Kelownasa国际传媒檚 main drag is officially set to close, to vehicles, for most of the summer.

In an effort to assist downtown businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, the city is making Bernard Avenue a pedestrian-only thoroughfare, allowing restaurants and businesses to expand operations into parking spaces and streets.

Bernard will close to vehicle traffic from St. Paul Street to the Sails statue, including a portion of Abbott Street towards Lawrence Avenue. The intersections at cross streets would remain open to through traffic. The closure would begin June 29 and last through Sept. 8.

Over 10 metres of the road would be used as new patio space, with two three-metre walking lanes sa国际传媒� one in each direction sa国际传媒� in between. The sidewalks on both sides of the road would still be used by pedestrians.

The south side of Bernard Avenue would see significantly more on-road patio space at 7.5 metres than the north at 2.6 metres. That space will extend out directly from the businesssa国际传媒� current frontage sa国际传媒� unless they receive written consent from the owners of the adjacent properties to use their space.

Businesses serving liquor would be required to provide fencing demarcating their service area. That fencing, according to JoAnne Adamson, the citysa国际传媒檚 property manager, will be sa国际传媒渦niform and consistent; classy and tasteful.sa国际传媒�

Fencing would be optional for businesses not serving alcohol, however, the area must be visually demarcated in some way.

Cyclists will initially be allowed to ride down the centre pedestrian lanes but will still be restricted from riding on sidewalks. Adamson said the city will continue to monitor how cyclists and pedestrians interact and are prepared to close the pedestrian lanes to bicycles if need be.

While expressing some concern about cyclists potentially using sidewalks and suggesting staff consider putting up signs, Coun. Luke Stack said he is glad some other two-wheeled vehicles wonsa国际传媒檛 be visiting Bernard this summer.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檒l be able to go downtown without Harleysa国际传媒檚 trying to deafen us with their machoism (sic),sa国际传媒� he said.

A city-operated Public Space Task Force will be created to review and approve requests regarding the temporary use of public space throughout the city.

Patio fees have also been slashed across the city, due to city staffsa国际传媒檚 anticipation of around 50 per cent the usual capacity on patios due to distancing rules set out by the government.

sa国际传媒淏ernard gets a lot of focus but this will benefit everywhere in the community,sa国际传媒� said Coun. Brad Sieben, citing one business hesa国际传媒檚 been in contact with that has a patio ready to go.

Along Bernard, restaurants will have to pay the reduced fees for both their usual patio and the space they use on the street.

Council lauded the changes, with two councillors sa国际传媒� Mohini Singh and Loyal Wooldridge sa国际传媒� even bringing up the potential of this occurring annually.

sa国际传媒淭here are going to be some people who are pleasantly surprised who perhaps right now arensa国际传媒檛 fully on board,sa国际传媒� said Mayor Colin Basran.

READ MORE: Proposed wine centre in historic downtown Kelowna building moved to public hearing

READ MORE: School buses could remain parked as Central Okanagan students return to class

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michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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