An application for a craft brewery and tasting room in Gibsons Landing has ended up facing more opposition than a similar proposal in the works for upper Gibsons.
Council considered input on the liquor licence application for Gibsons Tapworks at its Oct. 18 meeting, as well as a development variance permit to accommodate the operation at 537 Cruice Lane.
Planning staff say the Town has received several letters of support from residents and businesses, but one resident who spoke at the council meeting said she was worried about parking, water use and the possibility of odours.
Gallery owner Sharon Danroth said the business isn’t a good fit for that neighbourhood. “It’s going to spoil the living space down that little part of town,” she told council.
Michele Whiting of Gramma’s Pub also spoke at the meeting, raising objections around opening hours, retail sales and parking. Gramma’s has dedicated, underground parking. “We do support new business, we’re all for that, but I expect a level playing field for all involved,” Whiting said.
Parking is at the centre of the development variance permit the group behind Gibsons Tapworks is seeking. They want to be allowed to have just one dedicated parking stall, although Town bylaws require 18.
The Town received a strongly worded letter of objection from the owner of the nearby Johnson Block saying that parking is already a serious issue in the area and allowing the variance would only make it worse.
The Tapworks group told council that nearby businesses, including the Gibsons Public Art Gallery, have offered the use of their parking during off-hours. Coun. Charlene SanJenko, whose own business used to be in that area, said she’d like to see those agreements formalized.
Coun. Stafford Lumley suggested taking it one step further, and asking the brewery proponents to rent parking spaces from neighbouring businesses to eliminate the need for the variance. “I’d like to see the proponent exhaust parking [options] right next to their building,” he said.
Mayor Wayne Rowe said when the proposal first came forward that it was the type of business the Town hoped to attract to the Landing, and he argued against strict interpretation of the parking bylaws. “The current parking standards we have in the town basically would completely negate any of the development that really is considered in the Harbour Plan that so much time has been spent on. It’s just a pipe dream if one is going to insist on the parking standards we’ve had.”
Coun. Jeremy Valeriote had a slightly different take on the question. He said less parking would actually help get people to make different transportation choices. “The only thing that’s going to drive carpooling, ride sharing, and walking is when you know that parking’s murder down there, but you still want to go.”
Council’s solution was to agree to the variance, on condition that the proponents cover the $18,000 cost of creating six new public parking spots on Gibsons Way, with Lumley casting the lone dissenting vote.
Council also voted to recommend the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch impose a midnight closing time on Friday and Saturday nights (it will be 11 p.m. on other nights).
Earlier this month council gave the OK to a development variance permit for Coast Distiller and Brewer, which is planning to set up at 1009 Gibsons Way (the former Bob’s Automotive location) in Blue Heron Village. It also voted unanimously to support the liquor licence application, with only a minor change to the capacity of the tasting room. Its closing time will be 11 p.m. all nights.
There were only a few, minor concerns raised by nearby businesses and residents.
In both cases the final decision on the liquor licences will be made in Victoria, although the Town’s recommendations usually carry significant weight.
Council also gave first reading this week to a zoning bylaw amendment that would add craft breweries as an “accessory use” in commercial zones, provided the brewery doesn’t take up more than 50 per cent of the total floor area of a business. A public hearing has been set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at Town Hall.
