Plans Underway For More Temporary Patio and Pedestrian Space in Downtown Peterborough As Patio Season Approaches

Patio season is approaching with plans underway to create more patio and pedestrian space in Downtown Peterborough, and applications for temporary patios for this season are now available.

file photo.

Earlier this year, Peterborough City Council approved making the expanded patio program a regular, annual program for the downtown. For the last three years, a temporary expanded patio program allowed downtown business to apply to expand their patio space on sidewalks or use on-street parking adjacent to their business as part of a COVID-19 response efforts.

Town Ward Councillors Alex Bierk and Joy Lachica see many benefits to expanded patios.

“Downtown Peterborough is beautiful and having expanded patios adds to the vibrancy of the area,” said Councillor Lachica. “There’s nothing like a summer day strolling downtown with shops, restaurants and cafes brimming with people enjoying themselves and supporting local. Patios help make our downtown a destination.”

“I believe in the culture of downtown. It plays a crucial role in bringing the City to life during the summertime,” said Councillor Bierk. “With the City’s patio program expanding there is a lot to celebrate. Not only does this help local shops, restaurants, and cafe’s by increasing capacity and attracting more people downtown — it also generates employment opportunities. Along with the patio program, we also have 30 plus new businesses that have opened in the downtown core this past year. There’s a lot to be excited about.”

The plan includes: 

• Allowing businesses on George, Water and Charlotte Streets to use on-street parking spaces next to their businesses for additional outdoor business/patio space

• Maintaining the existing two vehicular travel lanes and cycling lanes on George and Water streets

• Reducing Hunter Street West between George and Aylmer streets to a one-lane, one-way street to expand pedestrian space and available patio areas

• Maintaining Charlotte Street as a two-way, two-lane street, while allowing for patios in on-street parking spaces next to participating businesses through the patio permit process

• The use of decorative fencing and planters to delineate between the new pedestrian areas, expanded/on-street patios and vehicular traffic lanes

• The program has been expanded to allow businesses in East City along Hunter Street East to operate a patio on a portion of the city sidewalks

• A $300 Patio Licence fee for applicants

Reduced speed limits will be put in place on streets with patios. Parking spaces, loading zones and designated waste pick-up areas may be adjusted once patio locations have been confirmed with participating businesses.

Considerations for accessibility, including parking and barrier free travel will be required, and the City will work with licence holders to find feasible solutions to ensure everyone can enjoy downtown public space. 

Patio Licences are required for all individuals, partnerships or corporations who are proposing to place a patio on City-owned property. Interested parties are invited to visit the City’s Application, Licenses and Permits webpage for more information on the application process. Applicants are now able to submit an application, permit fee and supporting documents through the City’s website. 

The City is requesting that applicants who wish to have their Patio Licence ready for the Victoria Day long weekend submit a complete application by April 6. The second round of patio installations is planned to take place the week of June 12 for applicants that submit an application by May 8. The last day to apply for the 2023 patio season is June 1. The proposed installation dates are subject to change at the discretion of the City.

To ensure compliance with the patio permits and limit the City’s risk related to non-permitted patios operating on City-owned lands, an Administrative Monetary Penalty System has been implemented that will create an enforcement process for businesses that are not in compliance with their permit or have not obtained a permit.

For general inquiries relating to outdoor patios on City-owned lands please contact Nicole Huculiak, Urban Design Supervisor by email at nhuculiak@peterborough.ca or by phone at 705-742-7777 ext. 1654.

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Check Out The Little Lake Cemetery Web Mapping Application and Story Map

An interactive web mapping genealogical tool and a new Little Lake Cemetery Story Map which tells the story of the cemetery and some of the early residents of Peterborough is now available.

Residents can explore the updated Little Lake Cemetery Guide and discover something new about their community by using the interactive historical timeline. The mapping application and Story Map can be found here and here.

The interactive map allows users to explore more than 5,500 marked grave sites and provides information on the oldest name and date identified on the monument, a visual location, and a photograph of the marker.

Screengrab of applications

With the help of student interns supported by Young Canada Works, the map has been expanded and enhanced to include the location and information on more than 10,000 unmarked graves within the cemetery.

With the updates, users now have the ability to submit additional information about interments. City of Peterborough geomatics/mapping staff, heritage preservation staff and Little Lake Cemetery collaborated on the mapping projects.

The Story Map application is an interactive webpage that allows users to explore themes relating to the City’s first burial ground, the growth of garden cemeteries, the development of Little Lake Cemetery, and stories of some historical figures from Peterborough’s past.

With nearly 30,000 burials in Little Lake Cemetery, the current map is not a complete record of interments at the cemetery. The City of Peterborough and Little Lake Cemetery foresee future projects will expand the numbers of graves recorded and the narratives presented on the story map.

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