Winery says it’s delaying application for lounge licence

Following fresh concerns from neighbours — a few dozen of whom staged a public protest last week — Perseus Winery has delayed its application for a lounge licence that would allow it to serve customers on its patio. The matter was set for a public hearing tonight in front of Penticton council, but the winery on Friday asked to have the item removed, according to city manager Peter Weeber.

While council doesn’t have an outright veto on such applications to the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, it is routinely asked to provide comment.

Perseus wine shop manager Pam Franks confirmed Monday the application, to serve up to 44 customers on the patio as late as 7 p.m. during the summer, has been delayed, but not withdrawn.

“We’re going to do some mediation with council and neighbours,” Franks said.

Trevor Tovell, a spokesman for the neighbourhood group that organized the May 15 protest outside the winery on Lower Bench Road, believes the demonstration had the desired effect.

“I’d like to think that it really contributed to them withdrawing it, but I don’t expect this issue to be over this easily,” he said.

“I think they’re maybe sitting back and maybe thinking of other methods of what they can use to help move this along.”

Tovell emphasized his group is willing to sit down with Perseus bosses or anyone else whose activities could impact others in the residential area.

“We aren’t above that. We’d love to work with people that would like to share our neighbourhood,” said Tovell.

It marks the second time Perseus has tried to get a lounge licence.

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 generate unwanted traffic and noise.

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

Even with Perseus off the agenda, council still has plenty of other business at hand today.

Five presentations during committee of the whole will include a pitch from the Penticton Area and Cycling Association to build a bike track near Poplar Grove Winery, and results and recommendations from a review of the structure and effectiveness of council advisory committees.

Once into its regular meeting, council will hear about pleas from Atkinson Street residents renewing calls for a pair of lighted crosswalks, and from local Girl Guides asking for stricter measures to enforce a nosmoking policy on Skaha Beach.

Council will also consider staff recommendations to apply for a $6 million federal grant to repair or replace Memorial Arena, and to allow a maximum of two mobile retail vendors in the downtown core against the wishes of members of the business improvement area.

Land matters include staff recommendations to relax some of the conditions attached to a rezoning for a major residential development, and to give tentative approval to a new medical office at the corner of Carmi Avenue and Leir Street.

Committee of the whole begins at 1 p.m., followed immediately afterwards by the regular meeting. Council will reconvene at 6 p.m. for land matters. All meetings will be held inside council chambers and are open to the public.