Drip Coffee in Departure Bay was one of several businesses in Nanaimo to take advantage of a pilot program for extended patio space during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

EXTENDED PATIO

Patio space to remain for Nanaimo restaurants through winter months

Sep 29, 2020 | 1:26 PM

NANAIMO — Downtown restaurants are keeping their extended patio space.

Nanaimo councillors on Monday, Sept. 28 voted to extend a program which built patios in parking spaces to provide increased seating capacity at restaurants. The program now runs through to Oct. 31, 2021 after feedback from the businesses who applied for and received City-built patios.

Dale Lindsay, general manager of development services, told councillors the program supports businesses in an uncertain time.

“They think it’s very important they at least have some flexibility, they’re nervous about the continuing protocols they have under COVID for reducing numbers,” Lindsay said.

Downtown restaurants such as Modern Cafe, Craft Fare and Breakfast Nook applied for wooden patios to be built in street parking spots. Departure Bay’s Drip Coffee was one of the few non-downtown businesses to make the same decision.

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Other businesses such as La Stella Trattoria and Melange Restaurant used existing sidewalk space to create extra seating.

The cost of building and maintaining the patio space was paid for by the businesses.

Council raised the question of making the wooden patios permanent pieces of the sidewalk, something Lindsay said could be done in the future.

“One of the challenges is what happens if the tenant changes in front of that building and it’s not a restaurant tomorrow, it’s a shoe store. If you make this permanent, you’ve lost parking.”

Concern was raised by council regarding snow removal during the winter months, however it was deemed not enough of an issue to prevent a unanimous vote in support of extending the program.

Modern Cafe’s Daniel Caron previously told NanaimoNewsNOW, should the patios remain through the winter months, he could use it as a safe staging area to avoid crowds inside.

“We can’t have parties of four wait inside now. I’m going to be using the patio with tents or other options so people could stand outside, covered from the rain,” Caron said.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley