The Town of Oliver has chosen not to comment on a liquor licence transfer application for a proposed new pub in the downtown core.

Council reviewed an application received by the Liquor Control and Licencing Branch regarding the transfer of a primary licence from a property at Southwinds Crossing Shopping Centre to the vacant lot downtown (the former Mesa Hotel property).

The applicant (Brown Bridge Ventures Ltd. and Desert Wine Country Development Corp.) is seeking to establish a neighbourhood pub downtown called the “John Oliver Pub,” which will offer food, beverages and music for entertainment. The proposed hours of operation will be noon to 2 am Monday to Saturday, and 11 am to midnight on Sundays.

The prime months of operation will be May to September.

Town planner Chris Garrish made council aware that the applicant wants to increase the capacity/occupant load from 155 to 430 (including outdoor patio).

The applicant has stated that the town has lost two liquor primary licences in the past eight years.

“The downtown core has many empty buildings and there has been no new development in many years.”

The property in question has sat vacant since the Mesa Hotel burned in 2010. The liquor licence previously associated with the hotel expired last fall.

Garrish said the pub will likely mean an increase in noise in the area.

In addition, the proposed increase in capacity from 155 to 430 people will have implications on parking downtown.

The zoning bylaw requires an eating and drinking establishment to provide a minimum of one off-street parking space for every four seats. But an exemption also exists which waives parking for the first storey of a downtown building or structure.

Garrish said there are three parcels on the east side of Kootenay Street that could be affected by the noise.

Councillor Jack Bennest said, “There could be opposition to something that size.”

Council members debated whether to comment on the application, but in the end decided against it.

It was noted the Official Community Plan allows for this kind of development downtown.

However, Councillor Petra Veintimilla said she believes the Town should comment on the liquor licence transfer.

LYONEL DOHERTY

Oliver Chronicle