Barrie pushing for Patios Everywhere as restaurants look for ways of keeping patrons separate

New program allows ad hoc patios, and even liquor sales for those with licences

You might need a lot more elbow room once restaurants start fully reopening, and Barrie City Hall has a plan to give you some.

It’s called the Patios Everywhere Program and is intended to widen the ability to provide outdoor eating areas for patrons by using parking spaces. It is expected existing, legal restaurants can take advantage of the warmer weather by offering an outdoor dining experience while still adhering to physical distancing guidelines. Those without usable space could transition to a food truck under this plan.

8 New Restaurants in Barrie

The patios would have to abide by certain criteria above-and-beyond providing added space for customers; City Hall would review every application made to ensure universal accessibility and public safety, including fire safeguards and a separation from traffic.

Those with liquor licences issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) would be permitted to sell booze on these patios so long as the patio meets AGCO guidelines.

Downtown Barrie, Patio Season
City Hall also voted Monday to close Dunlop to vehicular traffic, from Clapperton to Mulcaster

Under the new program, patio furnishings, fences, or other improvements must be removable and not permanently fixed in place. Everything would have to be removed at the end of the city’s patio season on October 15th

Those restaurants would apply online through the City’s APLI portal, and select “Exemption from full site plan approval” as the application type. Required documentation includes a site plan, health certificate of inspection, demonstration of an application for a liquor licence, a business licence, letter from the property owner, and a copy of current liability insurance.

The Patios Everywhere Program passed on consent at Monday night’s meeting and is expected to be rubberstamped at next week’s meeting of council.

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