SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 4 
                                                       P&E COMMITTEE AGENDA
                                                       MAY 16, 1996        



                             ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

                                                 Date:  May 7, 1996        
                                                 Dept. File No. 2189AIC.COV


   TO:       Standing Committee on Planning & Environment

   FROM:     Deputy Chief License Inspector

   SUBJECT:  801 West Georgia Street - (Hotel Georgia)
             'A' Lounge - Increase in Seating Capacity


   RECOMMENDATION

        THAT Council endorse the application by Georgia Place Ltd., to
        increase the seating capacity by 19 seats in an 'A' Lounge at 801
        West Georgia Street, having considered the support of residents and
        business operators of the community, as determined by neighbourhood
        notification.


   GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

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


   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
   that a referendum is not required to amend an existing Class 'A' license
   for a full service hotel located within the downtown core.


   PURPOSE

   Georgia Place Ltd., (Hotel Georgia) is requesting a City Council
   resolution endorsing its application for an increase in seating capacity
   from 120 to 139 in area two in one of the 'A' Lounges at 801 West
   Georgia Street.    

   BACKGROUND

   The Hotel Georgia is licensed for two Class 'A' Lounges; one with a
   total of 206 seats and a second with a total of 160 seats, broken down
   into 40 in area one and 120 in area two.  This request is for an
   increase of 19 seats in area two to meet the currently approved fire
   capacity of 139, for a total of 179 seats under this license. 

   The hours of operation would stay the same (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
   Monday to Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight on Sunday), and a
   full menu food service would also continue to be available.

   On September 15, 1995, The Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
   endorsed a similar application by Georgia Place Ltd., to increase
   seating capacity by 43 seats in the other Class 'A' Lounge, from 182 to
   225.  Subsequently, this area was approved at a maximum fire capacity of
   206 seats.  This number of seats is 19 less than endorsed by Council. 
   The applicant is now applying to add these extra seats to the second
   Class 'A' Lounge license.  As the total number of licensed seats in the
   hotel is the same as previously endorsed, a neighbourhood notification
   was not carried out. 

   The subject premises are located in the D.D. zoning district and the
   surrounding area is a mixture of retail, offices and hotels.  The
   Vancouver Art Gallery, Pacific Centre Mall, Delta Place Hotel, Four
   Seasons Hotel and the Hotel Vancouver are located within a one block
   radius of this site (Appendix A).

   Located in the survey area are one Class 'A' Pub (177 seats), four Class
   'C' Cabarets (510 seats), 14 Class 'A' Lounges (2310 seats) and 53
   licensed restaurants.  The closest liquor store is located at 1120
   Alberni Street. 


   COMMENTS

   There are no additional comments from other departments.


   CONCLUSION

   The applicant points out that renovations have been completed in the
   area that was the King George Pub to facilitate the Chameleon Urban
   Lounge, and they would like to adjust seating capacity to the currently
   approved fire capacity of 139.

   Class 'A' Lounges in full service tourist hotels usually have minimal
   impact on the surrounding area.  This application is supported by staff,
   as the previous September 1995 notification did not result in any
   negative feedback from the community.


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