Expect to see more extended patios across Chatham-Kent as the summer rolls on.
Manager of CK Public Works South Jerry Corso told Blackburn News he expects more than a dozen restaurants and bars across the region to extend their patios onto municipal sidewalks to maintain social distancing between tables in an effort to rebound from the COVID-19 closures since mid-March.
Corso said five to 10 establishments currently have extended patios and more are expected to follow suit as time goes by. Corso said more and more businesses are adapting to change and to the new normal as it evolves.
"We're slowly getting more and more. We have a few here in Chatham that reached out to us. Wallaceburg has had a few out, I've had a few in Erieau, the Wheatley area has reached out to us. So yeah, it's popular," he said.
Corso said having sufficient insurance is a big part of the process.
"We're working with individual restaurant owners for all those patios. We have a process in place, we have to get insurance from them naming the municipality as well," Corso added.
Corso said the patio extensions are done in a way that any sidewalk closure doesn't hurt surrounding businesses.
"We do it case by case to make sure that the impact of a sidewalk closure doesn't impact other businesses negatively. We want to make sure that everyone is happy," said Corso.
Corso said there haven't been any street closures yet but he added never say never.
In May, Chatham Councillor Brock McGregor asked the municipality to look into expanded patios and temporary street closures to help restaurants, bars, and stores get back on their feet financially. Streets have been shut down in previous years during special events to allow on-street patios and licenced bars.
The municipality would also have to change zoning regulations and bylaws if expanded outdoor patios are to be made permanent.