Neighbours face 2nd fight against plan for rooftop bar

Neighbours opposed plan when it was first proposed in 2016

A liquor-primary outdoor patio is being proposed once again for the rooftop of the Innovation Centre in downtown Kelowna.

The proposed 200-person lounge on the seventh floor would be an “upscale” establishment with great views of the city and Okanagan Lake, catering to people over age 35, centre representatives say.

“It will cater to local residents and business people as well as tourists. The venue will also be ideal for corporate and other special events such as receptions and private dinners,” reads part of the proposal from the Kelowna Sustainable Innovation Group.

“There is no other establishment in Kelowna that is comparable to this very unique establishment,” the proposal states.

The liquor-focused business would complement operations of the existing Perch restaurant, which opened in early 2017 under a food-primary licence.

Original plans for Perch included a liquor-primary licence, but that was changed in part because of objections from nearby residents who were worried about the noise and disruption that might ensue from a nightclub-style operation.

“Based on community feedback and apprehension regarding possible rooftop operations, we have decided not to proceed with the contemplated C7 liquor primary rezoning,” Kelowna Sustainable Innovation Group representative Jeff Keen told city council in October 2016.

The new liquor-primary licensing application was submitted to the city in September but has not yet reached council. The issue for council will be whether to rezone the Innovation Centre’s building from C7-Central Business to C7Central Business (Liquor Primary).

Residents of the Madison highrise, directly east of the Innovation Centre, were among the most critical of the liquor-primary plans in 2016. Now the issue has arisen again, they are expressing renewed concerns about the potential for bothersome late-night noise.

“We thought another liquor-primary application would eventually come along, and now it has,” said Madison resident Florrie McCallum. “We’re just as much against a nightclub on the roof now as we were then.”

Proposed hours for the outdoor liquor-primary lounge are 3-11 p.m. Thursday to Sunday, with its operation depending on the weather.

Kelowna Sustainable Innovation Group says the liquor-primary patio would not resemble a nightclub in its operation and various measures would be taken to limit noise.

“Upscale patio lounge type venues tend not to create problems in the community. They cater to an older, mature clientele and are not pubs or nightclubs,” states part of its application to the city.

In 2016, the Kelowna Sustainable Innovation Group began work on a rooftop structure to accommodate the restaurant without getting the necessary city approvals. Council later granted the necessary permit after the fact, saying it would be unreasonable to force removal of the structure.