Outdoor seating is a sign of a vibrant city. But in Toronto, neighbor complaints and conflicting regulations conspire to constrain the construction and operation of such spaces along city sidewalks, explains Valerie Hauch.
"Last year, the City of Toronto recorded 270 complaints related to outdoor patios, some dealing with noise," notes Hauch. "And then there’s the loss of precious sidewalk space, squeezing out pedestrians, moms with strollers, seniors on mobility scooters or parents with children in tow."
"Vibrant patios are one of the drawing cards of 'leading cities’ around the world, says Richard Gabriele, chair of the Beach Business Improvement Area." Yet in some areas of the city getting approval for such spaces is "almost impossible," due to neighbor opposition.
“We need to have as many patios as possible," adds Gabriele. "They’re important. When you’re inside for six months of the year, you just want to go outside for a few hours and sit.’’
FULL STORY: Restaurant patios spark clashes over noise and loss of sidewalk space
Opinion: Toronto is Stifling its Outdoor Dining Program
New regulations and fees for outdoor dining patios, extended from a pandemic-era program, are making the process overly complicated and expensive for business owners.
A Pedestrian-Forward Vision for Toronto Roadway
Toronto’s iconic Yonge Street is heavily used by pedestrians, and, according to this article, it's time for a revamp that acknowledges all of the street's users.
Editorial: Toronto’s Snow Clearing Plan Isn’t Fair
The city’s plan for dealing with snow and ice on sidewalks this winter doesn't address past problems and won't meet the needs of residents, say critics.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.
San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time
A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.
Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth
Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.
Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas
Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions