ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: September 17, 1998
Author/Local: Guy Gusdal

RTS No. 00077

CC File No. 2616-5

TO:	Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM:	Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT:	2750 Granville Street - Stanley Theatre - Class ‘E’ Concert Hall

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council endorse the request by The Stanley Theatre Society for a Class ‘E’ Concert Hall liquor license at the Stanley Theatre, 2750 Granville Street, having considered the opinion of area residents and business operators as determined through the neighbourhood notification process.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

On March 23, 1993, Council adopted a policy to consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests from non-profit arts organizations seeking Council’s endorsement towards obtaining a provincial liquor license without going through the referendum process, based on the results of the preliminary neighbourhood notification.

PURPOSE

The Stanley Theatre Society is requesting a Council resolution endorsing its application for a Class ‘E’ Concert Hall liquor license at the Stanley Theatre, 2750 Granville Street.

BACKGROUND

The Stanley Theatre is a Schedule A registered heritage building owned by The Stanley Theatre Society and is to be operated by the Arts Club of Vancouver Theatre Building Society. The Stanley Theatre’s liquor license would be operated by the Arts Club Theatre for the benefit of the theatre patrons attending a show or performance. The main bar is proposed for the lower lobby with a small bar located in the upper lobby behind the balcony seating. There will be no liquor service in the seating area. The bar is to open for service 60 minutes prior to the performance, for 20 minutes at intermission and for up to 60 minutes after the show. The theatre has a seating capacity of 650 patrons.

The Stanley Theatre opens almost every evening and is also open for matinees on some days. Evening show times are at 8:00 p.m., the Saturday matinee is at 4:00 p.m. and the Sunday and mid-week matinee are at 2:00 p.m. The Stanley Theatre will offer a range of products that include liquor, wine and beer as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Limited food service would also be available. The operation would be similar to theatre bars at Civic theatres.

The Arts Club Theatre has held liquor licenses at various locations over the past 30 years. The original Arts Club venue was at 1181 Seymour Street. Since 1979 the Arts Club Theatre has operated two venues with licensed bars at its Granville Island locations. The upper lobby bar at the Mainstage on Granville Island operates as a theatre bar and is only open during performances.

The subject premises are located in a CD-1 zoning district. The surrounding area is a mixture of retail, office, cabaret and both high and low density residential uses. See Appendix A.

There are two Class ‘A’ Lounges (604 seats), two Class ‘C’ Cabarets (510 seats) and 31 licensed restaurants in the survey area and a Provincial Government liquor store at 2658 Granville Street.

DISCUSSION

Staff are in support of liquor licenses in theatre type venues. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vogue Theatre and Ford Theatre provide liquor service in conjunction with performances. This application differs somewhat from these other venues because of the significant number of residential buildings surrounding this site. Therefore, the results of the neighbourhood notification will provide the Commission with valuable neighbourhood input.

COMMENTS

The Police Department has no comments.

The Planning Department indicates that the site is zoned CD-1 specifically for this theatre use. A Class ‘E’ liquor license may be permitted as a use customarily ancillary to the theatre use. As this building is on the Vancouver Heritage Register, any alterations required for the ancillary use will require a development application.

The Environmental Health Division of the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board is concerned about noise impact in the surrounding residential area from patrons leaving the venue in the late evening hours.

The Social Planning Department supports this application as it is generally in keeping with this type of venue.

The Housing Centre has no comments.

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

CONCLUSION

This application is generally supported by staff and the arts community as liquor service in theatres has little neighbourhood impact given the limited hours of service and the relatively early closing time.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver