Online survey seeks input on improving Oakville’s patio dining program
Published June 23, 2023 at 4:38 pm
If there are good things to come out of the pandemic, Oakville’s patio scene is one of them.
Take a drive through downtown Oakville on a Friday or Saturday night and you’ll notice the jam packed patios along Lakeshore Rd. with people taking in the summer weather and enjoying some fine dining.
Now Oakville is looking to find out what you like and other ways they can enhance patio dining.
In an effort to plan ahead and enhance the program for future years, the town is seeking public input about maintaining a vibrant patio experience in public and private spaces.
Local residents can take part in an online survey and provide feedback on the availability of restaurant and café patio dining, ease of use, safety and accessibility. The survey will be open until July 30.
“Oakville’s growing and vibrant patio scene makes outdoor dining more enjoyable for residents and visitors and supports local businesses,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. “The town would like to hear from patrons, restaurateurs and their staff on how to make patio dining even more enjoyable, safe and accessible to all.”
The town is also engaging restaurant owners and staff, and other non-food businesses that are in the vicinity of restaurants, through customized surveys, one-on-one meetings and other engagement opportunities.
All the feedback collected will help the town shape a Permanent Seasonal Patio Program to be shared with Council in early fall 2023.
The report will include recommendations to improve user experience, provide predictability on the size and positioning of patios, maintain safety and accessibility standards, and create a smoother permitting process.
The current seasonal patio program runs from May 1 to Nov. 1. This year the town issued 70 permits for temporary patios at restaurants, bistros and for outdoor displays.
Patios in on-street parking spaces require safety barriers to be installed at either end of the patio between the decking and the abutting parking space.
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