THUNDER BAY—The chair of the Waterfront District Business Improvement Area calls the City of Thunder Bay's pilot project to allow restaurants to set up seasonal patios "a good initiative" for the downtown cores.
Jim Comuzzi said it will take at least two years and possibly longer to fully implement, but he expects the so-called pop-up patios will bring more traffic into the downtown areas.
"If we look at the restaurant guides and the trip advisors and everybody out there that comes into a different town, one of the things they're looking for is a patio atmosphere where they can eat outside and enjoy the good weather when we have it," Comuzzi said in an interview.
However, some concerns about the impact on businesses adjacent to restaurants were raised at a meeting of BIA members on Tuesday.
The patios and seating areas will take up space on sidewalks and on-street parking spaces.
"There are still some major concerns with some of our membership in regards to the parking and the fact that these boardwalks would take up parking spaces...So we still have to iron out these problems," Comuzzi said.
He noted that before any pop-up patio is set up, BIA members will get a chance to give input on the impact on parking near their businesses, as the city requires BIA endorsement of all applications.
According to Comuzzi, the process of applying for and setting up the outdoor eating areas will not be a simple one.
"I believe that the checklist involved for the pop-up patios and the building of the boardwalks is going to be a little more difficult than people anticipate. I think this is going to be at least a two-year project to get it off the ground, and possibly in three or four years we'll have it up and running in full."
Comuzzi said he can think of three or four restaurants in the north core that may submit an application for this summer, but "it all depends on the rules and regulations and the checklist that the city is going to require."
He cited the example of barricades for the safety of the public. "Because when you measure eight feet from the sidewalk for the pedestrian boardwalk, you're almost into the line of traffic, so there's some definite issues that have to be addressed," Comuzzi said.
City officials have stated that the goal is to create a pedestrian-friendly environment and welcoming street atmosphere "provided that operational impacts and risk and liability to the City can be managed."
Manager of Realty Services Joel DePeuter has stated that the approved locations will not interfere with the flow of pedestrians or vehicles.
Interested restaurants may submit completed applications by May 30.
Comuzzi said the city is charging a one-time fee of $300 plus $1.50 a square foot per year for the amount of space required for tables and chairs.
It's expected that the first pop-up patios will be installed by late June or early July.
