All three North Shore local governments are now clearing the way for a little more curbside commerce and breathing room during the summer of COVID-19.
District of North Vancouver council unanimously approved some temporary rule changes Monday night that will make it easier for restaurants and retailers to make use of sidewalks and parking lots in a bid to help businesses survive public health restrictions and give pedestrians more room for physical distancing.
Street-side patios are already popping up in the City of North Vancouver, while West Vancouver council adopted a similar motion on June 9.
Under the new DNV rules, which are in place until the end of October, the district will not enforce its parking minimums, and businesses will not be required to get standard development permits or pay fees if they are eligible.
“We need to do this as quickly as we can,” said Coun. Lisa Muri. “They’re trying to keep their heads above water right now and it’s very challenging.”
West Vancouver will automatically recommend that applications from restaurants and pubs be given the OK by the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, while North Vancouver District staff will still review each application before sending them to the province for approval.
West Vancouver has received more than a dozen requests for expanded outdoor space, while around 10 proposals have been sent to DNV council. Not all of the plans, however, are being greeted warmly by business owners. A proposal to trade street parking for patio and sidewalk space in Edgemont Village landed with a thud last week when the district sent out a letter about it.
“I just can’t see this going anywhere,” said Robin Delany, speaking on behalf of the Edgemont Village Merchants Association.
Delany and the merchants will be meeting with district staff this week to discuss the proposal, but he warned the district has already started off on the wrong foot.
“I think there’s some basis to do something worthwhile for the village but, unfortunately, when you get your nose out of joint the way it is with most people, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m guessing either nothing or very little, because the merchants are so offended by the approach that the district did take,” he said.
In a later interview, Mayor Mike Little said the letter was meant to be the start of consultations, not the end. The hope was to replicate the success of a similar strategy already applied in Deep Dove.
“I know that there are some businesses that have expressed concerns meeting the public health orders with the limited sidewalk space in front of their units. But it may not be widespread in Edgemont, so we’ll work with them and find out what we can do to help address it,” he said. “We’re not going to do it if it’s not supported by the merchants.”
Council will be meeting on Monday to have a broad discussion about parking in the district, Little said.
West Vancouver council, meanwhile, has also struck an economic recovery task force, similar to one already up and running in the city, to see how the municipality can assist in the recovery of local businesses over the next 18 months. Mayor Mary-Ann Booth will represent council on the task force.
“I do want to send a very strong message that as a leader of council … I take this very seriously, and I want to hear from businesses and do whatever we can to support them,” she told council.
