Burnaby businesses will be allowed to open extended patios for another year beyond the city's original Oct. 31 closing date.
City council heard the matter in Monday night’s council meeting, in which staff noted the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch announced, on Sept. 18, their own extension to the liquor licensing for expanded patios until Oct. 31, 2021.
City staff noted council had two options to continue the extended patios: pre-approval to cover all liquor primary businesses, breweries and distilleries or to review and approve all individual applications prior to submitting them to the LCRB for approval.
Staff recommended council go the pre-approval route, and city council voted in favour of the proposal without comment.
Council originally voted to approve the program on June 1, and one business owner said it’s been a relief for his brewery.
Ben Coli, owner of Dageraad Brewing, told the Burnaby Nowin early September that he wanted to see the patios to continue at least until spring. Even if the patios aren’t populated through the winter, he said he expects it would at least prepare the businesses to bounce back in the spring.
