SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 1
VLLC AGENDA
DECEMBER 7, 1995
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: July 31, 1995
Dept.File No.2169AIC
TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM: Deputy Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT: 435 West Pender Street - Niagara Hotel
Class 'A' Pub - Change of Hours
CONSIDERATION
A. THAT consideration of the request by the Niagara Hotel for a
change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub at 435 West Pender
Street, be subject to the results of a referendum, conducted
in accordance with existing City guidelines;
or
B. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission endorse the
request by West Pender Enterprises Ltd., for a change of hours
in the Class 'A' Pub at the Niagara Hotel, 435 West Pender
Street, having considered the support of residents and
business operators of the community as determined by
neighbourhood notification;
or
C. THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission advise the
Liquor Control and Licensing Branch it does not endorse the
request by West Pender Enterprises Ltd., for a change of hours
in the Class 'A' Pub at the Niagara Hotel, 435 West Pender
Street, having considered community opinion determined as a
result of neighbourhood notification.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services submits the choice of A,
B or C for CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
Council policy requires that amendments to an existing liquor license be
processed in the same manner as a new liquor license application, except
the area of referendum, if required, be reduced to 1,000 feet.
PURPOSE
West Pender Enterprises Ltd., doing business as the Niagara Hotel, is
requesting a City Council resolution endorsing its application for a
change of hours in the Class 'A' Pub at 435 West Pender Street. The
proposed change of hours are:
From: Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
Sunday 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight
To: Monday to Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Sunday 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight
BACKGROUND
The Niagara Hotel is a six-storey building containing 102 sleeping rooms
and a 250-seat Class 'A' Pub. Entertainment in the pub consists of live
bands on Thursday to Saturday nights. Approximately 60% of the rooms
are rented on a monthly basis, and there are some long-term tenants.
The subject premises are located in the DD (Downtown) zoning district.
The surrounding area is business oriented with high rise office
buildings, financial institutions, retail stores at street level and
several older long-term residential hotels. The closest residential
accommodation is the Park Apartment Hotel, located immediately east of
the subject site.
Within the survey area are three religious centres, the 411 Seniors
Centre, the downtown campus of Simon Fraser University, the downtown
campus of Vancouver Community College and one park (Victory Square).
The Salvation Army residence and the Central City Mission Lodge are
located in the same block as the subject premises (Appendix A). The
area is served by a government liquor store at 555 West Hastings Street.
Within the survey area are six Class 'A' Pubs (1018 seats), six Class
'A' Lounges (747 seats), three Class 'C' Cabarets (523 seats) and
approximately 10 licensed restaurants.
COMMENTS
The Police Department advise that although incidents of police response
to this establishment have been minimal and staff cooperative, it is
unable to support the request. The majority of problems after midnight
occur as a result of late pub closing, and if this application was
approved, it would compound current problems.
The Environmental Health Division notes that there are no complaints to
date and the facility is in generally good condition. The operators
have been advised to keep the doors and windows closed for noise
control. There is no objection to the application for extending the
hours.
The Social Planning Department is not in favour of this application.
This location is within the boundaries of the Victory Square Planning
Area, which is scheduled for further residential development, with an
anticipated increase of 1,500 new residential units for the area. Of
particular concern is the potential impact on a residential development
in the next block to the west (Pender and Seymour), which will include a
couple of hundred units. Extended hours of operation would have an
impact on the livability of residents in that neighbourhood.
The Niagara Hotel is also located right next door to the Central City
Mission at 415 West Pender, which runs alcohol rehabilitation programs.
The Central Area Planner is opposed to this application because of the
current Victory Square planning process and the future housing that is
proposed for this area.
CONCLUSION
Staff is generally opposed to this application because of the potential
late night problems and future conflict with the residential uses
proposed for Victory Square and the Woodward's site. Under the current
Provincial liquor regulations, it is not possible to allow a temporary
approval, which might provide an opportunity for a trial period.
If this application is referred to referendum, the Commission should
note that there are currently only a few residential buildings within
the survey area. The referendum outcome may not reflect the opinion of
the area residents, unless the results are tabulated to show the
residential component separately.
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