City pre-approves use of outdoor spaces to help restaurants recover from COVID closures

Campbell River is making it easier for local restaurants to expand into outdoor spaces – a move that will help them safely provide sit-down service for customers as part of their re-opening plan.

“Many food and beverage businesses were hard hit by closures that were required by provincial guidelines to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Between the limits on how many people they can serve, spacing requirements for tables and how much room they have indoors, starting up sit-down service again could present a number of challenges and result in continued lost revenue,” explains Rose Klukas, the City’s economic development officer. “Council’s decision to pre-approve expanding into outdoor areas will help speed up the adjustments these businesses are making to open their doors and offer full service again.”

Council’s pre-approval came within days of the Province announcing the option for businesses to expand into outdoor spaces.

“We recognize that many restaurants made quick changes to offer take-out service as a way to keep their business operating in line with provincial public health restrictions. Expanding into outdoor spaces can help them run closer to full occupancy,” says Mayor Andy Adams. “By acting proactively to waive the City’s requirement to comment on applications to the Province, we’re sending the message that we support our local businesses and want to see them fully up and running as soon as possible. We know they’re eager to be busy and safe, and we look forward to seeing them operating vibrant patio seating areas where it is safe to do so.”

The City’s pre-approval provides municipal endorsement on provincial liquor licence applications only. Where businesses wish to use public space such as sidewalks, City permission will still be required to ensure appropriate accessibility is maintained in public areas. All other City requirements such as building code and fire safety regulations continue to apply.

“Several parklets and sidewalk seating areas already exist where there is adequate space, and we’ve been working with a number of local businesses interested in expanding to develop more of this type of outdoor seating,” Mayor Adams adds. “We look forward to working with local business owners to help them explore options for how this could work for them.”

Any local food and beverage business owner wishing to temporarily expand into an outdoor service area should contact the City’s Development Services Department via email to planning@campbellriver.ca or telephone 250-286-5725.

On May 22, the Provincial Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) announced that bar, restaurant and manufacturer licence-holders could apply for temporary permission to use parking lots, adjoining sidewalks or rear yards to serve customers while physical distancing rules are in place. Without increasing the total number of customers allowed on the liquor licence, the LCRB will fast-track these applications until Oct. 31, 2020.

At the May 25 City Council meeting, Council considered this opportunity as a late item and passed a resolution granting pre-approval for temporary service area expansions to help businesses establish outdoor seating and recover from COVID-19 closures as quickly as possible.

In past, changes to such licences required approval from City Council and were reviewed on a case-by-case basis.