ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: February 17, 2000
Author/Local: G.Gusdal/871-6461
RTS No. 1159
CC File No. 2614-17
P&E Date: March 16, 2000

TO:	Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:	Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT:	965 Granville Street - Class ‘C’ Cabaret John Teti

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council advise the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch it does not endorse the application by John Teti for a 200-seat Class ‘C’ Cabaret at 965 Granville Street.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

On June 19, 1997, Council approved the Theatre Row Liquor Licensing Policy as follows:

A. THAT the 700, 800 and 900 blocks of Granville Street be designated as the Theatre Row Entertainment District and that the Director of Central Area Planning, in consultation with the Director of Legal Services, report back with appropriate amendments to the Downtown Official Development Plan and other relevant by-laws and policy documents to encourage a variety of entertainment uses and activities.

B. THAT allowances be made in principle for a combined total of up to 1,000 Class ‘A’ (Hotel Pub or Lounge), Class ‘C’ (Cabaret) and Class ‘D’ (Neighbourhood Pub) liquor licensed seats on Theatre Row, consistent with the Theatre Row Policy Strategy and generally distributed as follows:

1. 700 block of Granville: Two cabarets, or one cabaret and two neighbourhood pubs, or one cabaret and one hotel pub and/or lounge and one neighbourhood pub.

2. 800 block of Granville: Two neighbourhood pubs, or one hotel pub and/or lounge and a neighbourhood pub, or possible consideration of a cabaret on the west side of Granville and one neighbourhood pub.

3. 900 block of Granville: Two cabarets and two neighbourhood pubs, or one cabaret and three neighbourhood pubs, or one cabaret, two neighbourhood pubs and one hotel pub/lounge.

On December 11, 1997, Council approved amendments to the Theatre Row liquor licensing policy as follows:

THAT only proposals for Class A, C or D liquor licenses which result in a reduction of seats in the residential areas in or near Downtown South be considered for the Theatre Row Entertainment District until December 1998, except small lounges associated with new hotels and that these small lounges be excluded from the 1,000 seats identified for Theatre Row;

THAT Council policy for the distribution of new licensed seats in the 900 Block of Granville Street be amended to allow for up to two (130 seat maximum) cabarets and three neighbourhood pubs.

PURPOSE

John Teti is requesting a Council resolution endorsing his application for a 200-seat Class ‘C’ Cabaret at 965 Granville Street.

BACKGROUND

The proposal is for a new 200-seat Class ‘C’ Cabaret and the hours of operation would be 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Monday to Saturday and 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight on Sunday. This application does not involve the relocation of existing cabaret seats.

The license distribution for the 900 block of Granville Street has already been fulfilled and presently has one existing cabaret (The Roxy at 932 Granville) two neighbourhood pubs, with full endorsement by Council, and two Class ‘C’ Cabarets that have received support in principle, subject to a number of conditions. One of the outstanding conditions that must be satisfied is that the applicant(s) must agree to a legal agreement with the City for the relocation or closure of an existing cabaret, to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services, the Chief License Inspector and the Director of Central Area Planning.

Mr. Teti’s proposal is to develop primarily a restaurant complex with lounge-style establishment attached on the west side of the 900 block Granville, on the site presently occupied by the Caprice Theatre. It is intended that the complex would contain approximately 425 seats, consisting of 225 restaurant seats and 200 Class ‘C’ Cabaret seats. There will be no live entertainment in the Class ‘C’ area, and it will function more like a hotel lounge rather than as an entertainment venue.

The 225-seat restaurant would provide a large eating facility within the Entertainment District, which is not presently available, and offer a menu of Asian/Chinese type food. The applicant is proposing that the facility would close at 1:00 a.m., despite requesting the liquor license be endorsed with 2:00 a.m. closing for every night but Sunday.

Mr. Teti believes that the interaction between this large restaurant facility with the lounge attached will provide a proper balance in the Entertainment District. The cabaret would not essentially operate as such, but more like a restaurant/lounge with the emphasis on food. The street scape, including large windows fronting onto Granville Street, combined with the style of operation, will be a positive attribute in the area.

DISCUSSION

The proposal has some merits: a potentially large investment to revitalize and restore an existing building on Granville Street, a large restaurant on street level and a theme that differs from existing and proposed establishments in the district. Staff recognizes the importance of retaining existing buildings, but notes that there is no way to compel or assure the preceding benefits are achieved or maintained over time.

Staff contends that the distribution of licensed seats for the 900 block of Granville has been fulfilled with two neighbourhood pubs fully endorsed, one existing cabaret and two cabarets and one neighbourhood pub supported in principle, making a total of three cabarets and two neighbourhood pubs. There is currently another application for a 65-seat Class ‘D’ Neighbourhood Pub with the Permits & Licenses Department for the same block. The proposed restaurant could proceed without any specific approval from Council.

COMMENTS

The Police Department does not support the application at this time. The allotment for licenses in the 900 block is at capacity. Within the past few months, two large clubs have opened on the 800 block of Granville. There is also a new club under construction at the corner of Granville and Robson Street.

It is believed there is a need to see what impact the new licenses, approved or in the process of being approved for the 900 block Granville, has on police resources. There have already been incidents within the clubs in the 800 block.

The Planning Department has reviewed the application and notes that the site is located within the Downtown (DD) Zoning District (Sub-Area ‘K1') and the Theatre Row Entertainment District (Granville Street). Records indicate that this portion of the building is currently approved as a theatre.

The application proposes to provide a cabaret on the first and mezzanine floors. Additional floor area on the mezzanine floor may also be proposed. However, this is unclear on the reduced plans submitted

“Cabaret” is a “conditional” approval use under the DD Official Development Plan (ODP). Any proposal to change the use to provide a “Cabaret” would require a development application. Further, any additional floor area would also increase the parking requirement. However, in accordance with the provisions of the Parking By-law, this site is located within an area where the waiver of parking requirements for payment-in-lieu relief would be applicable.

As part of the review process, staff would include an assessment of the anticipated impact on neighbouring sites. As well, an application of this type would be reviewed in accordance with the provisions of all relevant by-laws, including the Parking By-law and Cabaret and Restaurant Guidelines adopted by City Council on August 9 and October 4, 1988, and the Liquor Licensing Policies and Procedures by City Council on October 16 and November 6, 1990.

It should be noted that the majority of the 900 block Seymour Street is zoned CD-1 which allows for residential uses.

The Vancouver/Richmond Health Board notes that the planned location would be directly across from an existing residential building on Seymour Street (a vacant lot is located between the two) and there is potential for noise to have a negative impact on these residences. Approval of this application is not recommended.

The Social Planning Department recommends refusal of the application.

The Housing Centre does not support this application as it is not consistent with Council policy.

CONCLUSION
Staff does not support this application as it contravenes Council policy with respect to the density of seats for the 900 block of Granville Street and does not result in a public benefit by relocating existing seats from nearby residential areas. Should the applicant find seats to relocate to the venue, then staff could re-evaluate this application and bring forward another report to Council.

NOTE FROM CLERK: Appendix A is not available in electronic form - on file in the City Clerk's Office.

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