Efforts by the Irish Harp Pub to keep its outdoor patio remain in limbo, according to a written message from the town presented to council Tuesday.
This comes after the town ended its temporary patio program in January, which was introduced during the pandemic to allow restaurants to operate under indoor gathering restrictions and renewed every year, until council voted last March to shut it down.
The Irish Harp and the Olde Angel Inn want to continue using their outdoor patios permanently and have both submitted requests to the town asking to do so.
Last September, the Irish Harp proposed taking over six parking spaces — three to make its back patio permanent and three for hotel rooms on the property — in exchange for nearly $436,000 in cash-in-lieu payments to the town.
In December, town staff recommended council refuse the proposal, but council voted to delay its decision on the matter.
“Town staff and the applicant will continue to work together to address the comments and concerns that have been raised to date and provide a subsequent recommendation,” the message from Feb. 3 concluded.
Planning staff have also met to discuss “alternative approaches” to address concerns brought up in December by the town.
These include concerns about the placement of waste collection and its effects on pedestrians and vehicles and the effect on the overall effect this proposal would have on parking in the town.
“The applicant will be providing subsequent information for consideration in 2026, which will be reviewed by staff and used to inform an updated recommendation on the proposal to the council or committee, as applicable,” it said.
The town said it will issue a request for proposals early this year for companies to conduct a parking study. The study will include recommendations for cash-in-lieu parking, which remains central to negotiations between the town and the Irish Harp.
It will also examine business and employee parking on Queen Street.
The town said the current proposal is not expected to affect the parking studies.
Irish Harp owner Jovie Joki said she is uncertain how the town plans to use the information it gathers, adding “we’re still waiting for them” to come back with details.
Joki said without an agreement with the town, the pub’s patio will not be allowed to operate, which she said will have a “huge impact” during the summer, the busiest time of year for the outdoor patios in NOTL.
“It’s going to affect jobs for staff. I won’t be able to hire as much staff,” she said.
“(There’s) a lot of disappointed patrons because they can’t bring their dogs.”
As for whether or not the Irish Harp going to go the route of the cash-in-lieu payments to the town for the parking spots, Joki said she’s not certain.
Joki said she does not know how much longer the process will take before the town comes to a decision, noting discussions about making the patio permanent have stretched on for four to five years.
“I thought we’d have some information this week,” she said.
