Bedford beer garden on hold due to lack of parking

The Bedford Beer Garden, located along the busy Bedford Highway, faced a setback just days after its successful opening weekend. Co-owner Tony Makhoul shared that despite obtaining a special occasion license for the launch, the beer garden had to shut off its taps indefinitely due to permit requirements not being met.

According to Halifax Regional Municipality bylaws, the beer garden lacked sufficient parking spaces to accommodate the number of seats at the establishment. With only five parking spots available for an 80-seat beer garden, the location fell short of the required 20 parking spots.

Makhoul expressed his frustration with the situation, stating that the business had made efforts to comply with municipal standards by reconfiguring the site plan to create more parking spaces. He was under the impression that building permits were only necessary for permanent establishments, which the beer garden was not.

Despite the majority of patrons using alternative transportation methods such as walking or public transit during the opening weekend, the city emphasized the parking issue. Makhoul took to social media to rally support from residents, urging them to contact their local councillor in support of the business.

Councillor Jean St-Amand of Bedford-Wentworth acknowledged the community’s interest in the beer garden’s operation but pointed out that the problem lay in the proportion of parking spaces relative to the square footage occupied by the establishment. He suggested that reducing the square footage of the beer garden might be a potential solution to meet parking requirements.

In response to inquiries, HRM spokesperson Brynn Budden emphasized that it is the business owner’s responsibility to demonstrate compliance with requirements, including providing off-street parking as stipulated in the land-use bylaw. Makhoul mentioned exploring options like using a nearby parking lot after office hours and on weekends to alleviate the parking shortage.

As the Bedford Beer Garden navigates the challenges posed by permit regulations, the community’s support and efforts to find solutions are crucial in ensuring the beer garden’s long-term success.