Afrofest deal saves second day By Anna Killen
Volume 45 No. 3
April 5, 2016
TENSIONS BETWEEN the City of Toronto and Afrofest have eased and the popular African music festival will once again be allowed to operate as a two-day festival, reads a joint statement released by the parties on March 23. Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon, the City of Toronto, and Music Africa – the company that operates the Woodbine Park festival – met with other interested parties on March 23 to discuss the city’s decision to cut the festival from two days to one. The city cited noise and compliance complaints over the last
several years. The decision was met with public outcry, and a petition was circulated to pressure the city to reverse its decision. The parties “are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached to grant Afrofest a permit for July 9 and 10, 2016 in Woodbine Park,” reads the statement. “All parties are committed to working together to ensure Afrofest is successful this summer and in future years.” Both sides admitted they could do better. Continued on following page
Easter fans line Queen for 50th parade From left, the Traupmann siblings Xavier, 7, Xena, 12, with Sugar the dog, Azalea, 5, Xander, 3, and Samara, 8, were out in their Easter costumes on Sunday, March 27. The sun was shining on Queen Street East for the 50th edition of the Beaches Lions Easter Parade. See beachmetro.com for more photos. PHOTO: JON MULDOON
Queen Street restaurant rules get first look in possible review By Anna Killen
A LOT has changed along Queen Street East since 1985 – stores have opened and closed, restaurants have come and gone – but one thing that hasn’t changed is the bylaw governing how those restaurants operate. Residents and business owners are now being asked if they’d like to see the bylaw revised and updated, or if things are fine just the way they are. “We’re reviewing a 30-year-old restaurant study,” said Ward 32 Councillor Mary Margaret McMahon of the March 23 open house held at the Beach United Church. “We’re hearing from the public, restauranteurs, business owners, property owners, what they think. Do they want to bring it into 2016?” Toronto’s City Planning and Economic Development and Culture divisions are leading the conversation, which looks at the area on Queen Street between Woodbine Avenue and Nursewood Road. The information meeting, attended by dozens of Beachers over two hours on a Thursday evening, was billed as the start of the discussion. “Usually when we do studies it’s because there is a problem that’s emerged in some communities between restaurants and bars and residents. A lot of time studies are a reaction to that kind of problem,” said city planner Kyle Knoeck. “That hasn’t been a real problem recently
here – there have been some specific instanc- that],” she said. “People were worried about es at times in the past, but that’s not a prob- different things back then – bars, worried lem that the Beach has had recently. about a ‘Wasaga-Beach-y’ feel to the area. “The question is, could the restriction be But I think we’re in a new time and a new reconsidered and would that actually be a age and I think it’s time to be revisited.” benefit to business and improve the comShe noted that she has heard from West munity? Are things working fine the way End restaurateurs who have backed out of they are and should plans to open locations along Queen we stick to what we because of the size know and what’s restrictions. working?” Knoeck “So that’s a probsaid, noting that lem,” said McMathose are just two of hon. “We want to potentially several open up our empty possibilities. storefronts to our McMahon said that businesses to have a the push for an updated study stemmed more viable area, so from worries about if this is one of the shuttered Queen hindrances, I would Street storefronts be happy to revisit – Ward 32 Councillor and what could be that.” Mary-Margaret McMahon done to make the People at the open area more viable house were asked to while still maintainfill out a survey to ing its character. provide feedback on When reviewing the 30-year-old guidelines, what they thought of the information providshe was surprised to discover that the Beach ed – the advantages and disadvantages to the has the smallest restaurant size restrictions existing restrictions on parking, patios, and in the city at 165 square metres. Most Queen restaurant size, as well as the demographics Street restaurants are 165 square metres or of the area. One resident at the meeting, who gave his less, and the few which are larger existed before the bylaws were enacted. name as Angelo, said there are too many “City staff didn’t even recommend that “copycat” restaurants along Queen Street size in 1985, but the local councillor [wanted who follow the trend of the day and that he
“”
“People were worried about … a ‘Wasaga-Beach-y’ feel to the area. But I think we’re in a new time”
would like to see more variety in the area. Beach Village BIA board member Adam Smith would like to see some of the rules changed, particularly with regards to required parking spaces for restaurants. “The problem I see with a lot of these laws, is that they were designed for a population that was against any kind of real nightlife, any kind of real tourism. They wanted their quiet little neighbourhood,” he said. “All of these things were designed to clamp down on any kind of nightlife, tourism, visitors or any of that stuff.” But he thinks the neighbourhood is ready to revisit these issues. “One, I think the demographics have changed since that happened. Two, it’s finally become obvious that these things are hurting more than they are helping.” Smith said he expects a healthy debate. “The businesses will be behind it for sure, that I can say,” he said. “Residents, it’s a mixed bag. I think most of the newer residents who moved here within the last decade have no idea about any of this, so I think they’d probably be for it. But the ones who lived through it and pushed for this to begin with and are still around, they’re still going to push to keep it the way it is.” City staff will now review the feedback and do some more consultation and research. If there is interest in changing the bylaw, a community consultation process will follow and the decision would ultimately be made by city council.