Item - 2023.TE4.67

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council temporarily close Bellair Street from Cumberland Street to Yorkville Avenue to vehicular traffic from May 15, 2023 to October 15, 2023, inclusive, and May 15, 2024 to October 15, 2024, inclusive, to permit the installation of curb lane cafés under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays.

2. City Council exempt any curb lane café permit holder with a permit area on Bellair Street between Cumberland Street and Yorkville Avenue from the requirements of §742-10.4. B(6), B(7) and §742-10.4C of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays, from May 15, 2023 to October 15, 2023, inclusive, and May 15, 2024 to October 15, 2024, inclusive, and instead require each permit holder to do the following during those periods:

a. ensure the primary entrance to their permit area on the street side is a minimum of 1.0 metre wide; and

b. if a secondary entrance is desired, install a temporary ramp in their permit area which provides for safe access to the permit area from the sidewalk and meets the following safety and placement requirements:

i. must be a minimum of 1.0 metre wide;

ii. must have contrasting colours with the roadway and sidewalk;

iii. must have a slip-resistant surface and be visible at night;

iv. must be stable so that it does not shift or move when used;

v. must be positioned to allow for adequate space at the bottom of the ramp for someone using a mobility device to turn and navigate into the café area; and

vi. must not be affixed to the sidewalk, curb edge or street with screws, bolts or any other materials.

3. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, as part of the report back to the December 5, 2023 meeting of the Executive Committee, to provide recommendations on the permanent seasonal closure of Bellair Street from Cumberland Street to Yorkville Avenue to support CaféTO operators and an expanded public realm, including accessibility requirements.

The purpose of this letter is to temporarily close Bellair Street to vehicular traffic from Cumberland Street to Yorkville Avenue from May 15, 2023 until October 15, 2023, inclusive, and May 15, 2024 until October 15, 2024, inclusive, to permit eating establishment operators who have successfully applied under Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays to operate a curb lane café on the street. Bellair Street from Cumberland Street to Yorkville Avenue has previously been closed in 2020, 2021 and 2022 to support CaféTO Operators.

Bellair Street is a one-way local road, with no TTC service and is a mix of commercial properties. The closing of Bellair Street from Cumberland Street to Yorkville Avenue temporarily makes inaccessible a commercial loading zone and paid parking on the west side of the street and allows for expanded pedestrian space. The closure allows for the safe operation of curb lane cafés on the east side.

The BIA will be responsible to apply for and receive a street event permit under Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use of.  Café operators will each be responsible to apply for and receive a curb lane café permit under Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 742.

Restaurant operators along Bellair have indicated that their patrons access café permit areas from the street when the street is closed to vehicular traffic. Therefore the installation of a temporary platform level with the sidewalk is not required to make the café accessible if the primary entrance to the café permit area is from the street side and complies with accessibility requirements including cane detectability and minimum entrance widths.  If café operators choose to install a second accessible entrance from the sidewalk, they will be required to deploy a temporary ramp from the sidewalk into the curb lane café area.

The notice of this closure has been circulated to Divisional partners and agencies. A portion of Bellair Street will remain accessible for emergency vehicles and Solid Waste Management Services through moveable barricades.

The Bloor-Yorkville BIA and The Greater Yorkville Residents' Association are supportive of the closure.