e were shocked to read John Graham's President's column in the May OSCAR. He spent more time addressing the "positive benefits" of allowing Patty's Pub, which backs onto residential streets, to create an outdoor pub seating 100 to 200, than he spent addressing the legitimate concerns of Old Ottawa South residents who would be negatively impacted.
Outdoor seating of this size is equivalent to a beer hall, totally out of line with any other outdoor patio in Old Ottawa South or the Glebe.
An outdoor pub is not like most businesses, as Mr. Graham would have us believe. It would bring a huge number of people and cars, and resulting noise, to the nearby residential streets late into the evening.
The City of Ottawa's current by-laws do not allow such an establishment and we are asking the City to maintain the current by-laws, which recognize that this type of establishment is inappropriate for the neighborhood.
When combined with previous increases in floor size (30%) and licensed capacity (24%), this third increase would result in a fundamental change to the nature of Patty's Pub since 1997 -- from a local pub originally licensed for 89 to a drinking establishment licensed for 217-317.
Based on past experience, local residents have good reason to distrust the owner's assertions that even though the area for which he is applying is capable of seating 200, that he would limit the number of seats to 100.
Yes, Bank Street is a business area, but let's bring in businesses consistent with the character of the area and that respect the interests of local residents. We hope that all Old Ottawa South residents will join us in opposing this proposal, just as neighbors united to block the conversion of the Strand into a licensed pool hall for 200.
Yours truly,
Beth Everson and Helen Beck