Public input invited on rules and guidelines for outdoor cafés in Toronto

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  November 24, 2014        

 

Public input invited on rules and guidelines for outdoor cafés in Toronto

The City of Toronto is conducting a review of its bylaws that govern outdoor cafés operating on the public right-of-way/sidewalks. The goal is to harmonize existing bylaws and create a single bylaw for all of Toronto, as well as to review fees and establish updated outdoor café guidelines that will help create/maintain safe, comfortable and universally accessible cafés and sidewalks.

A draft outdoor café bylaw and draft guidelines have been developed with the help of input from meetings and surveys conducted with stakeholders earlier this year. The stakeholders included business improvement areas/BIAs, the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association, resident associations, boulevard café and marketing permit holders, and the general public.

Public meetings

The City will hold two consultation meetings to obtain public input on the draft bylaw and guidelines:

• Thursday, November 27 from 6 to 9 p.m., Metro Hall, Room 308/309, 55 John St.

• Tuesday, December 2 from 6 to 9 p.m., East York Civic Centre, council chamber, 850 Coxwell Ave.

Pop-up events

Pop-up events across the city will give local residents additional opportunities to share their opinions/ideas with City staff:

• Monday, December 1 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Montgomery Pool and Health Club, 44 Montgomery Rd.

• Tuesday, December 2 from 1 to 3:30 p.m., rotunda, Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr.

• Monday, December 8 from 1 to 3:30 p.m., North York Civic Centre, ground floor, 5100 Yonge St.

More information, including the possible addition of more pop-up events, and a mechanism for input/feedback are available at http://www.toronto.ca/haveyoursay.

A report recommending a consolidated outdoor café bylaw and accompanying guidelines is expected to be submitted to the Licensing and Standards Committee in the first half of 2015. 

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://bit.ly/11OTSPQ

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.

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