The Metro Hall has the go-ahead to pursue a liquor primary licence.
The downtown banquet venue was the subject of a virtual public hearing on Monday night, after it applied to the city for a zoning amendment to allow it to apply for operation as a liquor primary licensed establishment.
No one spoke at the public hearing, and council voted in favour of the amendment at the subsequent council meeting.
The change will allow the Metro to bypass the need to apply for a special event permit each time it hosts an event with liquor service. Currently, the venue obtains more than 100 special event permits every year for functions such as wedding receptions, birthday parties and holiday events.
By provincial regulation, the B.C. Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch requires a motion from council before approving liquor primary applications.
The liquor primary licence will allow the 8,500-square-foot hall to serve liquor seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., with a maximum occupancy of 400 people. The venue will continue to be used as it is now, and no changes or additions are being made to the exterior.
Coun. Nadine Nakagawa questioned whether there’s any mechanism for the city to encourage accessibility work, noting the venue isn't accessible and she’s concerned about the “culture of exclusion” it creates when the city has non-accessible venues.
City staff said there’s no legal mechanism to require accessibility changes, but, given that the hall is interested in being a “good neighbour,” staff can work with the venue to try to find ways to pay for accessibility upgrades – including potential funding from other levels of government.
The Metro Hall is at 759 Carnarvon St.
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