ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: March 25, 1999
Author/Local: Guy Gusdal/6461
VLLC Date: April 15, 1999

RTS No. 404

CC File No. 2614-10

TO:	Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM:	Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT:	180 West Georgia Street - Sandman Hotel Class `A' Pub Liquor License

CONSIDERATION

A. THAT Council endorse the application by Northland Properties Ltd., for a 125-seat Class `A' Pub liquor license at the Sandman Hotel, 180 West Georgia Street, having considered the support of residents and business operators in the community as determined by neighbourhood notification and subject to:

i. A Time-Limited Development Permit

ii. A signed Good Neighbour Agreement, prior to issuance of the Business License.

OR

B. THAT Council advise the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch it does not endorse the application by Northland Properties Ltd., for a 125-seat Class `A' Pub liquor license at the Sandman Hotel, 180 West Georgia Street.

COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services submits the choice of A or B for CONSIDERATION.

POLICY

Council policy requires that new liquor license applications and amendments to existing licenses be subject to a referendum if the premises are located in close proximity to residential accommodation. Council policy is to also waive the requirement for a referendum for a new full service hotel or major complex located in the downtown core, provided it is illustrated there is little or no community opposition as determined by the response to the pre-clearance notification.

PURPOSE

Northland Properties Ltd. is requesting a Council resolution endorsing their application for Class `A' Pub with 125-seats at the Sandman Hotel, 180 West Georgia Street.

BACKGROUND

The Sandman Hotel presently has a Class `A' Lounge liquor license (Shark Club) with 342 inside seats plus 36 on a patio and a Class `B' Restaurant with 449 seats. The applicants plan to construct a 14-storey hotel addition on the adjacent lot to the southwest of the existing building. The addition will accommodate 94 rooms on the second through 14th floors.

The development permit for the hotel addition was approved and issued on May 20, 1998. Additional information on the proposal will be presented at the Commission meeting. It is proposed that the new Class `A' Pub will be on the main floor of the existing building, which will undergo renovations and will be located adjacent to the existing "Shark Club" lounge. The pub will have no direct access or connection with the lounge and will operate as a separate entity. The proposed pub will have a clientele and theme that differs from the existing lounge. A "steak house" type atmosphere is presently being proposed by the applicant.

The premises are located in DD (Downtown District) zoning area. The surrounding neighbourhood is a mixture of office, stadium, retail, hotel, theatre and residential uses (Appendix A.). There is one Class `A' Pub (146 seats), five Class `A' Lounges (10,640 seats), one Class `D' Neighbourhood Pub (65 seats) and 10 licensed restaurants in the survey area. The closest provincial liquor store is at the Harbour Centre, 555 West Hastings Street.
There are very few residential buildings within close proximity of this site except for the adjacent YWCA. There is some residential along Robson Street and Beatty Street approximately 1½ blocks away.

COMMENTS

The Police Department supports the application but has concerns about the size of the combined venue and the interaction with fans dispersing from GM or BC Place events.

The Planning Department has reviewed the application and notes that the site is located in the Downtown Zoning District (Sub-Area C). The building on this site is currently approved as a hotel with associated lounge, retail, restaurant and office areas.

Development Permit DE212038 was issued on May 20, 1998, thereby permitting a 14-storey addition to the southwest portion of the hotel.

"Public House" is a use that is included in the category of "Other Commercial" as described in the Official Development Plan By-law that governs this site. Such a use can be considered in this Sub-Area of the Downtown Zoning District, but any proposal to change a portion of this building to public house would require a development permit application. The review process for this type of use would include an assessment of the expected impacts on neighbouring sites, including the effects on traffic and noise.

The Environmental Health Division of the Vancouver-Richmond Health Board has no objection, subject to the number of washrooms being increased to meet the additional seating and final plans approval.

The Social Planning Department and the Housing Centre have no concerns.

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

CONCLUSION

Staff supports this application as liquor licensed facilities in full-service hotels are normally not an enforcement problem due to the nature of the operation and the hotel component of the business.

There is some concern related to the large number of liquor seats within this hotel but management has a good track record with the existing facility which has resulted in few complaints. The response to the area notification will identify any neighbourhood issues related to this application.

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS DOCUMENT THAT DO NOT HAVE ELECTRONIC COPY ARE AVAILABLE ON FILE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver