A North End brewery will have to wait a while longer until they find out if they are allowed more special event days, an increase in capacity and change to hours of operation.
On Tuesday, Kelowna councillors deferred a development permit variance and liquor licence amendment for Red Bird Brewing.
The variance is to reduce the required parking to zero stalls to allow for a maximum of 30 single day events per year with a maximum event capacity of 900 people.
Currently, Red Bird is allowed to host 12 special event days so they were looking for another 18.
The liquor licence amendment would add a special event area endorsement to the existing licence, increase event capacity and change the opening time to 9 am seven days a week.
Because of the variance and liquor licence amendment, the item was dealt with at a Tuesday meeting, which means members of the public can address council.
Only one property owner in the area addressed council. She was concerned about the impact more special events would have on parking in the area.
“Their success cannot be at the expense of other small businesses in the area,” the owner said.
A representative for Red Bird Brewing said he understood the parking issues and suggested that maybe street parking should be changed to 30 minute parking so people can still have access to other local businesses.
The goal of changing the hours of operation was to start doing more morning events for families, the representative told city council.
“Things that families that are already living downtown, living in the North End can ride their bikes, walk and attend different events that we might put together,” he said.
Coun. Webber asked what the discussion was around parking.
Staff explained that most of the parking in the area was between 30 minutes and two hours, however, they admitted that signage was not adequate but additional time restrictions and more signage would likely help businesses in the area.
Coun. Stack asked how staff ended up with a recommendation of support for the capacity increase from the existing 500 people to the proposed 900.
Staff said the 900-person capacity would only be in place for the additional event days and would remain at 500 for the rest of the year and part of the rationale was “providing cultural opportunities in the city.”'
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Mayor Tom Dyas asked where the capacity increase came from. Staff said it was likely from an increase in demand.
The brewery representative said they were not even looking for the 900-person capacity, which caused quite a bit of confusion among councillors.
“That just comes with that proposal, 900 is not our choice. That’s what the special events permit comes with. It bumps your capacity level from wherever it is to the next level,” he said.
“We have no interest in putting 900 people on the property at 9 am (...) we have 900 for the events we do now, we’ve never had 900 people on the property because it doesn’t feel good. The vibe is good at 600-650.”
However, the applicant said they might need a higher capacity than 500 for evening events..
“So what you’re asking for is the increase in hours, going from the current 18 event days to 30 event days but you're comfortable with a maximum capacity of 900,” coun. Stack asked.
The applicant said they would be comfortable with exploring a different capacity between 500 and 900 but he stated clearly the brewery would like flexibility on the final number.
Confusion around the special events capacity ultimately led to a motion for deferral.
Mayor Tom Dyas said council needed more clarity about the capacity in order to be fair to Red Bird and other businesses in the area.
Coun. Wooldridge put forward the motion to defer any further decision until they had more information.
That was supported by unanimous vote and this item will be brought forward at a future meeting when “solid parameters” can be finalized between council, city staff and Red Bird.
