ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: November 20, 2001
Author/Local: B. Boons/7678

RTS No. 02406

CC File No. 2608

P&E: December 6, 2001

TO:	Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:	Director of Current Planning
SUBJECT:	1716 Robson Street - Government Liquor Store Development Application Number DE406086

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council advise the Director of Planning that it would favour approval of a new government liquor store at 1716 Robson Street as part of Development Application Number DE406086

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

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

COUNCIL POLICY

There is no explicit Council policy directly applicable to government liquor stores. However, when initiated by-law amendments in 1981 to create "Liquor Store" as a conditional approval use to distinguish from the use "Retail Store", it was clearly indicated that this would allow Council an opportunity to evaluate each new proposed location.

PURPOSE

This report seeks any advice Council may wish to offer concerning a development application to re-develop a government liquor store on the ground floor at this location.

SITE DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT

The proposed liquor store is part of a re-development of the Canada Safeway property on the south side of Robson Street between Denman and Bidwell Streets. The site is zoned C-5 (West End Commercial District) and a liquor store is a use that can be considered.

Staff carried out a land use survey of the surrounding area (within a 1,000 ft. radius of development site), similar to that which would be done for a proposed liquor outlet, as covered by Council policy. The survey area contains commercial and residential uses. A government liquor store has existed at this location since 1965. The two closest government liquor stores are located at 1655 Davie Street and at 1120 Alberni Street. The Liquor Distribution Branch advises that they will be looking into establishing a "temporary" location during the construction phase of the re-development of this site. Separate permits will be required for this temporary location. The site and surrounding zoning are shown on the attached Appendix  _A_.

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

The current development application seeks to re-develop this site with a grocery store (Canada Safeway) on the second floor and retail uses and a government liquor store on the ground floor. The government liquor store would comprise approximately 546 square metres (5,884 square feet), and would be situated in the same location on the site as it currently exists, at the easterly end of the development. A total of 207 off-street parking spaces and 3 loading spaces will be provided on site.

The proposed liquor store has been assessed against the applicable provisions of the Zoning and Development By-law and also complies with the requirements of the Parking By-law.

Simplified plans, including elevations and floor plans of the proposed building, are included in Appendix  _B_.

NOTIFICATION

As part of the review of this development application, 541 neighbouring property owners were notified of the proposal. The Director of Planning received 7 individual letters in response. One letter was in support of the development, and of the other six letters, only one specifically mentioned the liquor store. The notification area is included in the attached Appendix 'A' map.

A summary of the neighbourhood objections is as follows:

1. Concerns about increased traffic and noise, as a result of the new development.

2. Concerns about the truck loading facilities for the development.

3. Concerns about the garbage handling facilities for the new development.

4. Building design and construction noise.

POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMENTS

The Police Department advises that they have no objections to the proposed liquor store.

CONCLUSION

The proposed development meets the technical requirements of the Zoning and Development By-law and the Parking By-law. Staff in Development Services believe that a liquor store at this location will not have an adverse affect on the neighbourhood, noting that the parking and loading provisions are in compliance with the standards set out in the Parking By-law. Further, the Police Department does not oppose this application. The Director of Planning is prepared to approve this development, however, before making a final decision, is seeking any advice that Council may wish to provide with regard to the proposed liquor store.

LINK TO APPENDICES

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