Residents of the LaSalle Avenue area will get a second chance to voice their concerns on a controversial proposal to expand Steamers Pub.
Last week residents voiced their opposition to the expansion during a variance permit hearing at city council. City council voted to bring the matter back for the June 13 meeting, to allow city staff to provide more information about parking concerns near the pub.
The proposed expansion would see a 20-seat patio area added at the rear of the pub, as well as a small increase to the number of seats inside.
La Salle resident Elaine Rimmer said the proposed patio would reduce the already-limited parking for the pub.
"You've got 20 spots left for the customers. Where are the staff going to park?" Rimmer said. "I can't enjoy my backyard because of the parking lot and the noise. During the day we have four or five semi-trucks parking on the street, because they need to get deliveries and such."
There is also possible safety issues with increased activity at the pub, she said.
"It's not how attractive the patio or the pub is, it's the activity it draws," Rimmer said. "You don't know who's going to be out front of your house at 2-3 a.m."
LaSalle residents Lee Hudebine and LeeAnne Parker said they feel, "the patio will create increase noise at late hours," in a letter to council.
Residents Doreen Dery and John Martinsen wrote, "... we hear cursing, shouting, and laughter as we sit outside trying to enjoy the backyard, and very often it keeps us awake at night. With more outdoor use, we expect that will only increase."
Dery and Martinsen asked council to require Steamers Pub to put an increased buffer of trees around the patio area to reduce the noise.
While resident Ian and Judy Mackay raised concerned about maintenance of the landscaping once installed.
"There are already some flower beds in the neighbourhood, on Queensway, that are not maintained properly. Like the pub's proposed planters, these were lovely when first established," the Mackays wrote. "... who is going to police the pub's improvements, ensuring that the landscaping is maintained so that it is an asset and not an eyesore."
Access Engineering consultant Fergus Foley, who represented the developers to city council last week, said the proposal would be an improvement to the neighbourhood.
"Now [the patrons] will have a designated area where they can smoke. The patio will be surrounded by plants, basically to beautify it," Foley said. "We're asking for 100 [seats in total] but the owner is skeptical he'll ever reach that."
Foley said currently the parking situation is poorly defined. The change would create 20 well-defined parking stalls and, "any extra parking would have to be on the street."
Coun. Dave Wilbur said the parking issue is a concern for him.
"It seems to indicate that the reduction in parking would result in additional parking on LaSalle. That's a problem for the residents," Wilbur said.
Council will consider the matter again on June 13 at its regulary-scheduled meeting.
