SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 4
VLLC AGENDA
SEPTEMBER 14, 1995
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: August 3, 1995
Dept. File No.2170IC
TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM: Deputy Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT: 602 Dunsmuir St. - Okim Holdings Ltd. (St. Regis Hotel) Class
'A' Pub and Class 'A' Lounge - Change of Hours
CONSIDERATION
A. THAT consideration of the request by Okim Holdings Ltd., for a
change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub (i) and Class 'A' Lounge
(ii) in the St. Regis Hotel at 602 Dunsmuir Street, as
follows, be subject to the results of a referendum, conducted
in accordance with existing City guidelines:
(i) Class 'A' Pub:
To: Monday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
(ii) Class 'A' Lounge:
To: Monday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
or
B. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission endorse the
request by Okim Holdings Ltd., for a change of hours in the
Class 'A' Pub (i) and Class 'A' Lounge (ii) at the St. Regis
Hotel 602 Dunsmuir Street, having considered the support of
residents and business operators of the community as
determined by neighbourhood notification;
or
C. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission advise the
Liquor Control and Licensing Branch it does not endorse the
application by Okim Holdings Ltd., for a change of hours in
the Class 'A' Pub (i) and Class 'A' Lounge (ii), in the St.
Regis Hotel at 602 Dunsmuir Street, having considered
community opinion as determined by neighbourhood
notification.GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services submits the choice of A,
B or C for CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council Policy requires that amendments to an existing liquor license be
processed in the same manner as a new liquor license application, except
the area of referendum, if required, be reduced to 1,000 feet. A
referendum is only required when there is residential accommodation
within close proximity to the subject site.
PURPOSE
Okim Holdings Ltd., is requesting a City Council resolution endorsing
its application for a change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub (177 seats)
and Class 'A' Lounge (105 seats) in the St. Regis Hotel at 602 Dunsmuir
Street.
Current hours of operation in the Class 'A' Pub:
Monday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Proposed hours of operation in Class 'A' Pub:
Monday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
Current hours of operation in Class 'A' Lounge:
Monday to Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
Proposed Hours of operation in Class 'A' Lounge:
Monday to Saturday 12:00 noon to 2:00 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
BACKGROUND
The St. Regis Hotel, is a six-storey, 84-room hotel, containing a Class
'A' Pub and a Class 'A' Lounge. The Class 'A' Pub is divided into two
areas on the main floor, which are separated by the hotel lobby. The
pub has an off-premise sales endorsement. The 105-seat Class 'A' Lounge
is located in the basement of the hotel, adjacent to a restaurant area.
The subject premises are located in the DD (Downtown) zoning district.
The surrounding area is a mixture of retail, office and restaurant uses.
The site immediately across the street to the north is presently being
redeveloped to permit a mixed use retail/office building. There are
three residential hotels, one rooming house and the Salvation Army
Central Residence within the survey area. The closest government liquor
store is located at 555 West Hastings Street (Appendix A).
There are six Class 'A' Pubs (1,051 seats), nine Class 'A' Lounges
(1,304 seats) one Class 'C' Cabaret (199 seats), and 34 licensed
restaurants within the survey area.
DISCUSSION
The St. Regis Hotel is not used for long-term housing. The hotel has
recently been acquired by Okim Holdings Ltd., and the new owners are
attempting to provide quality, affordable accommodation in the downtown
core. They want to improve the services provided, and plan to
eventually eliminate the exotic dancer program and upgrade the quality
of the lounge and pub.
The request to change the hours in the pub and lounge is to cater to a
different clientele, and bring the facilities more in line with
traditional hotel pub and lounge operations. Renovations are also
proposed for the exterior of the building.
COMMENTS
The Police Department cannot support any change in hours due to the
reduction in police strength and increase in service calls.
The Environmental Health Division has no concerns other than that Okim
Holdings Ltd., ensure the specified limits of the Noise Bylaw are met.
The Planning Department has no comments on this application as there are
no plans for residences in this area.
The Social Planning Department advises that if there are no plans at
this time for residential development in the surrounding area, it has no
objection to the proposed changes.
The Manager of the Housing Centre does not oppose this application. The
St. Regis Hotel is a tourist hotel and not included in the City's
inventory of SRO hotels.
CONCLUSION
There is no current liquor license policy for this area of the city. As
there is little residential accommodation within close proximity, the
Commission could base the decision on the results of the neighbourhood
notification, which may reflect more accurately the opinion of the area
residents.
Staff point out that the applicant has recently purchased the adjacent
property at 615-631 Seymour Street, and has submitted an application for
a 350-seat Class 'C' Cabaret at this location. Police Department
concerns related to late night closing may be realized if the extension
of hours in the Class 'A' Pub and Class 'A' Lounge and the new Class 'C'
Cabaret are all endorsed. All three facilities would be closing between
1:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.
The Commission may wish to consider the Class 'A' Pub and Class 'A'
Lounge requests separately, after the Class 'C' Cabaret application is
considered.
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