Patio patrons will be able to enjoy their bevvies a little later into the evening at some local establishments this summer.
At a June 17 workshop, council directed staff to implement a temporary policy that permits liquor licence patios to operate until 11 p.m., unless a later time had been previously indicated on their liquor licence. The temporary policy is effective until Nov. 1, 2024.
Council also directed staff to endorse local establishments’ applications to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) for increased hours, which would be in alignment with the city’s temporary policy.
“The intent of this temporary policy is to create more consistent rules for patio closing times, encourage activation in commercial areas, and support local businesses while also being considerate of noise levels of patios for near y residents,” said a staff report. “If the temporary policy approach is successful, staff would report back in the fall with proposed amendments to the patio program guidelines and bylaw.”
Blair Fryer, acting director of community services, said the recommendations are in response to a council resolution directing staff to seek opportunities for all patio service hours to be extended to 11 p.m. as part of the City of New Westminster's liquor licence review.
“We would start off with the pilot, do a review to see if we had any complaints or any other changes that we felt we needed to make,” said Carolyn Armanini, acting manager of economic development.
Coun. Daniel Fontaine, who has advocated for more patios in New Westminster, said he is “very supportive and thrilled” to see that some businesses could extend their patio a bit later this summer.
“I think we just need more patios, period,” he said. “I think that this helps a little bit on that.”
In May 2023, council directed staff to seek opportunities for all patio hours to be extended to 11 p.m. as part of the city’s liquor licence review.
The June 17 report states staff have been unable to do the liquor licence review because of staffing resource challenges and additions to work plans, so that work is now being contemplated for 2025. That’s why staff are recommending a temporary policy that would allow liquor primary licensed patios in commercial areas of New West to remain open till 11 p.m. this summer.
In a June 17 presentation to council, Armanini said patio regulations are governed by two bylaws – the street and sidewalk patio bylaw and the noise bylaw.
Armanini said the street and sidewalk bylaw states that patios connected to a pub or brewery must close by 10 p.m. in commercial areas and 11 p.m. in industrial areas. She said the city’s noise bylaw limits noise to 55 decibels after 10 p.m.
“All patios must abide by the noise bylaw, regardless of whether you're on public property, private property, whether you're liquor primary or a food primary,” she said.
Patios in New West fall into different categories:
- Restaurant/café patio (food primary), which can be on private property or public property (sidewalks/streets). These patios – whether they’re on private or public property – do not have limitations on operating hours but they must abide by the noise bylaw and must follow the hours listed on their liquor licence.
- Pub/manufacture patio (liquor primary), which can be on private or public property. Patios on private property don’t have any limitations to their operating hours (but must follow the noise bylaw and abide by their liquor licence), while those on public property must close at 10 p.m. in commercial areas and 11 p.m. in industrial areas.
Armanini said this summer’s extended patio hours will focus on establishments that are not permitted to be open until 11 p.m. – liquor primary patios on public property. She said owners of those businesses would apply to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for a temporary change of hours, and LCRB staff have expressed a lot of support for working with the city and applicants and in supporting the city's desire to have extended patio hours.
“There are three liquor primary on public property that could take advantage of it,” she told council. “There's one manufacturer's patio on private that doesn't take advantage currently, based on their own volition.”
Wanted: More patios
While he is “very enthusiastic” about the extended patio hours, Fontaine said he’d like to find ways the city can encourage more patios.
“I even think we could be putting patios in front of dental offices. But that's a whole other discussion,” he said. “Because I think we need to be animating these places and try to find ways of getting people onto the street.”
At Monday’s workshop, Armanini told council that staff had changed the city’s business licensing applications to encourage more patios.
“Anytime we see a restaurant or a liquor primary coming in, it's right up front, the first time we make contact with them: ‘Have you thought about a patio? Especially for the liquor primaries, because with the LCRB, it's a little bit more of a process, so you really want to be thinking about that right upfront. That's something we're trying to tackle at the outset to be able to get more on the street or sidewalk.”
Fontaine questioned if liquor primary establishments (such as pubs) that don’t currently have patios would be able to take advantage of this summer’s policy, and open a patio and operate it until 11 p.m.
Armanini said those businesses unfortunately would not get through the process in time for this year’s extended hours.
“Liquor primary patios are a longer process throughout LCRB. It does require community input, both a community input process and then report comes to the council along with a resolution. So, it is a different avenue through LCRB,” she said. “That is a more significant time commitment.”
Council unanimously supported the staff recommendations in a 5-0 vote. Coun. Paul Minhas recused himself, as he’s the owner of a Columbia Street business (Begbie’s Tavern) which has a patio.
