Staff tell council to say no to later hours, more capacity for Liquid Zoo nightclub

RCMP have concerns about the later closing time and increased bar capacity

Kelowna city staff are recommending that council vote against an application by the Liquid Zoo nightclub to stay open later and serve more people.

Quail Place Estates, owner of the popular downtown Kelowna bar, made the application to the provincial Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, which then seeks local government input.

The application asks for the city’s permission to extend service hours from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., and to increase the number of patrons inside from 500 to 655.

Doing so would go against current council policy, says city planner specialst Lydia Korolchuk.

The policy prohibits establishments from having a capacity over 500 and requires that large liquor-primary establishments be a minimum of 250 metres apart. The Liquid Zoo is closer than that to Gotham Nightclub, Cheetahs Show

Lounge and Bernie’s Supper Club.

“An increase to the approved occupant load from the current 500 persons to 655 persons will further tax existing policing resources and does not comply with council policy 359 which suggests a limit of 500 persons for a liquor primary,” said Korolchuk.

The later close time combined with the increased capacity could encourage more excessive drinking which in turn could mean more disturbances, said Korolchuk, and require more policing. She said it’s better for current and future downtown residents to have 2 a.m. as a predictable closing time for all late-night establishments.

“To encourage and foster downtown living, a number of factors need to be addressed to ensure a successful transition, such as public safety and livability. The extended close time of 3 a.m. will further tax policing resources and increase potential negative consequences associated with ‘bar flushes’ later into the evening and early morning hours,” she said.

“This area of downtown is transitioning to include more mixed-use developments and will see increased residential density in the coming years. The proposed amendments may negatively affect the downtown livability for surrounding residential dwelling units now and in the future.”

The report notes that one-time applications for extended hours of operation require applicants to pay for extra police resources.

The Liquid Zoo application is a permanent change, which means that they are not required to pay for extra policing. The RCMP have significant concerns about the later closing time and increased bar capacity, the report says, especially during already busy nighttime hours.

“A permanent change to the current hours of operation from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. seven days a week will greatly impact policing resources which may adversely affect community/public safety and livability,” said Korolchuk.

“The RCMP have indicated that while members on day shifts are fielding more calls overall, the severity of calls at night is considerably higher and requires more resources to safely and appropriately respond,” he added. “The applicant’s proposal will increase demands during these already critical nightime hours.”