Adjustments at Banditry Cider and Madeira Park Legion are to be considered at the May 23 Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board meeting. Both were recommended at the May 15 electoral services committee meeting.
For the Legion, last week’s debate favoured reducing fees on potential SCRD bylaw change applications. A 50 per cent cut to $8,250 from $16,500 was recommended by the committee if the operators apply for an Official Community Plan (OCP) and potentially Zoning Bylaw amendment to facilitate a contemplated provincial licensing change from “liquor primary club” to “liquor primary." According to the BC government liquor licensing conditions, the “club” designation is defined as allowing a licensee to serve liquor only to members and their guests, whereas "liquor primary" does not include that restriction.
At the SCRD level, an OCP amendment to allow “commercial” and other uses and either a rezoning for the property or a site-specific provision for its existing public assembly (PA1) zoning to allow a “neighbourhood pub," with a liquor primary licence is required for that change in operations.
While the proponent has not yet submitted applications for regional bylaw changes, they were advised by staff of the possibility of the board considering such a fee reduction. A letter of request from the Legion, based on its contributions to the Area A community, was forwarded to the SCRD in March.
Patio potential
At Banditry, at 538 Pratt Road in Elphinstone, the operators have applied to the province to expand their liquor service area and for a patio endorsement. The regional government was asked by the province to comment on the application, submitted in February, which would add 15 seats, bringing the capacity of the site to 45 patrons.
The SCRD staff report on the committee meeting agenda noted that comment from neighbouring property owners/occupants was sought. One written submission in support of the plan was received.
The committee suggested the board advise the province that there are no objections to the licence change, based on a number of provisions: that all SCRD building permits requirements are met, the patio area not exceed 50 square metres as allowed for in the region’s zoning bylaw; no outdoor amplified music at the site and clear signage to the 25 on-site vehicle and five cyclist parking spots is provided.
