New zone in works for microbreweries, small-scale wineries

City council voted 8-1 Monday night to pass through the first two readings of a bylaw to establish a liquor manufacturing zone.

If passed, it will allow for small-scale breweries, distilleries, wineries and cideries in urban Prince George. Currently, brewing and distilling are allowed only on heavy industrial property and wine and cider-making on land zoned general agriculture.

The so-called microbreweries and distilleries would be limited to 205 square metres and the wineries and cideries to 300 square metres.

The operations would still have to get permission from the B.C. Liquor Control and Licencing Board to sell from their premises and that process includes a referral to city council.

Next steps include a public consultation and allocating the use within the most appropriate zone.

Coun. Albert Koehler cast the lone vote against the bylaw. He cited an April letter from the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union linking the increased number of liquor stores to rising alcohol-related hospitalizations and deaths.

“I understand when there is an increased demand but the next question is, ‘is this the right way to go?’ And I doubt that it is,” Koehler said. Other councillors expressed support. Coun. Terri McConachie said they’ll help add to the “social fabric – places of hospitality, meeting, greeting and gathering and this will level the playing field, everyone playing by the same rules.”

Coun. Garth Frizzell said Quesnel, Valemount and other smaller communities have thriving craft brewing industries.

“It’s great to see as the demands ramps up, the rules are in place for it,” he said.

In March, city council granted Crossroads Brewery a one-year temporary-use permit to run a microbrewery at its spot at Fifth Avenue and George Street in the old Foodteller restaurant.