Mayor's intervention blocks plan to open Bank Street to pedestrians

A surprise intervention by Mayor Jim Watson near the end of Wednesday's marathon council meeting has stifled a city councillor's plan to partially close a few blocks of Bank Street in the Glebe to make more space for foot traffic.

CapitalCoun. Shawn Menardhadbeen working with city staff for weeks to give three blocks of the westcurbside lane ofBank Street between Glebe and Third avenues topedestrians and cyclists for more room to physically distance in the COVID-19 era.

But the mayor's 11th-hour motion meansany street closures mustfirst have the approval of any businesses that are affected. Watson gave no prior notice of his motion.

Some local businesses had opposed Menard'splan because it would narrow the road, as has been done on the Bank Street Bridge farther south, take up 19 street parking spots and offerless space forcurbside pickups of food and retail goods.

• Councillors call for more lane closures on Bank Street

However, Menardhas said he also received hundreds of emails in support of the closure from residents and employees.

He pointed out that the virtually empty city-owned Glebegarage andeast side of Bank Street still providehundreds of parking spaces.

As well, city staff had confirmed the "no parking" spots on First, Second and Third avenuesaround the corner from Bank Streetcould also be used for curbside pickups and deliveries.

The closure was expected to be implemented sometime last week, then delayed. Now he's not moving forward with the plans.

"There was great opposition from the business community," Watson told reporters, saying he received about 30 letters from area businesses.

"I felt as mayor it was my responsibility to bring forward what I thought was a reasonable compromise."

Proposed closure a 'nail in the coffin'

The mayor said many local businesses and the business improvement area wrote to him to express their dismay with the plan, including Bank Street establishments outside the proposed area such asStella Luna and Irene's Pub.

Menard's proposal, according to aletter from Irene's Pub to the mayor, would put "a death nail in the coffin of Glebe businesses."

Watson originally proposed all businesses would have to agree to any partial road closures, but then supported Coun. Riley Brockington's amendment that only two-thirds of businesses would have to agree for pedestrian areas to be widened into the street.

A number of councillorscomplained during the hour-long debate over the issue that they were being asked to choose between the health of small businesses and health of the public.

Some, like Coun. Mathieu Fleury, said the city should be taking a holisticapproach to consider where it might close roads to make room for pedestrians.

"I feel like we're treating this like some kind of turf war," said Coun. Theresa Kavanagh.

But most councillors lined up behind the mayor to, in his words, "stand up the for the rights of these small business owners."

Councillors must still pay for closures

The mayor's proposalpassed in a vote of 15to seven.

In addition to Menard, councillors Fleury, Glen Gower, Kavanagh, Rawlson King, Jeff Leiper, and Catherine McKenney voted against the motion.

Menard tried to have his plan forBank Street grandfathered into Watson's policy, but lost 14 to eight Coun. Carol Anne Meehan joined the councillorswho were against the mayor's motion in voting no.

The mayor's move also superseded a motion from Leiper askingthat any closures for physical distancing be paid for by the cityinstead of each ward's $50,000 annualtraffic-calming budget.

FInally, the city managersaid Wednesday he islooking at how restaurants and pubs might be allowed to open expanded patios on city rights-of-way this summer, while allowing customers to keep their physical distance, which is being considered in other cities.