SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 4
VLLC
JULY 24, 1997
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: July 8, 1997
File: 900 Granville St.
C.C. File No.: 2613-2
TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM: Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT: 900 Granville Street - Class D Neighbourhood Pub
and Brew Pub: 490811 B.C. Ltd.
CONSIDERATION
A. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission endorse the
request by 490811 B.C. Ltd. for a Class D Neighbourhood Pub
and Brew Pub with 65-seats (plus a potential 20 seat patio on
private property and subject to the patio closing at 10:00
p.m.) at 900 Granville Street, having considered the opinion
of the area residents and business operators as determined
through the neighbourhood notification process;
or
B. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission advise the
Liquor Control and Licensing Branch it does not endorse the
application by 490811 B.C. Ltd. for a Class D Neighbourhood
Pub and Brew Pub with 65-seats (plus a potential 20-seat
patio on private property and subject to the patio closing at
l0:00 p.m.) at 900 Granville Street, having considered the
opinion of residents and business operators as determined
through the neighbourhood notification process;
RECOMMENDATION
C. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission request that
the General Manager, Liquor Control and Licensing Branch
consider approving two or more Class D Neighbourhood Pubs
located in close proximity in the Granville Street
Entertainment District.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services submits the choice of A
or B for CONSIDERATION and RECOMMENDS C.
COUNCIL POLICY
On June 19, 1997, Council approved the following:
A. That the 700, 800 and 900 Blocks of Granville Street be
designated as the Theatre Row Entertainment District and that
the Director of Central Area Planning, in consultation with
the Director of Legal Services, report back with appropriate
amendments to the Downtown Official Development Plan and other
relevant bylaw and policy documents to encourage a variety of
entertainment uses and activities.
B. THAT allowance be made in principle for a combined total of up
to 1,000 Class A (Hotel Pub or Lounge), Class C (Cabaret) and
Class D (Neighbourhood Pub) liquor licensed seats on Theatre
Row, consistent with the Theatre Row Policing Strategy and
generally distributed as follows:
1. 700 Block of Granville - two cabarets, or one cabaret and
two neighbourhood pubs, or one cabaret and one hotel pub
and/or lounge and one neighbourhood pub.
2. 800 Block of Granville - two neighbourhood pubs, or one
hotel pub and/or lounge and a neighbourhood pub, or
possible consideration of a cabaret on the west side of
Granville and one neighbourhood pub.
3. 900 Block of Granville - two cabarets and two
neighbourhood pubs, or one cabaret and three
neighbourhood pubs, or one cabaret, two neighbourhood
pubs and one hotel pub/lounge.
THAT the Chief License Inspector bring forward to the July Vancouver
Liquor Licensing Commission meeting applications for Class D
Neighbourhood Pubs at 900 and 952 Granville Street.
PURPOSE
490811 B.C. Ltd. are requesting a Council resolution endorsing the
request for a Class D Neighbourhood Pub and Brew Pub at 900 Granville
Street.
BACKGROUND
In May 1992, Council established an interim liquor licensing policy that
new licensed seats or extensions of hours not be permitted in Downtown
South, pending a liquor license review and a report back on future
policy for this area. This review has been completed and was endorsed
by Council on June 19, 1997.
In February 1995, 490811 B.C. Ltd., (at that time doing business as
Cactus Restaurants Ltd.) applied for a Class D Neighbourhood Pub. This
application was not processed due to the moratorium in the Downtown
South area.
DISCUSSION
Liquor Control and Licensing Branch guidelines define a Brew Pub "as the
combination of a pub with small brewery making beer on a limited
production basis. Sale of the beer is restricted to on-premise
consumption and in some instances through off-sales if the product is
packaged in approved sizes".
The proposed 65-seat Class D Neighbourhood Pub and Brew Pub will be part
of a multi-level entertainment complex comprising two floors and a
rooftop garden patio. The hours of operation will be from 11:00 a.m. to
12:00 midnight.
Located on the prominent southeast corner of Granville and Smithe
Streets, the ground floor of the building will house a Cactus Club Cafe,
while the second level will encompass the 65-seat Class D Neighbourhood
Pub and Brew Pub. In the summertime, a 125-seat rooftop garden cafe
will offer outdoor dining, in conjunction with a Restaurant-Class 1.
The applicant has agreed to conform with the following recommendations
of the Theatre Row Liquor Licensing Policy:
- minimize noise and line-up impacts;
- install non-breakable glass for ground-floor storefronts;
- provide active street-front daytime retail or services for the
interest and enjoyment of pedestrians;
- operate video cameras to adjacent sidewalks and lanes;
- provide adequate lighting in the lanes;
- provide only services and emergency accesses to and from the
lanes;
- work with staff, local merchants and property owners to
improve the cleanliness and reduce the amount of graffiti and
litter on the street, lanes and adjacent properties;
- development of a renovated building, designed to enhance
Theatre Row's historic character;
- add to the variety of entertainment opportunities needed to
ensure the success and vitality of Theatre Row as an
entertainment district, and work with Theatre Row business
people, Barwatch and other groups in the area to revitalize
Granville Street;
- monitor the balance of entertainment and shopping requirements
of the community.
The subject premises are in the DD Downtown District (Appendix A). The
adjacent portion of the Granville Mall is developed with entertainment
uses, such as theatres, arcades, retail stores and restaurants. The
closest residential accommodation is the Gresham Hotel, located
approximately 80 feet west of the subject premises. The area to the
south and east is undergoing redevelopment to high density residential
uses.
Within the survey area are the New Continental Hotel, Helmcken House and
the Gresham Hotel, all subsidized residential facilities.
Also within the survey area are three Class A Pubs (699 seats), seven
Class A Lounges (647 seats), nine Class C Cabarets (2471 seats), with
the closest government liquor store located at 1120 Alberni Street.
COMMENTS
The Police Department has no specific concerns regarding this
application as it appears it meets the Policing Strategy for the Theatre
Row Entertainment District. Recent information regarding the intended
use of the Commodore as a 900-seat cabaret with mostly taped music will
severely tax resources in this district.
The Environmental Health Division of the Health Board notes the
possibility of noise complaints from the residences at 936 and 1006
Granville and the top floors of 716 Smithe Street, which face Granville
Street.
The Planning Department has reviewed this application and notes that
this site is located in the "Downtown South" portion of the (DD)
Downtown Zoning District.
Any proposal for a change of use to Neighbourhood Public House would
require the submission of a development permit application. The review
process for an application of this type would include an assessment of
the expected impact on nearby residential uses.
Further, while this type of use may be consistent with a Theatre
Row Entertainment District, any development permit application would
also be assessed against the City Council approved Granville
Street(Downtown South Guidelines).
The Social Planning Department and Housing Centre point out that the pub
is located across the street from the Gresham Hotel, which is a 40-unit,
single-room occupancy facility. It will be important that the pub be
constructed, operated and managed to minimize the effects of noise and
closing time street activities on the tenants.
CONCLUSION
This application meets the intent of the Theatre Row Entertainment
Policy and addresses the Policing Strategy issues identified for this
area. Council should be aware that approving one or two Class D
Neighbourhood Pub applications at this time may preclude some other
applications for the 900 block of Granville Street.
* * * * *
APPENDIX A on file in City Clerk's Office