ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: April 21, 1998

Author/Local: Guy Gusdal/6461

CC File No. 2615-10

TO:	Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM:	Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT:	88 West Pender Street (International Village Marketplace) Allen Lai: Class ‘D’ Neighbourhood Pub

CONSIDERATION

A.THAT Vancouver City Council direct that consideration of the request by Allen Lai for a 65-seat Class ‘D’ Neighbourhood Pub with 20-seat patio and on site brewery, subject to no off-premise sales, the patio closing at 11:00 p.m., and a time limited development permit, at 88 West Pender Street be subject to the results of a referendum conducted in accordance with existing City guidelines;

OR

B.THAT Vancouver City Council advise the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch it does not support the application by Allen Lai for a 65-seat Class ‘D’ Neighbourhood Pub with 20-seat patio and on site brewery at 88 West Pender Street.

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 new liquor license applications be subject to a referendum prior to receiving final consideration if the premises are located in close proximity to residential accommodation.

Further that time-limited development permits be issued for new or physical expansion of existing Class ‘A’ Lounge’/Pub, Class ‘C’ Cabaret, Class ‘D’ Neighbourhood Pub or Restaurant-Class 2 licensed establishments.

PURPOSE

Allen Lai is requesting a Council resolution endorsing his application for a 65-seat Class ‘D’ Neighbourhood Pub with 20-seat patio and on site brewery at 88 West Pender Street.

BACKGROUND

The proposed pub will be located in the International Village which is currently under construction in the area of Keefer and Abbott Streets and due to open in the summer of 1999. The complex is a three level 300,000 square feet commercial development for retail, restaurant, boutique, fashion store and professional uses.

The applicant proposes an upscale pub with an adjoining Class ‘B’ Restaurant and on site brewery for the production of beer for sale and consumption on the premises.

The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch Guidelines define a Brew Pub as follows: 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. This application does not include off-premise sales.

The pub would be open Sunday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight and Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. There will be typical forms of pub entertainment including billiard tables and television monitors.

The subject premises are located in the CD-1 zoning district and the surrounding area is a mixture of retail, residential, office, park, hotel and rooming house uses. (Appendix A).

There are nine Class ‘A’ Pubs (1,445 seats), one Class ‘A’ Lounge (45 seats), two Class ‘C’ Cabarets (275 seats) and eight licensed restaurants in the survey area. The closest Provincial Government liquor store is located at 627 Main Street.

DISCUSSION

The proposed pub is to be located on the second floor of a large development (International Village) currently under construction one block south of the liquor license moratorium area of Gastown and the Downtown Eastside area. The site is approximately one and a half blocks north of GM Place and is in close proximity to the Granville Street Entertainment District.

The applicant envisions the pub serving the residents of International Village and patrons drawn to the services and entertainment facilities within the complex. It is not anticipated that there will be negative impacts on the adjacent Downtown Eastside area, given the size of the facility (65 seats) and the fact that it is contained within the International Village development. This pub is likely to operate similar to Steamworks in Gastown, which was endorsed by City Council, following the conduct of a referendum.

COMMENTS

The Police Department has discussed this application with the developer and feels that the lease arrangement and the quality of the overall development will address any potential problems and, therefore, has no objections.

The Planning Department notes that Development Permit DE401840 was approved on May 15, 1997, for the construction of a mixed-use development consisting of a three-level commercial use building which includes 14 cinemas, retail and commercial units, restaurants and an associated retail food court area, a high-rise multiple dwelling and townhouse development containing 193 dwelling units, with two levels of underground parking.

Any proposal to provide a neighbourhood public house, which is a permitted use in CD-1 By-law No. 6747, in this development would require a development application.

As part of the review process, staff would include an assessment of the anticipated impacts on nearby sites, including the subject site, and particularly any residential uses. As well, an application of this type would be reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the Neighbourhood or Marine Public House Guidelines by City Council on August 9, 1988.

The Environmental Health Division of the Vancouver Health Board has noted that the proposed location is currently a highly sensitive area amongst residents of this neighbourhood regarding noise issues. There is a history of numerous noise complaints, particularly from residents of the 500 block of Beatty Street and the 100 block of Keefer Place, relating to commercial vents, delivery vehicles, etc. A noise assessment of the area is therefore warranted.

Of particular concern would be the proposed outdoor seating and noise resulting from the departure of patrons at closing time, which would be exacerbating to residents. Relocating the outdoor patio to face West Pender Street would direct noise away from the already dense residential area. It is also recommended that the pub close at 11:00 p.m. so patrons have dispersed before midnight.

The Social Planning Department has no concerns.

The Housing Centre supports the application but would prefer to see the applicant use liquor seats transferred from the adjacent Downtown Eastside.

The results of the neighbourhood notification process will be provided to the Commission at its meeting.

CONCLUSION

Although the proposed location is directly adjacent to the liquor license moratorium area of Gastown and the Downtown Eastside, a small brew pub operation contained within this major complex should have minimal impact on the surrounding neighbourhood. Staff is therefore recommending this application proceed to a neighbourhood referendum.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver