, and every restaurant and its space is unique. But he said all jurisdictions are now looking to scale back these programs for long-term solutions.
“There are some businesses that feel parking spaces or public spaces are theirs by right, and they’re not. They’re public spaces, and they’re shared public spaces,” Taylor said. “There are businesses in the downtown, restaurant or not, who benefit from public space being available, for people to enjoy.”
The town is exploring a pilot program for making downtown pedestrian-only for a few days in the summer 2024. A pedestrian-only Main Street could allow for more patio space, but Taylor said the town is only looking toward a short-term pilot for now, which will include consulting the public.
Regardless, Taylor said the town has received feedback about it being unfair to some businesses impacted by scaling back patios.
“We need everybody to be cognizant of what is fair to all of the businesses on the street,” he said, adding that the municipality cannot permit blocking of pathways or rights of way. “That would potentially disadvantage other businesses. I wish we could find ways to provide for everybody to every degree they want, but that’s not possible.”
Cockburn said he is negotiating and hopes the town might change course.
"It is what it is," he said, adding he believes his proposal would be fair and still maintain parking. "I'm hoping they can reconsider."
