Irvine & Sons Fine Foods and North Restaurant is trading in parking spaces for a seasonal patio.

Robbie and Allain Irvine, owners of the restaurant at 530 Muskoka Rd. North in Gravenhurst, applied to the town’s committee of adjustment for a minor variance to exempt the property from the six parking spaces required by the addition of a 530-square-foot patio in front of the restaurant.

Robbie Irvine explained there is ample on-street parking that is generally unused during the restaurant’s hours of operations. She said the patio would allow the restaurant to seat an additional 20 people and require two more staff to be hired.

“It makes good strategic sense to construct a patio since we are competing with all businesses,” she said. “We will never have the view at the wharf, but a patio will allow people to enjoy the great outdoors with some fine food.”

In response to correspondence from the Gravenhurst Accessibility Advisory Com­mittee, Irvine confirmed an accessible parking space will be provided near the entrance to the restaurant.

Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce manager Jodi Holder voiced her support for the chamber member’s application, noting patios represent a visual energy and encourage pedestrian traffic.

Neighbouring residents did not feel the same way and expressed concerns about an already deteriorating parking situation.

Carolyn Earl who lives on Isaac Street said reducing the restaurant’s on-site parking does not make her happy. She complained that parking on the main street is abused by employees of local businesses and is not enforced.

She said parking overflow from the main street ends up on side streets such as Isaac Street and her driveway has been blocked by careless motorists in the past.

Muskoka Road North resident Maurice Beiers complained that his driveway is blocked by parked cars on several occasions.

Senior planner Nick Pop­ovich said town council could address the parking issue in the future by placing time restrictions on parking at the north end of the main street. He also indicated that council is working toward streetscape improvements on Muskoka Road North that may improve parking.

“I don’t want to see us limiting people with parking restrictions,” said committee member Sandy Cairns. “People may stay and eat for two hours and then walk uptown.” She suggested the chamber send a courtesy letter to its members reminding them to not to use public parking spaces.

The committee approved the variance reducing the additional number of parking spaces required from six to zero.