SMITHS FALLS — Downtown patios in Smiths Falls will get a financial break for at least two more years, as council backs extending a pandemic-era fee waiver for local businesses.
The decision came during the April 27 committee of the whole meeting, where council reviewed a report on the town’s patio and merchandise display bylaw, first approved in 2023. The bylaw formalized temporary measures introduced during COVID-19 to allow restaurants and retailers to use municipal space for outdoor patios and displays.
Presenting the report, Manager of Development Services Karl Grenke said the bylaw was designed to support downtown businesses by allowing them to use public space to create more activity and vibrancy.
Under the bylaw, businesses must meet design and application requirements and enter into a sidewalk lease agreement with the town. Agreements can run for multiple years, provided the patio design, ownership and use remain unchanged. Annual inspections are required before patios can open each season.
Application fees tied to those approvals were waived for two years to help businesses recover from the pandemic, with the understanding the fees would take effect in 2026.
Staff told council that if no action was taken, those application fees would now apply to new patio requests. Council also had the option to amend the bylaw to continue waiving the fees.
Coun. Jennifer Miller supported extending the waiver, pointing to continued economic pressure on the restaurant sector.
“COVID hit our restaurant industry really hard, and just as they were starting to recover, tariffs came into play, and the economy is fragile,” Miller said. She added she would support continuing to charge annual inspection fees while waiving application costs.
Coun. Chris McGuire also supported the extension and suggested that if staff time is being allocated to process applications, those costs could potentially be covered through existing programs such as the town’s community improvement plan budget.
Committee reached majority support for a two-year extension of the patio application fee waiver while maintaining inspection fees.
The bylaw will need to be amended to reflect the change, with the matter expected to return to council for formal approval.
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