The City of Vancouver continues to approve a steady stream of applications for temporary patios, and on August 14 it released its latest tally: 361 patios approved, including 291 on public property and 70 on private land. Four weeks ago, there were 260 such patios approved.
The city put in place its Temporary Expedited Patio Program on June 1 with the intent to allow Vancouver restaurants to serve more customers safely by having larger outdoor spaces.
Approved patios have permits to operate until October 31, and the city is waiving application and permit fees.
Its staff are now reviewing five applications for patios on public land and five applications for patios on private land.
For a full list of approved temporary patios, click here.
The city said in a statement that a total of 124 patio applications – all on public land – were outside the scope of what it could approve. In all, the city has received 420 applications for temporary patios on public land and 75 applications for patios on private land.
Restaurant owners who were forced to close dining rooms between mid-March and mid-May asked the city for a simpler and speedier process to approve patios, and they were rewarded when council voted for the program in late May.
The city on June 30 newly approved the ability for businesses with craft brewery licences to apply for patios – something those brewers had long sought. Craft breweries that previously received patio permits, such as Yaletown Brewing Co., had restaurant licences.
The city also announced that changes to Robson Street, between Jervis and Burrard streets, are nearly complete. More space is available for people to walk, queue and visit local businesses. Bus stops on Robson Street have been consolidated with additional accessible waiting areas for the stops at Bute Street and at Burrard Street, while stops at Jervis Street and at Thurlow Street are temporarily suspended so work crews can widen the sidewalk.
