Port Coquitlam's new rules for craft breweries have yet to be officially adopted by council but they're already facing backlash from a PoCo businessman who says they're too strict.
At Monday's city council meeting — the last before the summer break — Barry Wright complained the number of lounge seats is too low given the $1-million investment he expects to pour into his proposed microbrew.
During question period, Wright told council the 25-seat cap would be difficult and asked if the draft bylaw could be changed for 35 or 40 seats.
"Opening a craft brewery is not opening a flower shop or book stores or coffee shops," Wright said. "There's a lot of significant upfront capital and, of course to get that capital repaid, we all need to be able to have revenue coming in."
He added, "You need customers to come in to be able to get that. By having 25 seats, it makes it pretty tough to be able to get something like this go in the area."
Wright's comments came after council debated the merits of moving the draft liquor zoning bylaw to first reading, set for Sept. 12 (a public hearing is expected for Oct. 11, if approved).
While Coun. Darrell Penner voted against the preliminary bylaw, arguing 25-seat lounges would create too much competition with established pubs and bars, other councillors countered 25 seats would be a good starting point as the industry moves into PoCo.
Coun. Brad West, chair of the city's smart growth committee, said PoCo has been slow to catch the craft brewery wave and he cited Brewers' Row in Port Moody, which has become a hot spot for Tri-City residents and out-of-town consumers (Coquitlam has also recently adopted its new liquor rules to allow microbrews).
"I think 25 is on the low end," West said, "but it's important that we move forward. We can make changes as we go…. I know there's a huge demand from the community. [The bylaw] may not be perfection but it is progress."
Coun. Dean Washington said he feels "uncomfortable" with 25 seats but "I think it's a good balance. It's a good starting point to get this ball rolling. We can adjust it as we move along."
Coun. Mike Forrest said microbrews are "a good move for the city" and pointed to Portland, which has 400 microbrews, as a success story.
And Coun. Laura Dupont said city staff and council have consulted with stakeholders to find middle ground for PoCo's new bylaw.
If endorsed, the liquor regulations would permit craft breweries to set up in M1 and M3 industrial zones — that is, in general, along Broadway Street, Kingsway Avenue, parts of Kebet Way and in the Dominion Triangle.
Currently, the city has one application for a potential craft brew business.
The owners of 1161 Kingsway Ave. — a small triangular lot on the northeast corner of Kingsway and Mary Hill bypass — are asking to rezone the property from M2 to M1 for a four-unit industrial building that would include a microbrew with a 24-seat lounge.
PoCo's draft bylaw also calls for onsite brewing at existing pubs, sales of packaged liquor at the farmers' market and allowance for residents to make their own beer, wine, cider and cooler in large format commercial areas.
jwarren@tricitynews.com
CRAFT BREWERY INDOOR SEATS
Port Moody:
Moody Ales 75
Yellow Dog 30
Twin Sails Tasting room only
Parkside 111
New Westminster:
Steel & Oak 20
Pitt Meadows:
Foamers' Folly 60
Maple Ridge:
Ridge Brewing Tasting room only
Maple Meadows Brewing Tasting room only
Proposed new downtown 25
Langley city:
Trading Post Brewing 50
Coquitlam:
No set limit
