Owen Sound is waiving a fee associated with sidewalk merchandise displays to encourage more downtown businesses to try them out.
Council approved a recommendation at its meeting Monday for a one-year trial aimed at “the animation of the River District” by allowing individual businesses to place merchandise on sidewalks on Saturdays and Sundays from July 1 to October 31, without paying a $50 fee normally assessed for seasonal outdoor displays.
“The goal really is to create a vibrant, active and attractive space that’s comfortable, accessible and safe,” Owen Sound’s Director of Community Services Pam Coulter explains. “We’ve recently heard from businesses in the River District that they would like to have merchandise displays on the sidewalk on a regular basis.”
There are some city guidelines businesses would have to comply with such as providing a plan, proper placement of displays on sidewalks and ensuring a wide enough, unobstructed pedestrian path is maintained.
The city plans to work with River District businesses to ensure they have a full understanding of the trial program, a staff report says.
