Parksville council voted to forward a resolution of ‘partial objection’ regarding a proposal by Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company to extend its indoor hours to midnight and patio hours to 11 p.m. daily.
Council decided on a compromise — a recommendation that the brewery’s indoor hours be limited to 11 p.m. and patio hours close at 10 p.m. The brewery currently closes at 10 p.m. daily.
The resolution will be forwarded to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB).
“I think this is a good compromise taking into account neighbours’ concerns,” said Coun. Amit Gaur during council’s April 15 meeting.
The city received letters from residents concerned about an increase in noise and parking issues, as well as letters that supported the request to stay open later.
“We received very well thought out concerns from the local community,” said Coun. Joel Grenz. “This is a classic example of where there are differing uses in a neighbourhood that don’t always get along well with each other.”
Grenz added council should rely on bylaws to ensure neighbours can “find a way to live harmoniously together”.
READ MORE: Parksville council forwards ‘Partial Objection’ to brewery expansion
Staying open later will allow special events opportunities such as hosting teams from the Parksville volleyball league and the men’s hockey league, according to a presentation by owner Matt Hill at an earlier meeting. With its current hours, the brewery tends to close just as those teams finish up their games.
“In my mind we have a business that is working well with the neighbourhood on the noise side of things,” said Coun. Sean Wood. “I think the parking is a completely different issue that the business doesn’t have any control over.”
Wood added people should report parking bylaw infractions to the city and it’s not the business’s job to police parking outside of its parking lot.
“I think the business owner has proven to be a responsible leader in our community,” said Mayor Doug O’Brien. He added it’s a difficult situation where there is no transition zone between a commercial area and residential across the street.
O’Brien also pointed out there were many letters of support for the application and he has received many phone calls during the tourism season about the lack of evening entertainment.
The City of Parksville’s noise bylaw kicks in at 11 p.m.