The Bowen Island Golf Club has started the process of applying for a licence to serve alcohol in its new clubhouse and on the green and has asked the municipality for an endorsement.
The municipality has received 110 letters in support of the application, saying the golf course has become an important social venue. The municipality's planning bylaws allow local and tourist commercial services in that area.
At Tuesday's council meeting, Councillor Peter Frinton said, "Although I absolutely support this, I wouldn't call it 'needed' but rather 'much desired'. And I want to point out that this is a considerable licence. There usually is an array of options. There was nothing in the report about why this particular licence was chosen and what other category of licences were considered."
The golf club applied for a primary liquor licence for a capacity of 44 people inside and 75 on the patio with hours of operation from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Spencer Grundy, the club's operating manager, said, "A food primary licence allows the consumption of alcohol for a restaurant, and a liquor primary allows for alcohol on the property. Under a food primary, we wouldn't be allowed to have a beverage cart."
Bruce Russell, the president of the golf club, said that the liquor licensing board recommended that particular licence. He added, "And Bowen Island Properties signed a consent form. They are totally on board for that."
Councillor Doug Hooper asked whether there were any concerns from the police department. Planning officer Jasmine Jawanda said, "We sent a notice to the local RCMP detachment and we also notified the bylaw officer. The RCMP did not reply; bylaw said that there were no concerns."
Another consideration raised by Councillors Hooper and Frinton was the issue of transportation. Russell said, "We have appealed to Peter [King, operator of Bowen Transit] many times over the years as this has been an ongoing concern."
Grundy elaborated: "We've been informed that going to the golf course wouldn't allow enough time for the bus to do a loop and get back to the ferry. But I think we can ask whether it's possible to do a loop around the island without the pressure of making the last ferry. We would appreciate your help in that."
Hooper joked, "As you know, we have tremendous powers over BC Ferries and Translink." Hooper also wanted to know whether the club had considered the issue of noise. He said, "This licence will allow you to rent out the facility for weddings and such and there is a potential impact. Most of the seats are outside, there will probably be amplified music or bands."
Mayor Bob Turner cautioned that a noise bylaw exemption may be required for such events. Grundy replied, "We are aware of that. In the past, we had to go through the RCMP and get an exemption from the noise bylaw. We canvassed the neighbourhood to make sure everyone was aware of it. And the 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. hours of operation don't mean that the clubhouse will be open every single night until 11."
Russell added, "I don't think the clubhouse will be used for outside events as often as this but we also had to consider our tournaments. Largely, the hours of operation of the clubhouse will be dictated by the hours of the golf course. We run on a skinny operating budget and if no one is there, the bar will be closed."
He added that having a liquor licence will positively affect the club's bottom line. "We need every possible trick to make the business succeed."
Frinton was also concerned that the licence might have an influence on future development. He said, "I am wondering how the clubhouse would affect the future village plan that is intended for Seymour Bay." He also suggested the golf club sign an operating agreement with the municipality similar to those for the Legion and the former CNIB lodge. Jawanda said that this can take the form of a memorandum of understanding.
Councillor Nerys Poole clarified that council merely lends its supports to the application before it goes to the liquor control and licensing branch of the ministry of public safety and solicitor general board.
Council did endorse the application unanimously at the council meeting on May 24 with Councillor Cro Lucas abstaining from the vote.
