As warmer weather approaches and food establishments enter their second year of uncertainty related to COVID-19 restrictions, more and more food establishments are looking to create, or continue using, outdoor spaces in order to stay afloat.
Huntsville Council helped fast-track such approvals at its March 22 council meeting by giving staff approval authority. That means staff can now work with business owners wanting to make temporary changes, such as extending a patio into a parking area, which would normally be controlled by the site plan approval process and include input from the Town’s development services committee.
According to Huntsville director of protective services Steve Hernen, so far eight businesses have made such requests which have been granted. He also reiterated that as long as the structures they’re proposing are temporary in nature, site plan approvals are not necessary. There may be fees such as building fees for fences, licence of occupation fees if the temporary structure is on municipal lands, and inspection fees, depending on the structure being erected.
He said fire and building code regulations must still be adhered to “as we are not permitted to override these.”
Hernen added that anyone who applied for a patio structure last year will not be required to reapply. They’ll be receiving a letter from the municipality offering to extend the use provided they have not made any changes since the approval was first granted.
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Awesome. Great pro-active thing like not asking those who applied last year. Easy to do and makes it easier for the businesses as well.