SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 3
VLLC AGENDA
JULY 25, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: July 2, 1996
Dept. File. 2193IC
TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM: Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT: 602 Dunsmuir Street - Okim Holdings Ltd.
(St. Regis Hotel) - Reallocation of Seats and
Change in Hours in Class 'A' Pub
CONSIDERATION
A. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission endorse the
request by Okim Holdings Ltd., for a reallocation of 52
seats from the Class 'A' Pub to the Class 'A' Lounge and for
a change of hours, as follows, in the Class 'A' Pub at the
St. Regis Hotel, 602 Dunsmuir Street, having considered the
support of residents and business operators of the community
as determined by neighbourhood notifica-tion:
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 advise the
Liquor Control & Licensing Branch it does not endorse the
application by Okim Holdings Ltd., for a reallocation of 52
seats from the Class 'A' Pub to the Class 'A' Lounge and for
change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub at the St. Regis Hotel,
602 Dunsmuir Street, having considered community opinion, as
determined by neighbourhood notifica-tion.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services submits the choice of A
or B 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 1000 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 reallocation of 52 seats from the Class 'A' Pub
to the Class 'A' Lounge, and for a change of hours in the Class 'A'
Pub at the St. Regis Hotel, 602 Dunsmuir Street.
Present hours of operation:
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:
Monday to Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12 midnight
BACKGROUND
On September 14, 1995, the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
endorsed an application for a new 350 seat Class 'C' Cabaret. We have
now been advised that the St. Regis Hotel has had a change of plans,
and the proposed cabaret will not be proceeding.
At the same meeting, a second application to change the hours of the
Class 'A' Pub to 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. (from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00
p.m.), Monday to Saturday, and 11:00 a.m. to 12 midnight on Sunday,
was not endorsed, while a decision for a change of hours from a 1:00
a.m. closing to a 2:00 a.m. closing, Monday to Saturday, for the Class
'A' Lounge was not unanimous, and was referred to Council.
Subsequently, both change of hours applications were withdrawn by the
applicant.
A modified liquor license application for a change of hours in the
Class 'A' Pub has now been submitted. This change would co-ordinate
the closing time for the pub, lounge and restaurant all to 1:00 a.m.
The applicant has purchased adjoining property on Seymour Street that
extends to and includes the old Bay Hotel, and proposes a complete
redevelopment of the St. Regis Hotel into a full-service facility,
which includes a restaurant, banquet rooms and a micro brewery for
on-premise consumption only. This hotel is not currently used for
long-term housing.
This proposal includes relocating the Class 'A' Pub from the main
floor of the hotel to the retail area next door, moving the restaurant
over from the basement, adjacent to the Bay Hotel, and having two
separate lounge areas on the main and basement levels of the existing
hotel. A Starbucks coffee outlet is proposed for the front corner of
the hotel. A floor plan will be made available by the applicant.
In order to conform to Liquor Control & Licensing Branch regulations,
the existing 177 seat Class 'A' Pub must be reduced to 125 seats.
These 52 seats would be moved to the Class 'A' Lounge, for an increase
from 105 seats to 157 seats. Total seats will remain the same.
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 has been
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.
COMMENTS
The Police Department does not support the application, due to the
reduction in police strength and increase in service calls.
The Environmental Health Division of the Vancouver Health Board
investigated the possibility of an increase in noise, and as it does
not appear that the residents in the hotel or in the surrounding area
will be impacted, it has no objection.
The Planning Department has no specific comments regarding the
proposed change in operating hours. A Development Permit was issued,
permitting exterior alteration to the Seymour and Dunsmuir Street
facades of the existing hotel but, to date, no application has been
submitted to incorporate the adjacent sites into this development. As
the existing Class 'A' Pub is being relocated from its present
location within the existing hotel, and the proposal includes a
micro-brewery for on-premise consumption only, a Development
Application will be required for this proposal.
The Housing Centre has no objection to this application.
The Social Planning Department supports this application because of
the deletion of the cabaret, no change to total seats, less pub seats,
no close residential and the positive overall concept of the proposal.
CONCLUSION
The overall concept of this proposal is generally supported by staff.
The pub would be closing two hours later than currently approved, but
those hours would coincide with the existing lounge closing. The
applicant has also withdrawn the previous proposal for a 2:00 a.m.
lounge closing and a 350 seat cabaret, and is proposing a complete
redevelopment of this facility, which will be a positive improvement
in this part of the downtown area.
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