City council couldn't get behind removing "pub" and "nightclub" as permitted uses in a residential/commercial development proposed for 16th Street NE.
At its Jan. 13 meeting, Salmon Arm council gave first and second reading to a rezoning application for the development, proposed for adjacent parcels at 900 and 980 16th St. NE, (north of the Service BC Centre). The application is to rezone the properties from P3 Institutional and C3 Service Commercial, to C6 Tourist Recreation Commercial. Senior planner Chris Larson told council a concept for a six-level building, with upper level residential units and ground level commercial units, had been provided, and that development of the properties would be "subject to consolidation, a traffic impact assessment and detailed consideration through the development permit application process."
Prior to discussion of first and second reading, Mayor Alan Harrison gave council an opportunity to ask "clarification questions" of architect Bernd Hermanski, the property owner's agent, who was unable to attend the Dec. 2 development planning and services committee meeting. Council, however, was fine with letting Larson proceed.
Larson shared staff's support for the rezoning, which would "align well with commercial objectives and polices in the OCP," and "well-suited for the proposed C-6 uses, being well positioned between downtown and uptown, within close proximity to services and facilities, the Trans-Canada Highway and on a priority active transportation route."
Looking at the permitted uses in the C6 zoning, Mayor Alan Harrison asked Hermanski if he'd be amenable to removing two of them, "pub" and "nightclub." Hermanski said he hadn't had an opportunity to discuss this with the property owner. He suggested another permitted use, marine sales and boat rentals, might be undesirable, though he wasn't sure about pub or nightclub.
"I have not received that question in writing at any point so I haven’t discussed it with the owner yet – I certainly can do that," said Hermanski. "I doubt they would have any objections to that because their stated intent so far is to develop housing units above a commercial main floor. Is there a possibility of a pub or nightclub wanting to be a tenant in that location? Who can say…I don’t think they would object if council decided that that simply shouldn’t happen at that location."
However, only Coun. Tim Lavery was onboard with excluding those uses. Other councillors argued in favour of leaving them in.
"I don’t see us having a hotel on a property that size, the nightclub is unlikely and I’ve driven by these places that are open late at night, they’re quiet, the people are respectful, the noise is inside, not outside, I don’t see an issue with this," said Coun. Sylvia Lindgren.
After hearing from council, Harrison said he would not propose any changes to the permitted uses list, "and I think the arguments that they’ve put forward are reasonable."