SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 3
VLLC AGENDA
JULY 13, 1995
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 9, 1995
Dept. File 2160IC.COV
TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM: Deputy Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT: 777 Homer Street - Ford Centre for the Performing Arts
Class 'E' Concert Hall
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission Inc. endorse
the request from Georgia Strait Live Entertainment Ltd., for a
Class 'E' Concert Hall liquor license at the Ford Centre for
the Performing Arts at 777 Homer Street.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval
of the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council Policy is to not require a referendum for full service hotels or
a major complex provided it is illustrated that there is little or no
community opposition as determined by the neigh-bourhood notification.
PURPOSE
Georgia Strait Live Entertainment Ltd., is requesting a Council
resolution endorsing the request for a Class 'E' Concert Hall liquor
license for 1845 patrons at the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts,
presently under construction at 777 Homer Street.
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BACKGROUND
This application is for a Class 'E' Concert Hall license to allow the
sale of alcohol during intermissions and one hour before and after
events.
The applicants originally applied for a Class 'E' Concert Hall and a
Class 'A' Lounge liquor license as they wished to sell all types of
alcohol, similar to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The provincial Liquor
Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) regulations restrict Class 'A'
Cultural Centre licenses to municipal and provincially owned facilities.
Therefore, the Ford Theatre is not eligible for a Class 'A' license.
The Class 'E' license restricts the sale of liquor to beer, wine, cider
and coolers, which may only be served in plastic, paper or styrofoam
containers. While this style of service does not suit the needs of the
Ford Theatre, there is no discretion permitted in the LCLB regulations.
The LCLB is now reviewing the current regulations and will be looking at
possible policy options for consideration by the provincial government.
These options may include flexibility in the Class 'E' license to
accommodate venues such as the Ford Theatre.
In the meantime, the applicant has requested that the Class 'E' license
application proceed so that some type of license can be in place for the
theatre opening. Should changes in the regulations take place, these
would likely be applicable to existing Class 'E' licensed facilities.
It should be noted that Council previously recommended to the LCLB that
it review the Class 'E' liquor license category to consider allowing a
concert hall or theatre to sell all types of alcohol.
The subject premises are located in the D.D. zoning district (Appendix
A) and the surrounding area is a mixture of retail, offices, hotels and
low and high-rise residential buildings. The closest residential
building is at 746 Richards Street, which is directly across the lane
from the theatre.
Located in the survey area are the Catholic Charities Men's Hostel, The
Vancouver Recovery Club (Alcoholism), the new library complex and the
Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
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There are three Class 'C' Cabarets (1156 seats), three Class 'A' Pubs,
(568 seats) four Class 'A' Lounges (680 seats) (not including the Class
'A' licenses in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Orpheum Theatre) and
approximately 12 licensed restaurants within the 1000 ft. survey radius.
COMMENTS
The Police Department has reviewed this application and has no specific
concerns.
The Environmental Health Division does not foresee any problems with
this proposal.
The Planning Department notes that the Development Permit was issued for
a performing arts theatre on this site. The applicant chose to defer
the liquor licensing requirements and deal with them separately. Staff
agree that the facilities are as envisioned at the Development Permit
stage.
The Social Planning Department is supportive of this application and
notes the appropriateness of extending sales to all types of liquor in
Class 'E' Concert Hall licensed establishments, as recommended by
Council in the past.
CONCLUSION
A Class 'E' liquor license for the Ford Theatre will allow the sale of
alcohol before and after events as well as during intermission. There
is an expectation that this type of venue, which is similar to the Queen
Elizabeth Theatre, will sell alcohol. There is no expectation of a
negative neighbourhood impact due to the type of event, short period of
sales and early closing time. Therefore, it is recommended that this
application be endorsed.
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