SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 5
VLLC
JULY 24, 1997
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: July 8, 1997
File: 952 Granville St.
C.C. File No.: 2615-2
TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM: Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT: 952 Granville Street - Class D Neighbourhood Pub
Gilligan s Entertainment Inc.
CONSIDERATION
A. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission endorse the
request by Gilligan's Entertainment Inc. for a 65-seat Class D
Neighbourhood Pub, (plus a possible 20-seat patio on private
property and subject to the patio closing at 10:00 p.m.) at
952 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 Gilligan's Entertainment Inc. for a 65-seat
Class D Neighbourhood Pub (plus a possible 20-seat patio on
private property and subject to the patio closing at 10:00
p.m.) at 952 Granville Street, having considered the opinion
of residents and business operators as determined through the
neighbourhood notification process.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services submits the choice of A
or B for CONSIDERATION.
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 allowances 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.
C. THAT the Chief License Inspector brings forward to the July
Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission meeting applications for
Class D Neighbourhood Pubs at 900 and 952 Granville Street.
PURPOSE
Gilligan's Entertainment Inc. is requesting a Council resolution
endorsing its request for a Class D Neighbourhood Pub at 952 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 March 1995, Gilligan's Entertainment applied for a Class D
Neighbourhood Pub. On June 7, 1995, the Vancouver Liquor Licensing
Commission was advised that the applicant had withdrawn the application
in light of the moratorium in the Downtown South area.
DISCUSSION
This application is for a 65-seat Class D Neighbourhood Pub, with a
possible 20-seat patio, combined with a restaurant fronting on Granville
Street. The proposed hours of operation are 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
seven days a week.
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 new 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 located on the Granville Mall and 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 Siesta Hotel, located approximately 50 feet north 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, Brooklyn Court,
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) and nine Class C Cabarets (2471 seats) with
the closest 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 this
pub is located across the street from the Gresham Hotel, which is a
40-unit, single-room occupancy facility owned and operated by the City.
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