Downtown business owners are weighing in on a new policy regarding patios for the summer season.

According to business owners, the city of St. John’s this year is charging businesses if they use parking spaces to build patios on. In previous years, this was not the case.

Downtown business and property owner Vic Lawlor says for forty feet of decking for his commercial tenants, he’s paying $4,500 a month.

He says he had other tenants who were interested in having a deck or patio, but when they heard of the fee, it was a non-starter. He says that’s three or four decks the city lost that would’ve been in place.

Meanwhile, owner of the Gypsy Tea Room and EVO, Emir Mahic, says the fees are just the price you have to pay.

He says if these fees help keep the city out of a deficit and the snow is cleared on time, then “so be it”.