Food Truck and Sidewalk Patio By-laws Review

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UPDATE: Preliminary results of the public consultation are available to view under the 'Project Background/Results' Tab below.

Do you enjoy dining "al fresco" in The County? Do you have thoughts about how food trucks and sidewalk patios can contribute to community life and the local economy?

The municipality is seeking input from County residents about the Food Truck and Sidewalk Patio programs. Your input will help us make improvements to these programs, while considering the impacts of the pandemic and tourism trends on outdoor and mobile food service.

Your opinion matters and will shape how these programs will be delivered by the municipality in the 2023 summer season and beyond.

During the consultation period, municipal staff will be attending community events to speak with residents in person. Staff will be offering "food for thought" at these events. Provide your input and receive a coupon for a snack from the concession stand!

You are invited to:

  • Read the "Project Background" below.
  • Complete the online survey below; or,
  • Visit our "food for thought" booths at the following locations:
    1. Wellington & District Community Centre - Saturday December 10 - 10 am - 2 pm
    2. Prince Edward Community Centre - Sunday December 11 - 10 am - 2 pm
Staff will contact previous permit and licence holders by email during the consultation period. This is another opportunity for businesses to provide further input on these programs. Business owners can also make comments through the public survey, visit us in person, and/or contact program staff directly with input.

UPDATE: Preliminary results of the public consultation are available to view under the 'Project Background/Results' Tab below.

Do you enjoy dining "al fresco" in The County? Do you have thoughts about how food trucks and sidewalk patios can contribute to community life and the local economy?

The municipality is seeking input from County residents about the Food Truck and Sidewalk Patio programs. Your input will help us make improvements to these programs, while considering the impacts of the pandemic and tourism trends on outdoor and mobile food service.

Your opinion matters and will shape how these programs will be delivered by the municipality in the 2023 summer season and beyond.

During the consultation period, municipal staff will be attending community events to speak with residents in person. Staff will be offering "food for thought" at these events. Provide your input and receive a coupon for a snack from the concession stand!

You are invited to:

  • Read the "Project Background" below.
  • Complete the online survey below; or,
  • Visit our "food for thought" booths at the following locations:
    1. Wellington & District Community Centre - Saturday December 10 - 10 am - 2 pm
    2. Prince Edward Community Centre - Sunday December 11 - 10 am - 2 pm
Staff will contact previous permit and licence holders by email during the consultation period. This is another opportunity for businesses to provide further input on these programs. Business owners can also make comments through the public survey, visit us in person, and/or contact program staff directly with input.

  • Consultation Results

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    This Have Your Say page was launched on December 5, 2022, which included background information on the Sidewalk Patio and Food Truck Programs. The public survey attracted a total of 314 responses (41 in-person responses, 273 online responses). There was a total of 952 visits to the webpage over the course of the consultation period which lasted for a total of 20 days.

    In-person promotion and consultation took place on December 10, 2022 and December 11, 2022 at the Wellington District Community Centre and the Prince Edward Community Centre respectively; two staff personnel attended each of the locations for 4 hours. Programs staff interacted with the public by providing background information on the project, answering questions, and administering surveys to gather responses.

    Staff would like to thank the public for engaging with the survey, and for providing their input during in-person and online consultations during the month of December.

    Below is a summary of responses received.

    FOOD TRUCKS

    The majority of survey responses indicated positive experience with regards to the Food Trucks:

    A pie chart that asks: "Rate your experience with Food Trucks in the County" shows 38% said very good experience; 40% said good experience; 19% said neutral; 3% said bad experience; and 0% said very bad experience.

    In their responses, residents cited variety of food options, cheaper prices and casual, outdoor dining as positive aspects of the program. Residents who've had negative experiences cited cleanliness and garbage disposal as main concerns in relation to the food truck program.

    Responses were positive regarding the amendment that allowed food trucks to operate at the Wellington Rotary Beach. 260 (85.5%) respondents want to see the Wellington Beach Food Trucks return; whereas 44 (14.5%) respondents do not want to see them return.

    A pie chart that asks: "Do you think food trucks should be permitted to operate at the Wellington Rotary Beach in 2023 and beyond?" shows 86% said yes; and 15% said no.



    Residents were asked if they are in favour of allowing food trucks to operate on more municipal properties where no food service is available nearby, and results were generally in favour.


    SIDEWALK PATIOS

    The majority of survey responses indicated support for the permanency of the Sidewalk Patio Program. With 127 responses (40.6%) strongly in favour, 73 (23.3 %) in favour, 24 (7.7%) neutral, 30 (9.6%) opposed to the program, and 59 (18.8%) being strongly opposed to the program:

    A pie chart that asks: "Please identify your support for the Sidewalk Patio Program becoming a permanent program" shows 41% said strongly in favour; 23% said in favour; 8% said neutral; 9% said opposed; and 19% said strongly opposed..

    On the sidewalk patio program, residents cite economic benefits and overall increase in attractiveness of business areas; whereas other residents cite safety, accessibility, and parking as main concerns to the program.


    NEXT STEPS

    Staff are on track to present recommendations through a report to council in March. Staff are also conducting a number of internal and external consultations, guided by the themes heard in this public consultation in the final stages of the program review.

    For further input or if you have questions, please contact Rami Farag, Programs and Services Assistant, at 613.242.5413 or email rfarag@pecounty.on.ca


  • Background

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    BACKGROUND/HISTORY

    The Sidewalk Patio and Food Truck by-laws are in need of public input and review. The municipality's By-Law and Policy Review process identified this need earlier in 2022.

    Businesses will begin seeking licences and permits for the 2023 season soon. Staff are aiming to complete the review of both of these programs by March 2023.

    FOOD TRUCK BACKGROUND

    A man serves two female customers out of the window of a food truck on a sunny day.The County established a "Food Truck" By-Law (By-Law 3042-2012) in 2006. This was last reviewed in 2012. The by-law outlines how the municipality inspects and licenses mobile restaurants. The Comprehensive Zoning By-law outlines where mobile restaurants can operate. These two documents inform The County's mobile restaurant licensing program. The mobile restaurant sector has evolved over the last 10 years, and the program is due for a review and update.

    Key considerations:

    In 2021, the municipality conducted a survey about Wellington Rotary Beach, as part of the first Tourism Management Plan. The survey indicated strong support for permitting mobile restaurants to operate at the beach. This would accommodate the increasing visitor volumes and the paid beach admission program.

    In response, Planning Committee passed By-Law 68-2021. This allowed mobile restaurants to operate at the beach on a pilot (trial) basis. This is set to expire on May 31, 2023. This review will ask residents to comment on the long-term viability of mobile restaurants at Wellington Rotary Beach and other municipal properties.


    Also in 2021, staff investigated the idea of allowing mobile restaurants to operate in commercial areas in towns. This idea came out of pandemic and tourism pressures. Staff are no longer exploring this idea for a number of reasons: pandemic restrictions have lifted, tourism volumes have stabilized, and the idea had potential to negatively impact existing restaurant businesses.


    SIDEWALK PATIO BACKGROUND

    A woman smiles broadly while dining with a friend on an outdoor patio.The County established a Sidewalk Patio program (By-Law 3372-2014) in 2014. This was a pilot program that is now due for review. The by-law outlines how commercial patios can operate on public sidewalks and parking spaces. The by-law includes design requirements, the permitting process and the associated fees.

    Key considerations

    This review will be a general evaluation of the pilot program. The review will consider whether and how to establish a permanent Sidewalk Patio program.

    In June 2019, Council passed Motion CW-256-2019 requesting a review of the Sidewalk Patio program. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the review. Instead, Council approved a temporary amendment (By-Law 90-2020) as a pandemic response. This supported the restaurant sector by waiving the fees and loosening other rules during the 2020 season. Council approved extensions to these amendments, extending these flexibilities until January 2023.


    CURRENT PROGRAM REVIEW

    To date, staff have:
    • Consulted with food service industry stakeholders in spring/summer 2022.
    • Conducted an internal program review and scan of other municipalities' programs.
    Next steps:
    • Have Your Say page and survey will be open December 6 - 23. This is an opportunity for residents to comment on both programs as they are being reviewed.
    • Staff will also be on site at the following locations to gather input from residents in person:
      • Wellington and District Community Centre, Saturday December 10 - 10 am - 2 pm
      • Prince Edward Community Centre, Saturday December 11 - 10 am - 2 pm
    • Staff will notify previous permit and licence holders in December about the public consultation. This is another opportunity for businesses to provide further input on these programs. Business owners are also welcome to make comments through the public survey, visit us in person, or contact program staff directly with input.
    • Results of this public and industry consultation will be published on Have Your Say in January and included in a comprehensive staff report in the first quarter of 2023.
    Public input is integral to a review of these programs. We encourage you to take part by providing your input on both topics either in-person or through this webpage.


Page last updated: 24 Feb 2023, 01:31 PM