Storey Creek golf club is attempting to extend the hours it can sell alcohol to visitors but the proposal came up against some opposition by city council Tuesday.
The Storey Creek Golf and Recreation Society has applied to the province for a change in its liquor licence that would allow the golf club to sell alcohol starting at 9 a.m.
Coun. Larry Samson said at Tuesday night’s council meeting that he believes that’s too early to start serving drinks.
“I tend to have a problem with opening up the liquor sales at nine o’clock in the morning from the current 11 (a.m.),” Samson said. “Even though there hasn’t been any complaints, I don’t see the need to open up liquor sales at nine o’clock in the morning.”
Samson said he could understand the earlier sales during special events at the golf club, but added he was concerned about making alcohol available so early in the morning on a daily basis.
“I see the odd time if they have tournaments or special occasions,” Samson said, “but I’ve just been reading the reports in the news media on increased problems in our health system with the change in our liquor laws.”
BC is in the process of making several changes to its liquor laws, including increasing the variety of alcohol that can be sold at sporting events and music festivals, allowing alcohol at farmer’s markets and allowing liquor sales at grocery stores.
But Coun. Charlie Cornfield said he doesn’t see any harm in what Storey Creek is trying to do.
“It’s only a two hour change,” Cornfield said.
In the end, council gave its recommendation (with councillors Samson and Ron Kerr opposed) to the province to allow the change in Storey Creek’s liquor licence which would allow the golf club to sell alcohol from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week. Closing hours would remain unchanged at 1 a.m. Monday to Saturday and midnight on Sundays.
In recommending council give its support to the liquor licence amendment, City Planner Chris Osborne said the city has “no record of complaints” at Storey Creek relating to “noise or disturbance and the location is not noise-sensitive.”
Osborne said there is also no known history of disturbance on site.
“The proposed licence amendments are not considered likely to carry adverse impacts for the community,” Osborne said. “The RCMP has voiced no concerns with the application.”
There were also no concerns from the neighbourhood that the city was aware of.
Osborne said notice of intent letters were mailed on Dec. 2 to surrounding property owners and the city received no responses.