Along Oak Bay Avenue, people sipped wine and beer in one of 55 patio seats that have replaced four parking stalls in front of the Penny Farthing Pub and Vis-a-Vis restaurant. But some business owners say the municipality’s plan to repurpose public space has propped up one business at the expense of others.
“They’ve taken all the parking away,” said Dale Shaw, who owns The Gallery fine art store across the street. She fears that if customers can’t find a parking spot on Oak Bay Avenue, they will shop elsewhere.
Businesses have been able to apply to expand into sidewalk space and street-parking stalls since May 21, when Oak Bay council approved a temporary bylaw amendment. The measures will be in place until the end of October.
Matt MacNeil, who owns the Penny Farthing and Vis-a-Vis, said it’s nice to see a buzz on the street. The move was essential in getting people back to work, he said. “This was done to employ more people so businesses could survive, full stop,” said MacNeil, who also owns the Bard and Banker and the Irish Times under the Victoria Pub Company. Both those pubs have also expanded their patios into parking stalls on Government Street and Fort Street in downtown Victoria.
Offering more outdoor seating is in line with provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s recommendations that people and businesses move activities outside where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower, MacNeil said.
“I know it hasn’t pleased everyone and for that I’m sorry, but we got approached by the [District of Oak Bay]. This was not our idea but we’re taking advantage of it,” MacNeil said. “I hope all the other merchants, retailers, restaurants [and] cafes all do the same.”
Nick Hopkins, who owns the Oaks restaurant, said the bylaw was amended with “zero consultation.”
Hopkins consulted with Oak Bay staff about expanding his patio but his options were limited because of his location at the corner of Oak Bay Avenue and Monterey Avenue. Hopkins did not want to take over a loading zone for people with mobility issues.
“Removing that [space] in my mind isn’t an option, so that’s really hindered our expansion,” he said. “A lot of my customers can’t walk a block. They have a hard time getting from their vehicle into the restaurant.”
Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch said councillors had to balance businesses’ economic recovery with parking concerns. After looking at similar measures in other jurisdictions, such as Vancouver and Victoria, councillors determined that having expanded patios would draw people to the area and allow businesses to operate while maintaining physical distancing, he said.
“We recognize that losing any parking spaces can have a negative impact in terms of people who … prefer to park as close as possible to the places they’re shopping,” Murdoch said.
Murdoch acknowledged that because Oak Bay council chambers were closed to the public due to COVID-19, there was a limited opportunity for consultation.
He pointed out that there are many parking spaces in the 75-stall parking lot off Monterey Avenue which serves the Oak Bay branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library. The municipality also opened up spots behind municipal hall.
