SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 2
VLLC AGENDA
JULY 25, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 26, 1996
Dept. File. 2190IC
TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM: Deputy Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT: 620 West Pender Street - 477633 B.C. Ltd.
(Piccadilly Hotel) - Change in Class 'A' Pub Hours
CONSIDERATION
A. THAT consideration of the request by 477633 B.C. Ltd., doing
business as the Piccadilly Hotel, for a change of hours in
the Class 'A' Pub at 620 West Pender Street, as follows, be
subject to a referendum, conducted in accordance with
existing City guidelines:
To: Monday to Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12 midnight
OR
B. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission endorse the
request by 477633 B.C. Ltd., doing business as the
Piccadilly Hotel, for a change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub
at 620 West Pender 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 & Licensing Branch it does not endorse the
application by 477633 B.C. Ltd., doing business as the
Piccadilly Hotel, for a change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub
at 620 West Pender 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 and notes that Council recently
approved a change of hours for the Niagara Hotel, 434 West Pender
Street, which appears to be perceived by the hotel industry as a
precedent setting decision.
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
477633 B.C. Ltd., is requesting a City Council resolution endorsing
its application for a change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub (125 seats)
at the Piccadilly Hotel, 620 West Pender Street.
Current hours of operation:
Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 12 midnight
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12 midnight
Proposed hours of operation:
Monday to Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12 midnight
BACKGROUND
The Piccadilly Hotel has 45 rooms which are rented on a daily, weekly
or monthly basis. The hotel has been in operation for over 100 years,
making it one of Vancouver's oldest, and since taking over in 1990,
the operator has completed extensive renovation to both the interior
and exterior. The hotel and 'A' Pub have no history of enforcement
problems, either with the Police Department or Liquor Control &
Licensing Branch.
The subject premises are located in the DD (Downtown) zoning district
(Appendix A). The surrounding area is business oriented, with
high-rise office buildings, financial institutions, retail stores at
street level and several older long-term residential hotels. The
closest residential is located on the upper floors of the Piccadilly
Hotel and just around the corner at the Clarence Hotel. There is also
the Marble Arch Hotel, Niagara Hotel, Park Apartments, St. Clair Hotel
and Central City Lodge, all located approximately within a one-block
radius. Also within the survey area are two religious centres, the
YWCA, BCIT Downtown Campus and Simon Fraser Downtown Campus. The
closest government liquor store is located at 555 West Hastings
Street.
There are seven Class 'A' Pubs (1568 seats), nine Class 'A' Lounges
(2082 seats), four Class 'C' Cabarets (797 seats), one Class 'D'
Neighbourhood Pub (85 seats) and approximately 31 licensed restaurants
in the survey area.
COMMENTS
The Police Department does not foresee that the change in hours will
have a negative impact. This new closure time is still an hour before
local cabaret closing, and there should be little mixing of clientele
that creates problems.
While the Environmental Health Division of the Vancouver Health Board
does not have any outright objection to the extension of hours, it
suggests that conditions be included to protect against any possible
increase in noise levels.
The Victory Square Planner notes that more housing is expected in this
area, and this application should not be approved until the Downtown
South Liquor Licensing Report is adopted, along with possible powers
to roll back hours.
The Social Planning Department is concerned about the future impacts
on proposed residential for the Victory Square area.
The Housing Centre cannot support this application because of the
increased disruption to the tenants living above the pub and the
neighbours. There are 45 single room occupancy units in the
Piccadilly and 37 in the adjacent Clarence Hotel.
CONCLUSION
Staff raise concerns related to future impacts on proposed residential
for the Victory Square area. At present, the City nor the Liquor
Control & Licensing Branch have the power to roll back hours should
problems arise.
Should all four applications in this area be approved, the St. Regis,
Niagara and Piccadilly Hotels would all close at 1:00 a.m., and the
Marble Arch Hotel would close at 1:30 a.m.
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