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May 26, 2020 - 4:05 PM
Some Kamloops restaurants and shops will be moving outdoors until the fall.
Kamloops city council voted to expand outdoor restaurant patios and retail sale areas in the Downtown and North Shore commercial areas today, May 26.
In addition, council will allow all retailers and restauranteurs throughout Kamloops to expand onto private parking lots and adjacent green spaces.
The expansion is temporary, and will allow local businesses to attract customers and provide additional capacity to accommodate for physical distancing, according to a report presented to council by development, engineering and sustainability director Marvin Kwiatkowski.
To help businesses struggling during the pandemic, the province has temporarily authorized expansion of service areas. Food-primaries, liquor-primaries, wineries, breweries and distilleries will be able to apply for expansion through the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch online.
Kamloops businesses will be able to set up outside on public sidewalks, parking stalls, and landscaped areas on private commercial property until Oct. 31.
The sidewalk expansions will take place in the Central Business District and within the Tranquille Market Corridor between Palm Street and Fortune Drive.
Kwiatkowski told council that the expansion plan is designed to be flexible for businesses, however, there are some guidelines they must follow.
Notably, businesses are required to leave a 1.5 meter wide pedestrian corridor in the parallel parking or sidewalk, and provide a barrier to separate the expansion space from the road.
The City will provide accessibility ramps for businesses participating in the expansion as required.
There will be no charge to the businesses who apply to expand.
The temporary road closures in the downtown core requested by some business owners may be discussed at a later date, as these measures would require further considerations from the City.
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