A report on what Persephone Brewing Company has done to date to satisfy local bylaws was enough to satisfy West Howe Sound director Ian Winn, who had previously asked for the brewery to be slapped with fines and penalties for non-compliance.
His deferred motion was dealt with at a Jan. 28 corporate and administrative services meeting and was solidly defeated by all directors, including Winn.
“In regards to those concerns that I had on the bylaw compliance, especially related to the noise and the parking and the live entertainment, large scheduled events and whatnot, I think those have been adequately addressed,” Winn said at the meeting.
He referenced a staff report showing that Persephone had moved to rectify concerns raised by the public through creating additional on-site parking spaces, erecting signage and relocating some particularly noisy events.
Owner Brian Smith also said previously that Persephone had changed its policy on amplified music, making it only permissible inside the building in order to limit the amount of sound travelling to close neighbours.
“At this time the noise issues have been addressed and the outstanding non-compliance with the land use is in process,” the staff report stated, adding that the outcome of Persephone’s current application for a non-farm-use designation “will determine the next course of action.”
At this time Persephone doesn’t fit the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) regulations for a brewery, which state at least 50 per cent of the ingredients used must be grown on site, so the business has applied for a non-farm-use designation within the ALR.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) will give its recommendation on the application, but the final decision rests with the Agricultural Land Commission.
To gauge the community’s wishes regarding Persephone, the SCRD is planning to hold a public consultation meeting, likely later this month.
“I think that we’ve embarked now on a path that will provide the public information and community engagement,” Winn said. “That’s very important and that will certainly assist me and my fellow board members, so we can make informed decisions.”
