The Town of Cochrane has decided to extend the temporary patio pilot program for a second year. They received positive feedback after last year’s first summer of the program and recognized that there is a desire from local businesses to expand into outdoor spaces.

Mike Korman, Interim Director, Planning & Development Services explains that the pandemic impeded the public engagement and feedback from restaurants and how it went for them in 2021. Instead of making the program permanent this year, the town wanted to gain a better understanding of the impact of the program first. Korman says, “So, we thought we might as well put another pilot into place, and now the planning team will go out and engage to get a little bit of public engagement after the fact as to how it went for next year and then use that feedback to put a permanent program into place for the businesses that want to use it moving forward.”

What the program entails is local food and beverage establishments can utilize nearby outdoor spaces which include sidewalk and parking spaces to create temporary outdoor patios.

Korman says, “I think that for people who have a small patio because of the footprint of their building I think it gives them an opportunity in the summer to utilize their patio for more extend out into the parking lots that they to a certain degree and to the public roadways or sidewalks and really create a more outdoor feel.”    

Businesses wishing to apply will need to provide details, follow specific guidelines, and meet certain criteria.

Applications are now being accepted and there is no application fee.

Once the application is approved, patios can open as of May 14, 2022, until the permit expires on September 30, 2022.