Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Vancouver Liquor Licensing Commission

FROM:

Chief License Inspector

SUBJECT:

1234 Kingsway - Relocation of Class `D' Neighbourhood Pub
Leon Hotel Ltd. (Quincy's Pub and Bistro)

 
 

CONSIDERATION

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

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

Leon Hotel Ltd., are requesting a Council resolution endorsing their application to relocate the Class `D' Neighbourhood Pub to 1234 Kingsway from 3728 Clark Drive while retaining the current 100-seats plus the addition of 20 seats on a patio.

BACKGROUND

This pub has been located in the basement at 3728 Clark Drive for the past 26 years and the owners wish to move to the more exposed site previously occupied by Consumer's Distribution at 1234 Kingsway. The current hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Monday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight on Sunday. The proposed location offers larger premises and off-street parking and extensive renovations to the inside and upgrading to the frontage of the building are planned.

When considering relocation requests, Liquor Control and Licensing Branch policy states in part that where the relevant public interest factors are likely to be substantially affected, the licensee will be asked to submit a new application for a license. Where the relevant public interest factors are not likely to be substantially affected, the general manager may give written consent to the transfer of the license if relevant factors are satisfactorily addressed.

All new Class `D' Neighbourhood Pubs are limited to 65-seats. A representative of the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch advised that applications such as this would be considered on a case-by-case basis and "grandfathered" rights may continue, allowing for 100-seats instead of the normal 65-seats.

The applicant has been advised that the proposed location of the patio seats appears to block access to one of the required off-street loading spaces for the building and, therefore, may not be approved by the Planning Department at the development permit stage. The applicant has stated that details will be provided at the Commission meeting to address the issue.

The premises at 1234 Kingsway are approximately 100 metres immediately across the street from 3728 Clark Drive and will be no closer to any existing hotels, pubs or nearby neighbourhoods. A parking relaxation of nine off-street spaces was provided as part of the development permit approval for the existing neighbourhood pub at 3728 Clark Drive. Therefore, the parking is not sufficient and many patrons park on the adjacent residential streets.

The subject premises are located in a C-2 (Commercial Zone) and the surrounding area is a mixture of retail, restaurant, office and public flea market uses and a significant amount of residential, primarily one and two family dwellings. (Appendix A.)

There are two Class `A' Lounges (396 seats) and approximately nine licensed restaurants in the survey area. The nearest provincial liquor store is located at the Kingsgate Mall, 370 East Broadway.

DISCUSSION

This is the first application the Commission has considered for the relocation of a Class `D' Neighbourhood Pub.

The applicant is requesting the retention of the existing 100 seats, citing a provision allowing the General Manager, Liquor Control and Licensing Branch to "grandfather" a license when considering a short distance relocation, if the move is not contrary to public interest.

Class `D' Neighbourhood Pubs do not generally cause significant enforcement issues. The Permits and Licenses Department has not received any official complaints over the past three years which involves Quincy's Pub and Bistro at its existing location.

The results of the neighbourhood notification process will be provided to the Commission at its meeting. This will provide information related to neighbourhood concerns with the new location.

Staff suggests this application be endorsed without a referendum, subject to the neighbourhood response. Due to the uniqueness of the application, staff also suggests that if a referendum is required, the Commission considers setting the radius at 1000 feet.

COMMENTS

The Police Department's Broadway Station Community Police Office can see no reason to deny this application.

Over the past eight years, there have been 48 calls for police service. The majority of the calls were property crimes involving auto theft, theft from auto and mischief rather than alcohol related offenses. The pub appears to be well run and the Community Police Office has no record of complaints from neighbourhood residents. The proposed new location may generate more calls for service as it will be more visible to the public.

The Planning Department advises that the existing building is currently approved for Retail, Health Care Office, Restaurant-Class 1 and Animal Clinic uses.

Neighbourhood Public House is listed as a "conditional" use in the C-2 District Schedule. Any proposal to change the use of this building to provide a Neighbourhood Public House would require a development permit application.

The review process for such an application would include neighbourhood notification and an assessment of the anticipated impacts on nearby sites, particularly with regard to the adjacent single-family dwelling zoning (RS-1S) to the south of the site. The review would also include an assessment of all applicable provisions of the Parking By-law and the Neighbourhood or Marine Public House Guidelines adopted by City Council on August 9, 1988.

The Environmental Health Division of the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board has no objection to the proposed relocation. The owner advised all current kitchen appliances and equipment will be replaced with new models.

The Social Planning Department has no concerns over the relocation. There are no adjacent schools or social housing projects except for the planned Lion's Paraplegic Lodge at 3655 Clark.

The Housing Centre has no comments.

CONCLUSION

Should the Commission endorse this application subject to a referendum, staff suggests the radius be limited to 1000 feet as opposed to the 2000 feet radius used for the neighbourhood notification, provided the applicant agrees and there is no opposition from residents who would be excluded if the 1000-feet radius is used.

Staff generally supports this application, subject to the results of the neighbourhood notification as additional parking is available at the new location and access is directly off Kingsway rather than a residential street.

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