Council asking public for input on lounge for winery

Perseus Winery trying again after 2013 attempt failed

Four years after its initial application was rejected due to neighbours’ concerns, a Penticton winery is taking another swing at gaining public support for its lounge licence application.

Perseus Winery has applied to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch for a permit necessary to serve patrons on its patio at 134 Lower Bench Rd.

While it doesn’t have a direct veto, city council does get to comment on the application and on Tuesday voted 6-0 — with Tarik Sayeed away on unpaid leave for the provincial election — to stage a full public consultation to help inform its position.

“Some of the concerns still seem to be here, however, the winery has tried very hard to be a good neighbour,” said Coun. Judy Sentes. “I’d be very interested in the public consultation process.”

When it first applied back in 2013, Perseus proposed adding a bistro and lounge to serve up to 98 patrons from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. That drew the ire of some neighbours, who worried the change would add unwanted traffic and noise to what is a residential area.

Council agreed with the neighbours and voted not to support the application, which was eventually turned down by the LCLB.

Perseus is now proposing to host up to 68 people on its patio, with no bistro and a 7 p.m. closing time during the summer season, according to a letter of intent it submitted to the LCLB.

The winery also noted it has since exerted “great effort to rectify the issues and concerns raised by neighbouring residents.”

To dampen noise and improve privacy, it has already added new hedges, screens and a fence, plus installed “higher noise-reducing glass surrounding our patio,” the letter states.

On the traffic front, Perseus doesn’t expect a noticeable increase.

“As we have grown, we have found traffic increases minimal and that the majority of our growth has been through other channels, such as liquor stores in the Lower Mainland,” according to the letter.

“Because of this, the traffic which was anticipated with our growth has only actualized by a small fraction of the estimated amount,” the letter continued.

The letter concludes that the winery’s intent “is not to alter anything that would change the noise or traffic levels within our neighbourhood, it is only to provide the option of enjoying a glass of wine on our patio.”

City staff has already undertaken an initial round of consultation with neighbours within 100 metres of the winery.

That generated 13 letters of non-support or requests for more information, and just three letters in favour, according to building and permitting manager Ken Kunka.

The plan approved by council Tuesday will expand the radius for public consultation to 500 metres and advertise the application in a local newspaper and on a sign.

Perseus — which is one of nine wineries within that 500-metre radius — has also been encouraged to host an open house.

Staff will report back to council for a decision at its May 23 meeting.