SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 4
VLLC AGENDA
JULY 25, 1996
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: May 24, 1996
Dept. File. 2187IC
TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM: Deputy Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT: 518 Richards Street - Marble Arch Hotel
Change in Hours 'A' Pub
CONSIDERATION
A. THAT consideration of the request by 351051 B.C. Ltd., for a
change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub at the Marble Arch
Hotel, 518 Richards Street, as follows, be subject to a
referendum, conducted in accordance with existing City
guidelines:
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 351051 B.C. Ltd., for a change of hours in the
Class 'A' Pub at the Marble Arch Hotel, 518 Richards Street,
having considered the support of residents and business
operators of the community as determined by neighbourhood
notifi-cation.
OR
C. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission advise the
Liquor Control & Licensing Branch it does not endorse the
application by 351051 B.C. Ltd. for a change of hours in the
Class 'A' Pub at the Marble Arch Hotel, 518 Richards 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
351051 B.C. Ltd., is requesting a City Council resolution endorsing
its application for a change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub (234 seats)
at the Marble Arch Hotel, 518 Richards Street.
Current hours of operation:
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:
Monday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight.
BACKGROUND
The Marble Arch Hotel is a full service hotel with 143 rooms. The
hotel is currently undergoing extensive renovation to both the
interior and exterior. The applicant states that the Class 'A' Pub
has 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.
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 Marble Arch Hotel, with the
Salvation Army Residence, Niagara Hotel, Park Apartment Hotel and the
411 Seniors Centre all located within a one block radius.
Also within the survey area are three religious centres, the Downtown
campus of Vancouver Community College, Victory Square and the Queen
Elizabeth Theatre. The closest government liquor store is located at
555 West Hastings Street.
There are seven Class 'A' Pubs (1,143 seats), five Class 'A' Lounges
(803 seats), three Class 'C' Cabarets (598 seats), approximately 22
restaurants and the Class 'A' Lounge at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
COMMENTS
The Police Department do not support this application, and point out
that between January through March 26, there were 28 calls to this
location, 19 of which were relevant to the operation of the premises.
The Environmental Health Division of the Vancouver Health Board has no
objection to this change.
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 does not support this application,
which should wait until the Victory Square plan is in place because of
potential impacts on future residential. When the plan is in place,
it will be known which areas will have residential.
The Housing Centre does not support this application because of the
increased disruption to the tenants living above the pub and other
neighbours. The Marble Arch has 143 rooms and the Hotel St. Clair at
581 Richards has 35.
CONCLUSION
This application is not supported by staff, even though the change of
hours would only be a half-hour later each night. Concerns centre
around the future impacts on the projected residential areas of the
Victory Square neighbourhood.
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