SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 5

VLLC AGENDA

NOVEMBER 13, 1997

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 24, 1997

File: 1253 Johnston St.

CC File: 2612-6

TO: Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission

FROM: Chief License Inspector

SUBJECT: 1253 Johnston Street - The Creek Brewery Ltd.

Class 'A' Patio and Off-Premises Sales Liquor License

CONSIDERATION

A.THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission direct that consideration of the application by the Creek Brewery Ltd. for a 62-seat patio (subject to the patio closing at 11:00 p.m.) and off-premises sales at the licensed 'A' Pub at the Granville Island Hotel, 1253 Johnston 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 Creek Brewery Ltd. for a 62-seat patio (subject to the patio closing at 11:00 p.m.) and off-premises sales at the licensed 'A' Pub at the Granville Island Hotel, 1253 Johnston Street, having considered the opinion of the area residents and business operators as determined through the neighbourhood notification process.

C.THAT the Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission advise the Liquor Control & Licensing Branch it does not endorse the request by the Creek Brewery Ltd. for a 62-seat patio (subject to the patio closing at 11:00 p.m.) and off-premises sales at the licensed ‘A’ Lounge at the Granville Island Hotel, 1253 Johnston Street.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

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

COUNCIL POLICY

Council Policy requires that new liquor license applications and amendments to existing licenses be subject to a referendum prior to receiving final consideration if the premises are located in close proximity to residential accommodation.

PURPOSE

The Creek Brewery Ltd. is requesting a City Council resolution endorsing an application for a 62-seat patio and off-premises sales as part of the licensed 'A' Pub at the Granville Island Hotel, 1253 Johnston Street.

BACKGROUND

Previously, the Granville Island Hotel held licenses for a Class 'A Lounge with a seating capacity of 170 in area one and 80 in area two (total 250 seats) and a restaurant. This lounge has recently been separated into a 125-seat pub and a 125-seat lounge with some transfer of seating between the previous areas. A Development Application has been approved for alterations to the pub area to accommodate the patio and brew-pub, along with reconfiguration of the food and beverage area.

The 62-seat proposed patio will be operated in conjunction with the pub and is located directly in front of the pub and adjacent to the existing restaurant patio area. The existing restaurant patio has 295-seats which will be reduced somewhat in number to accommodate the additional 62-seat pub patio.

The applicant also proposes to have off-premises sales in the pub to sell products brewed on the premises as well as generic products. The hours of operation for the off-premises sales will be from 11:00am to 11:00 p.m., seven days a week.

Liquor Control and Licensing Branch guidelines define a Brew Pub "as 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 some instances through off-sales if the product is packaged in approved sizes".

The subject premises are located in the FCCDD (False Creek Comprehensive Development Zoning District). The surrounding area is a mixture of retail (small specialty shops), a community centre, the Arts Club Theatre and residential uses. A significant number of residential condominium/apartment dwelling units are located directly south across the water from the proposed site, and there are 12 floating homes within the notification area to the north of the site. There is one licensed restaurant within the survey area and the closest government liquor store is located at 2020 West Broadway.

COMMENTS

The Police Department does not oppose this application. A review has determined that there are no areas of police concern and that more foot traffic in the area would probably be a positive thing as it would discourage some of the car prowler and theft from auto suspects coming into the neighbourhood.

The Planning Department notes that the building is currently approved as a hotel with associated dining and lounge facilities and also includes a "brewing" component associated with and providing brewed beverages to the patrons of the hotel, lounge and restaurant facilities only (as indicated on the Development Permit). In addition, an outdoor patio area adjacent to the existing lounge is also indicated on the above-noted plans.

If the off-premise sales are approved, an amendment to the Development Permit will be required.

The Health Board has no objection, subject to the patio closing at 10:00 p.m., and there is no amplified music to the patio at any time. These conditions are in response to a history of noise complaints in this area.

The Social Planning Department has concerns regarding late-night noise impacts on the adjacent residential condominium/apartment buildings and the size of the patio.

The Housing Centre has no comments.

CONCLUSION

The hotel owners have recognized that noise could have a negative impact on the surrounding area as well as the hotel patrons. Therefore, the lease agreement stipulates that cabaret-style acts, a dance floor or a disk jockey booth will not be permitted. In addition, the patio and all outdoor areas must be closed at 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 12:00 midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

A large patio already exists as part of the restaurant operation. Some of these seats will be deleted to accommodate the 62-seat pub patio, which should not result in increased neighbourhood impacts. The response to the neighbourhood notification will provide Council with feedback from the area residents and should this application be endorsed, staff recommend a 11:00 p.m. closing time for the patio area as a conditon of approval.

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(c) 1997 City of Vancouver