Pending one more council vote, Collingwood restaurateurs will be able to keep their sidewalk patios this winter.
Street patios, however, will have to be packed up on Oct. 31.
During a Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting on Sept. 7, council voted in favour of extending patio season through the winter.
Deputy Clerk Becky Dahl said the town granted 14 patio permits this year with seven of those patios extending onto the street – an allowance granted by council due to COVID restrictions placed on eateries this year.
She said some have requested permission to keep their patios through winter and one business asked to be able to continue using the street.
Peggy Slama, director of engineering, public works and environmental services, said she objected to street patios through the winter due to safety concerns and problems clearing snow.
Dahl said staff recommended following a 2018 pilot project involving 1858 Caesar Bar’s request for a winter patio
She said business owners would be responsible for removing snow on their patios and salting and sanding the encroachment area. Collingwood’s Fire Department has also provided instructions for use of portable heaters for the patios, according to Dahl.
Though patio owners cannot use the streets during the winter based on the committee vote, they are permitted to extend along the sidewalk to space in front of neighbouring businesses provided they can obtain a letter of support from those businesses.
The committee vote was not unanimous with Councillors Tina Comi, Deb Doherty, and Yvonne Hamlin voting against the motion. All three indicated they would like to see options for allowing patios on the street during the winter months.
Council will have one more vote on the matter at a meeting later this month.