Hamilton agrees to give up parking spots for annual on-street patios

It will meanreducing parking spots in some of Hamilton's busiest business areas. But the idea of using parking spaces as on-street patios is here to stay.

I love this.- Coun. Donna Skelly

City councillors voted unanimously Tuesday to permanently allow seasonal parking-space patios in select business areas, including Ottawa, Kenilworthand Barton Village.

BIAs will give final approval of how many there are in a given area. Selected businesses will pay a $400 annual fee and use a parking space as their patio from May 1 to Oct. 31. Businesses will also be able toserve alcohol on them.

It's a popular idea with urbanists, some of whom offered a guerilla version in 2015. It's also popular on Concession Street, where the BIA advocated for it.

Coun. Donna Skelly of Ward 7 was most effusive about it at Tuesday'splanning committee meeting.

It sends a shudder down the spine of manyLockeStreet merchants.- Coun. Aidan Johnson

"I love this," she said. "I think it is so good for the city. It's good for these businesses It's a fabulous program."

The concept is less popular on Locke Street, said Coun. Aidan Johnson of Ward 1. There's a parking shortage there as it is.

"It sends a shudder down the spine of many Locke Street merchants," he said.

The pilot program last year ran from July 1 to Oct. 31. Eight businesses participated, says a staff report, and all of them were happy with the result. Ninety-seven per cent of patio patrons surveyed liked the idea too.

City council will cast a final vote on March 8.