Penticton city council finalized a bylaw amendment Monday limiting wine sales in liquor stores to 100 per cent B.C. wines, voting 3-2 to adopt it. The amendment replaces the definition of a grocery store to include “retail liquor sales with a store-within-a-store model as licensed by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) or the sale of 100 per cent wine, with a wine-on-the-shelf model, as licensed by the LCLB, but not both in the same location.”
The subject of liquor sales in grocery stores has been controversial since the change was made to provincial regulations last year. Opponents of the concept had been advocating council adopt an exclusion bylaw, mirroring provincial regulations preventing liquor stores from opening within one kilometre of each other. Since most grocery stores have a nearby liquor store, this would effectively have prevented any from getting into the liquor business.
Save-On-Foods has announced plans to develop a wine aisle in their Penticton outlet.
Couns. Andre Martin, Helena Konaz and Mayor Andrew Jakubeit voted in favour of the bylaw, with Couns. Tarik Sayeed and Judy Sentes in opposition. Couns. Max Picton and Campbell Watt were absent.
Patio liquor licence application
City council voted to support an application by the Fraternal Order of Eagles to change their liquor licence to include a licensed exterior patio at their 1197 Main Street clubhouse.
The support comes with the condition that hours of service be limited from noon to 10 p.m. and that no music be played on the patio.
Existing sound wall that was built a number of years ago.
“There has been a history of noise complaints, but nothing recently,” said Ken Kunka, building and permitting manager. He noted that in response to noise complaints a number of years ago, a sound barrier wall had been constructed.
The change to the licence is only to accommodate the patio. Kunka said the club is not planning a change in operations, and the patio is to service existing patrons not to increase the club’s capacity.
“They have made some attempts to address the concerns of the past, so I think they deserve the chance,” said Coun. Judy Sentes.
Council voted unanimously to support the Eagles’ application to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch.
Greyback Construction gets access to city parking lot
Greyback Construction, which will be overseeing construction of the annex to the Lakeside Resort, gained permission to use a city parking lot while the building is going up.
Council granted Greyback, at $750 a month, a licence to use the Martin Street extension parking lot, sited between the resort’s own parking lot and Rotary Park. The construction company wants to use the site for staging light construction materials and equipment along with the site trailers/offices. Heavier materials and equipment will not be allowed, out of concern for their effect on the city’s underground infrastructure.
“The licence will also require full restoration of the area post construction,” said planning manager Jules Hall.
The report notes there will be issues and accommodations required for special events, like the Peach City Beach Cruise, which has indicated the loss of the parking lot may be an issue as they are growing and space is at a premium. The report also notes that the Peach Festival has said the parking lot is typically used by the carnival, which sets up in Rotary Park, for their trailers.
Sentes said she appreciated the concerns raised by the festivals’ organizers, but added that she didn’t think there would be a difficulty.
“I think our contractor (Greyback), in this case, has a history of being hugely community minded and supportive,” said Sentes. “I have confidence that when those two occasions arise, they will work cooperatively with those functions to ensure their success.”
Hall said the hotel annex is due to be completed by May 2017, although it is recommended the licence to use be extended by 45 days to accommodate any unanticipated delays in the construction.
Council voted unanimously to approve the licence.