ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: April 10, 2000
Author/Local: Guy Gusdal/6461
RTS No. 1326
CC File No. 2618-1

P&E: April 20, 2000

TO:	Standing Committee on Planning & Environment
FROM:	Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT:	601 West Cordova Street - 559572 B.C. Ltd. VQA Wine Store

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council endorse the request by 559572 B.C. Ltd. for a VQA Wine Store at 601 West Cordova Street, subject to:

i. A Time Limited Development Permit

ii. Hours of operation limited to between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.

iii. Product sales limited to B.C. wines only.

iv No on-site consumption, except for samples provided in a manner consistent with Liquor Distribution Branch policies.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

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

COUNCIL POLICY

On September 10, 1991, Council approved policy for a Specialty Wine Boutique Program
and that the processing of applications would be subject to a Development Permit for a limited period of one year, subject to review.
PURPOSE

559572 B.C. Ltd. is requesting a Council resolution endorsing their request for a VQA Wine Store at 601 West Cordova Street.

BACKGROUND

Under the Zoning & Development By-law a wine store is considered a Liquor Store, which means the use of premises for the sale of liquor, beer or wine for consumption off premises.
In July 1992, the Liquor Control & Licensing Branch announced it would no longer accept applications for new Class `G' Licensee (beer and wine) Retail Stores.

This application, however, is for a VQA Wine Store, which is a program set up approximately two years ago by the British Columbia Wine Institute to help promote the sale of British Columbia wines to tourists and other visitors to the province.

The Liquor Distribution Branch has allocated ten wine store licenses to the B.C. Wine Institute who, in turn, has screened prospective licensees and locations. In September 1999, the application from 559572 B.C. Ltd., was given preliminary approval by the Liquor Distribution Branch and the B.C. Wine Institute.

The applicants point out that: "The importance of establishing a B.C. wine industry presence in the Vancouver downtown area is paramount to future and ongoing tourist marketing of the B.C. experience. The inevitable comparisons with California continue to further and maintain the concept. High-profile product marketing, along with Interior or Island vineyard tours (which could also be marketed through this location) will further define and exploit our wine industry."

The proposed premises will be located in the Waterfront Station in the DD (Downtown) zoning district. The site is directly on the route for most tourists who walk to and from Gastown from the large hotels, the cruise ship terminal and the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.

The proposed location is directly across the street from a provincial liquor store in the Harbour Centre. This liquor store does carry a modest selection of VQA products, whereas the VQA Wine Store in the Waterfront Station would carry several hundred, which would be merchandised in a way to attract a tourist clientele.
The surrounding area is a mixture of office, retail, cabaret, restaurant, neighbourhood pub and other commercial uses.

DISCUSSION

Staff feels that given the small size of the store, limited product selection, the hours of operation and the lack of residential in the area, the store would cause little or no impact on the surrounding community and, therefore, a neighbourhood notification was not carried out.
Although the application is unlikely to create any concern within the surrounding community, it is suggested that the numerous community associations and contacts in the downtown be notified at the development permit stage. Any issues arising out of this notification should be resolvable at this level.

The requirement of a time-limited development permit provides a means to eliminate the use, should unresolvable land use issues arise at some point in the future.

Representatives of the Gastown Homeowners' Association and the Gastown Business Improvement Association were contacted, but as of the date of this report staff has received no comments.

COMMENTS

The Police Department has no issues, based on the operation of similar establishments elsewhere in the city.

The Planning Department has reviewed the application and notes that this site is located within the Downtown (DD) District (Sub-Area `B') and Central Waterfront District (CWD). Our records indicate that this building is currently approved for offices, retail, retail-food, miscellaneous manufacturing, restaurant, seabus berth and hair salon. The existing building is of individual heritage importance and is listed as a "B" building on the Vancouver Heritage Register. It is also a municipally designated building ("M").

A "wine store" is a "conditional" approval use under the DD and CWD Official Development Plan (ODP). Any proposal to change the use in the existing building to provide a "wine store" would require a development permit and a heritage alteration permit.

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 the "Beer and Wine" Store Guidelines adopted by City Council August 9 and October 18, 1999.

The Vancouver/Richmond Health Board has no concerns.

Both the Social Planning Department and Housing Centre have no concerns.

CONCLUSION

Staff recommends that this application be endorsed based on the strong probability that this establishment will have limited impact on the surrounding community and that the location is ideally suited to provide wine services to the tourist industry.

ATTACHMENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE ELECTRONIC COPY ARE AVAILABLE ON FILE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE

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