Expansion into parking lots and adjacent public spaces
The City of Windsor has already undertaken initiatives to allow restaurants and bars to expand their footprint onto public spaces like sidewalks and roadways so patrons can be appropriately socially distanced.
The City currently permits licensed establishments to operate sidewalk cafes and patios. In an effort to support restaurants and small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote proper physical distancing, City Council approved the waiver of fees for cafes on sidewalks and right-of-ways on May 20, 2020. Additionally, Council approved a request for Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) within the City of Windsor to submit plans for any temporary closure of roads and/or sidewalks to facilitate proper physical distancing. Council has directed administration to respond on a priority basis to these plans, provide an expedited response from the Special Events Resources Team (“the SERT”) and waive any fees associated with the closing of the public right-of-way granted to BIAs through this initiative.
The SERT group will review requests from current license holder wishing to expand the licenced area of their business into an adjacent parking lot or public space. Existing processes and experienced staff are able to return the municipal responses required for such requests in a timely fashion. However, City staff must still ensure that legislated requirements under the Ontario Fire Code, Ontario Building Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Liquor Licence Act are met in order to provide the confirmation letters required for a successful application to the AGCO.
Liquor Consumption In Public Parks
Windsor promotes its public parks as spaces where all residents, including children and youth, can enjoy the outdoors, get physically active and stay fit. To keep these spaces inviting to all users, controls are in place through Parks By-law 131-2019 and the Municipal Alcohol Policy limiting the consumption of alcohol in public parks to within designated locations during licenced special events. These controls make it feasible to make sure occupancy levels are not exceeded, attendees are not served despite being intoxicated, appropriate non-glass containers are used and alcohol is unavailable to minors.
In an effort to support local restaurants and small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic while promoting proper physical distancing practices, City Council approved a pilot project at Lanspeary Park consistent with a proposal brought forward by WindsorEats. As part of this pilot project, rental fees for Lanspeary will be waived for the operation of an outdoor food hall where local businesses can serve food and beverages to customers while maintaining social distancing requirements.
This pilot project does not include the consumption of alcohol outside of licenced areas, however. Should Council opt to consider permitting the consumption of alcohol in municipal parks more broadly, specific guidelines would need to be developed, including but not limited to:
- Enforcement of container requirements, consumption areas and legal age limits
- Provision of liability insurance, if applicable