Item - 2024.TE13.51

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council delegate to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the local Councillor, notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 742 and subject only to such restrictions as the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards deems reasonable, authority to issue a 2024 Sidewalk, Curbside, or Flankage Patio to:

a.  Gabby’s on the Danforth, 727-729 Danforth Avenue;

b.  Athens Restaurant, 707 Danforth Avenue;

c.  SugarKane, 699 Danforth Avenue; and

d.  Bonjour Brioche, 812 Queen Street East.

2.  City Council delegate authority to waive or refund application fees as deemed appropriate for these listed addresses, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the local Councillor.

I am writing today regarding four unique cases of patios in Ward 14 which are being directly impacted by the Ontario Line construction, and which warrant special consideration.

On Danforth Avenue, Transportation Services has worked extensively to find a road configuration that would maintain the cycle lanes and still provide space for cafés. I visited the site with the business owners and Transportation Services earlier this year to initiate this. However due to this configuration only being confirmed recently, these businesses need to move quickly to install sidewalk or curbside cafes instead of the CaféTO installations they had in 2023. I am asking for your support to expedite these approvals and waive some restrictions, as a temporary measure during this construction. Supporting our small businesses through the Metrolinx construction is a logical step to take to keep our main streets vibrant during construction.

On Queen, Bonjour Brioche is immediately next to ongoing bridge, track and station construction. With that impacting CafeTO plans, they have also been caught up in trying to get a permit for their existing flankage patio, which lapsed during an ownership transfer.

For this business, hanging on during significant construction, this patio is vital. Providing temporary relief to allow them to operate at least for this summer will help us support this East End institution through such a big challenge. As small businesses only start to recover from the pandemic impacts, providing flexibility and support to those now impacted by Metrolinx is a key way that the City can maintain our vibrancy.

I am asking for your support for these recommendations, here, and at City Council.