ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: January 6, 1999
Author/Local: Guy Gusdal (6461)
RTS No. 420

CC File No. 2616-4

TO:	Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission
FROM:	Chief License Inspector
SUBJECT:	800 Griffiths Way - General Motors Place Orca Bay Arena Corporation: Manufacturer's License (Brewery)

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council endorse the request by Orca Bay Arena Corporation for a Manufacturer's License (Brewery) in the Class `E' Stadium at General Motors Place, 800 Griffiths Way, subject to:

i) A signed Good Neighbour Agreement prior to issuance of the business license.

ii) No off premise sales unless the applicant applies for and is granted a rezoning approval of the CD-1 By-law permitting "Brewing or Distilling" as an allowable use.

iii) No retail off-sales from the premises.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

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

COUNCIL 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.

PURPOSE

Orca Bay Arena Corporation is requesting a Council resolution endorsing a Manufacturer's License (brewing facility) in the Class `E' Stadium at General Motors Place, 800 Griffiths Way.

BACKGROUND

Orca Bay Arena Corporation has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Molson Breweries to construct a brewery in General Motors Place. Under a lease agreement, the Manufacturer's License would ultimately be held by Molson Breweries.

Following renovations, the proposed brewery would be constructed on levels 300 and 400 in an area presently occupied by the Orca Bay Grille. The brewery will produce a unique beer for sale and consumption within the stadium and they would also like to sell to other licensees and government liquor stores.

This arrangement between Orca Bay Arena Corporation and Molson Breweries is made possible by virtue of recent amendments to the Liquor Control and Licensing Act where the Province of British Columbia is allowing exemptions from Section 18 and 45 of the Act for Class `E' facilities of particular size and magnitude. A Manufacturer's License is required for this type of facility.

DISCUSSION

It will be necessary for the applicant to file a development permit application for the proposed brewery and renovations. The addition of on-site brewing facilities without retail off premise sales will have no additional impacts on the surrounding community and, therefore, further notification is not deemed necessary.

COMMENTS

The Police Department has no objection.

The Planning Department notes that GM Place is located in a CD-1 Comprehensive Development district and is approved as a Stadium/Arena, with associated Restaurant-Class 1, Retail and Office uses.

The applicant discussed the possibility of applying for a Brew Pub on these premises with staff in Central Area Planning. Staff have indicated that this would be considered a "Service Use" under the definitions contained in the Zoning and Development By-law. Service Uses such as this can be considered for approval in the CD-1 By-law for this site, provided that any brewing proposal was clearly ancillary to and subordinate to a pub use on the site. Any such proposal would require the submission of a development permit application. The review process would include an assessment of all other regulations contained in the CD-1 By-law, as well as a review of the anticipated effect of such a proposal on traffic and other neighbouring developments.

However, the proposal as described requests a Manufacturer's License and talks about selling to other licensees and supplying provincial government liquor stores. This suggests a larger scale manufacturing proposal which would more appropriately be considered as a "Brewing or Distilling" use which falls under the category of "Manufacturing Uses" in the Zoning and Development By-law.

The CD-1 By-law for this site does not list Brewing or Distilling as an allowable use.

The Environmental Health Division of the Vancouver-Richmond Health Board has no objection, subject to the Board being involved in the planning stage to ensure the appropriate legislation is met.

The Social Planning Department and Housing Centre have no concerns with this application.

CONCLUSION

Staff recommends endorsement of the request for an onsite brewing facility, subject to no retail off premise sales. Sales to other licensees and government liquor stores will have no additional on-site impacts, but will require separate rezoning to allow this use.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver