Officials with the Town of Gibsons say the Town would be catching up with the times by updating zoning rules to allow for craft breweries in commercial zones throughout the town.
Under the current zoning, brewing is considered industrial activity, restricted to areas zoned for industry.
The amendment, which went to public hearing and third reading Nov. 1, was put forward in response to an application from Gibsons Tapworks to have both a brewery and tasting lounge at a site on Cruice Lane.
Planner Andre Boel opened the hearing by explaining that after reviewing the application and hearing from council, Town staff felt a broad change to the zoning would make more sense than site-specific rezoning. Despite that, much of the input at the hearing was tied to the Gibsons Tapworks application, and many of the points raised were similar to issues that came up when council considered a development variance permit on Oct. 18 – parking and opening hours, which aren’t dealt with in the zoning amendment.
Arthur Jones, owner of the Waterfront Restaurant, noted that the Gibsons Public Art Gallery (GPAG) parking spaces brewery visitors could use when the gallery is closed are also made available to customers of other businesses in the area (which GPAG officials confirmed in their written submission).
Chris Backus of Fircrest Road said as a relative newcomer to the town he welcomes the possibility of more businesses like Gibsons Tapworks. “I think people need a reason to come to Gibsons and have this sort of new culture available to them in downtown Gibsons,” he said. “If we need to evolve as a community in a way that would open up business, give more jobs and change the perspective of Gibsons, we’re all going to have to come together on common ground when it comes to parking.… I would hate to see a few parking spots be the barrier to us moving forward.”
Marine Drive resident Suzanne Pemberton objected to adding another liquor outlet to the neighbourhood and also criticized how the Town is handling the application and the zoning changes. “I feel like this public hearing is a bit of sham – work on the proposed site is already progressing,” she said.
Some speakers also pointed to new regulations in Port Coquitlam that would impose a 25-seat limit on tasting lounges and restrict the floor area used for sales to 10 per cent of the area used for manufacturing.
Most of the written submissions were in favour of the zoning changes.
Coun. Stafford Lumley, who also owns a business in Lower Gibsons, addressed the parking issue during debate on third reading.
“There’s not enough parking now, so I don’t know if we’re going to attract more businesses there [Lower Gibsons] if we shut it down and we say that’s it, that’s all the parking spots we’ve got – peace out,” Lumley said, adding that the Gibsons Tapworks application and developments like the George Hotel and Residences are just more reasons to move soon on an updated parking study.
Coun. Silas White said that in the big picture the question came down to whether it was a good move to make it possible for craft brewers or distillers to open in the town’s commercial areas.
“I don’t think this kind of business would be appropriate at all up in our industrial area,” White said. “I think it’s important that it’s down adding to the vibrancy of Lower Gibsons and the harbour and that it’s in a commercial area, so adding the manufacturing use to this tasting lounge makes complete sense to me.”
Third reading passed unanimously. If it goes on to adoption, the zoning would allow microbreweries with tasting lounges provided the area used for brewing doesn’t exceed 50 per cent of the total floor area.
Both Gibsons Tapworks and a brewery/distillery proposed for the former Bob’s Automotive location on Gibsons Way are still awaiting licence approvals from the province.
