Mississauga considering allowing businesses to operate outdoors due to COVID-19
Published November 19, 2020 at 12:25 am
With more COVID-19 restrictions coming to Mississauga in the coming days, the city is considering allowing some businesses to operate outdoors in a bid to keep companies–and their workers–afloat amid the second wave of the pandemic.
At a Nov. 18 General Committee meeting, council asked city staff to prepare a temporary use bylaw to permit outdoor retail sales and displays, as well as outdoor recreational and entertainment establishments.
If passed, the bylaw will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2021.
According to a corporate report, the proposed bylaw will suspend enforcement of current zoning bylaw provisions that do not permit outdoor markets and outdoor recreational and entertainment establishments on private and public lands.
The move to allow more outdoor commerce comes days after Peel (and therefore Mississauga) entered the province’s Red-Control category, a category that severely restricts indoor activities such as dining and exercising.
The report says that because of the pandemic and associated closures, the city has received multiple requests from companies who want to move their businesses outdoors. Because of zoning regulations, businesses have been found in violation of the current bylaw and have had to, in some cases, spend additional funds on applying for exemptions.
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As of now, outdoor markets are only permitted in some of the downtown core zones in Mississauga.
“To support Mississauga’s businesses and/or charitable ventures, the city can temporarily permit outdoor markets and outdoor recreational and entertainment establishments in appropriate zones,” the report reads, adding that municipal bylaws regulating noise control and property standards will still be in effect for businesses operating outdoors.
A virtual public meeting regarding the proposed temporary bylaw has been scheduled for 9:30 am on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Next week, council might vote to temporarily suspend enforcement of the current zoning bylaw provisions that prohibit outdoor businesses. After the public meeting, the city will determine whether or not it should allow more outdoor commerce until the end of 2021.
To learn how to participate in the meeting, click here.
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