City of Orillia Patio and Public Realm Program

In response to the Stage 2 COVID-19 Re-opening measures announced by the Province of Ontario on June 8, 2020, the City of Orillia Economic Recovery Task Force (ERTF) has implemented Phase 1 of the Patio and Public Realm Program.

Two focus groups were held and a survey was circulated to downtown business owners. The resulting project is therefore built by Orillia businesses for Orillia businesses. 

This program was designed to achieve four objectives:

1. Facilitate and expedite the expansion of retail/restaurant capacities through the use of patio and use of the public realm across the City; and
2. Reduce and/or offset the financial costs of expanding private operations into the public realm for the 2020 season; and
3. Support Orillia businesses by promoting local retail and dining establishments as a safe place to shop and dine; and
4. Enable downtown retail/restaurant operators to expand their operations into the public realm while protecting space required to maintain the physical separation and safety of pedestrians.

The ERTF will report back to Council on the second phase of this initiative, which contemplates a potential road closure in the downtown core, as well as the use of artists, musicians and entertainers to activate the street.  

 Application Process for Patios

Existing patios which have received formal municipal approval (such as through a Site Plan Agreement process) do not require further approval unless a patio expansion is proposed. 

 

All other patios within the City of Orillia require municipal approval. Applicants may request approval for patios on private property through the Patio Acknowledgement and Undertaking Form. Through this form, applicants will have the opportunity to review and attest that they meet all provisions, by-laws and legislation for which the municipality has authority. 

 

Please refer to the following section for patio approval for patios proposed on municipally owned land.

 

It should be noted that while this form is designed to expedite the patio approval process, it is difficult to determine the estimated approval timeline for patio approvals as timelines for any permits or applications are greatly dependent on the quality and completion of the application and the extent of information provided by the applicant.  
Application Process for Patios on municipally owned land

Any person wishing to set up a patio on City property must submit a Patio Acknowledgement and Undertaking Form to the City. A detailed, scaled drawing depicting the sidewalk patio must be submitted with the application. The drawing must show the number of proposed seats on the patio, dimensions of proposed patio area, width of pedestrian walkway, gap width between deck boards for the walkway, existing sidewalk, curb, parking spaces, street and any applicable items/encumbrances such as signs, stairs, trees, catch basin, and gas meter. Reflective decals are required on each post of the pedestrian walkway and therefore, please also identify the decal locations on the drawing. A detailed drawing enables City staff and others to evaluate the potential impacts, and the functionality of the proposed patio design.

 

After submitting a completed application, it will be vetted by the following agencies/departments:

  • Downtown Orillia Management Board
  • Accessibility Advisory Committee (This review is currently being undertaken by the Chief Building Official)
  • Environment and Infrastructure Services Department
  • Fire Department
  • Development Services and Engineering Department
  • Police

 

If approval is received from the above agencies/departments, the applicant must then enter into a patio lease agreement with the City. The terms of the lease agreement include:

  • Insurance requirements (applicant must provide proof and maintain public liability (personal injury and property damage) insurance in the amount of at least $2,000,000.00 naming “The Corporation of the City of Orillia” as an additional insured and containing a cross-liability endorsement and fifteen days notice of cancellation or material change in circumstances);
  • Drawing must provide for accessibility for persons with a disability, the convenience and safety of patrons and general pedestrians, and for safety for vehicular traffic in the vicinity;
  • Construction work undertaken shall be in accordance with the Ontario Building Code and a building permit obtained where applicable; 
  • Term is May to October;
  • Fees will be required as follows;
    • $2.94 per square foot of patio space (plus HST)
    • Approximately $1,413 per on-street parking space
  • Daily maintenance requirements; and
  • Pay a fee for the use of the sidewalk as well as any parking spaces utilized. The rate varies depending on the length of the lease.

 

The applicant must also submit Liquor Licence and Health Unit approvals to the City (these items are not required to be submitted initially with the application).
Patio Undertaking and Acknowledgement Form
 Patio Undertaking and Acknowledgement Form

 Downtown Tomorrow CIP Grant Program

In order to reduce the fees associated with constructing patios on municipally owned land, Council has allocated $30,000 to the 2020 Building Improvement Grant Program and $20,000 to the 2020 Fees Grant Program. 

 

New patios and/or sidewalk "bump-out" structures in the City's Downtown Tomorrow CIP Project Area may be eligible for a Building Improvement Grant to offset costs related to patio construction (up to 50% of costs up to $15,000) and/or a Fees Grant to offset costs related to Sidewalk Patio Application Fees (up to 100% of costs up to $5,000).

 

Applications for patios built in 2020 are exempt from the 2020 intake deadlines and may be submitted at any time. Please note that the 2020 patio season ends in October 2020, and the application process and execution of agreement may take several weeks to complete (depending on the quality and completeness of the submission). 

 

It is important to note that DTCIP Applications for Patios for Building Improvement Grants must be submitted prior to the commencement of any work and prior to application for building permit in order to be eligible for this program. 

 

For more information, visit the Downtown Tomorrow CIP Grant Program webpage or contact Laura Thompson at 705-325-5818.
Reports
 Report ERTF-20-02 - Patio and Public Realm Project - Phase 1 (Special Council June 18, 2020)
Other Resources

PDF of the Patio Acknowledgement and Undertaking Form

 

Recording of the Patio Q & A Session (June 24, 2020)

 

Sample Patio Drawing for patios on private property*

*Drawings for downtown patios with structures (for patio or pedestrian traffic) must also show the number of proposed seats on the patio, dimensions of proposed patio area, width of pedestrian walkway, gap width between deck boards for the walkway, existing sidewalk, curb, parking spaces, street and any applicable items/encumbrances such as signs, stairs, trees, catch basin, and gas meter. Reflective decals are required on each post of the pedestrian walkway and therefore, please also identify the decal locations on the drawing. A detailed drawing enables City staff and others to evaluate the potential impacts, and the functionality of the proposed patio design.

 

Simcoe Musoka District Health Unit - COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for Reopening a Food Premise for Outdoor Dining (Patios, Curbside, Parking Lots and Adjacent Premises)

 

AGCO Bulletin - Extension of Patios for Liquor Sales Licencees

 
 Patio Task Force

The City of Orillia Patio Task Force consists of staff from the Development Services and Engineering Department, Fire Department, Business Development and Communications Department and Environment and Infrastructure Services Department as well as the DOMB (as applicable). 

 

To contact the Patio Task Force for assistance, please contact Cheyenne Johnson at 705-325-2221.

 

 

Contact(s)