City of Toronto hosting public consultation sessions to review bylaws on sidewalk patios and boulevard cafés

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

==========================================

News Release:  January 30, 2014       

City of Toronto hosting public consultation sessions to review bylaws on sidewalk patios and boulevard cafés

The City of Toronto's Municipal Licensing and Standards division has undertaken a review of the City's bylaws governing boulevard cafés/sidewalk patios as well as the operation of sidewalk stalls outside businesses. The goal is to create one bylaw for Toronto.

Each former municipality has a pre-amalgamation bylaw that regulates boulevard cafe and marketing activities. As a result, the requirements, approval processes, permit types and application fees are different depending on the area where the business is located.

As part of this review, the City is hosting a series of public consultation meetings to discuss the existing bylaws and items to consider when drafting the new bylaw.

Topics include:

- the role of residents and local business owners in the permit issuance process

- minimum sidewalk clearance to accommodate pedestrian traffic

- new opportunities for establishing on-street boulevard cafés curbside and in on-street parking spaces where feasible

- requirements concerning separation of the area including fencing, partial and full enclosures, and

- design guidelines for construction.

Public consultation meetings

Each of the following four meetings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.

- Thursday, February 6 in City Hall's committee room 2

- Tuesday, February 11 in East York Civic Centre's council chamber

- Thursday, February 13 in Etobicoke Civic Centre's main boardroom

- Tuesday, February 18 in North York Civic Centre's committee room 3

More information or to provide feedback: http://www.toronto.ca/haveyoursay

Staff will report to the Licensing and Standards Committee later this year on the review.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

- 30 -

Media contact: Tammy Robbinson, Strategic Communications Division, 416-338-3761, trobbin@toronto.ca