An prolonged sidewalk on Victoria Road in downtown Kamloops. (Photograph by way of Victor Kaisar)
A majority of downtown enterprise which have an current patio extension plan to maintain utilizing it sooner or later.
That’s in response to the outcomes of a survey carried out by the Kamloops Central Enterprise Enchancment Affiliation,
“[A total of] 25 stated sure and 9 stated no, so that’s fairly vital,” KCBIA Government Director Howie Reimer stated, noting 34 of 41 eligible companies responded to the survey which was carried out by cellphone, in individual, and by e mail.
“Nonetheless, whenever you ask if there was a allow charge related to protecting the prevailing patio extension, would you continue to need to hold it? Solely eight stated sure, six stated relying on price, and eight stated no.”
Again in 2020 and once more in 2021, the town introduced within the expanded patio program to assist companies recuperate misplaced seating resulting from COVID-19 restrictions, which have all been lifted. This system noticed the addition of curb letdowns in parking areas on metropolis streets at a value of about $197,000.
There have additionally been 43 parking stalls displaced downtown, which is costing as much as $15,000 per thirty days in misplaced parking income, in response to the Metropolis.
Reimer says a majority of respondents additionally stated they’d be okay with a $100 month-to-month charge to maintain these patios, with the cash meant to offset a few of that misplaced parking income.
“That’s half of what they’re paying in Kelowna,” Reimer added.
Damaged additional down by enterprise kind, 26 restaurant or cafes responded to the survey, together with 5 lounges, bars, pubs, and nightclubs, with one bakery. Two different companies have been categorized as “different” by the KCBIA.
Sixteen of the companies that responded have been in favour of annual patio extension permits being issued. One other 13 have been in favour of it being issued from April 1 to Sept. 30. 4 have been in favour of month-to-month permits, whereas one was not in favour of it being issued in any respect.
“Those that say it’s about vibrancy, that it’s the twenty first Century so ‘let’s get with the instances’, and that whether it is adequate in different cities the place they shutdown blocks, [it is good enough for Kamloops.] After which there are others that say ‘completely not. Not sufficient persons are utilizing them. We would like our parking.’”
The survey outcomes will go earlier than Kamloops Metropolis Council by early subsequent month, although Reimer says a choice is just not anticipated till after the October election.
“I wish to see form of a compromise,” he stated. “There are completely different ways in which you are able to do it but it surely has to work for almost all, and the need of the downtown companies.”
