Kincardine Council brought back the discussion of the Promenade on Queen Street, after the original motion was defeated at their March 7th meeting.
The vote for the promenade to run all weekend during July and August failed in a tied vote of 3-3.
Councillor Laura Haight provided the Notice of Motion for council to reconsider their decision after consulting with the BIA.
“The BIA had a meeting, and they would prefer [the promenade on] Sunday. Come downtown and hopefully encourage stores, who may not be open, to open, and have vendors sort of animate the downtown with music and crafters to bring people downtown and enjoy the streetscape.”
The promenade will now run every Sunday in July and August, weather permitting, from 8am till 6pm, closing Queen Street to traffic from Durham Market North to Lambton Street.
In a recorded vote, the amended motion passed 6-3, with councillor Dave Cuyler, Deputy Mayor Randy Roppel, and Mayor Gerry Glover voting no.
Cuyler believes council gives into the wishes of the BIA too often.
“The BIA wants to control the municipality, and they will do anything they can to try to control the municipality. It’s always been that way.”
Cuyler adds the promenade has now been rendered unnecessary, as it was originally created to help promote local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The province has lifted the majority of the restrictions and the restaurants, the stores, everything is back to where it was pre COVID. Until it gets proven otherwise, we do not need the promenade.”
Mayor Glover, who was absent for the defeated vote on March 7th for the original promenade proposal, said he was surprised to see it back on the agenda at Monday’s meeting.
While he voted against the motion, he said he supports council’s decision, and hopes residents will be able to enjoy themselves at the promenade this summer.
“I was surprised that this was coming back before Council, but I certainly understand the motivation of the BIA looking to support [local] businesses. We were in a pandemic but really now we’re looking towards economic recovery. So if this will help them, I’m certainly happy to support that.”