Coquitlam could soon be jumping on the Lower Mainland's craft beer band wagon.
City staff will begin preparing draft zoning regulations that would accommodate breweries and distilleries in the municipality after council voted unanimously to approve the measures at Monday's meeting.
Current zoning allows for the production of alcohol but prohibits its retail sale for on-site or off-site consumption.
"This puts Coquitlam at a competitive disadvantage to a number of other municipalities in attracting craft breweries to locate in the city," said a staff report.
If the city approves the zoning amendment bylaw, it could open the door for craft brewery pubs, an industry that has exploded across the Lower Mainland in the last few years.
Port Moody, for example, has seen two craft breweries open in the last year and a third one is set to open this summer.
Moody Ales has recently applied for a lounge licence that would allow the business to pour full pints for customers on site and stay open later as both it and Yellow Dog Brewing have reported business is booming.
Staff in Coquitlam said the recent growth in the brew pub industry is connected to changes made by the provincial government. First, the city will prepare draft regulations for the allowance of breweries and distilleries in the municipality. After that, a consultation process will begin with stakeholders to discuss the proposed changes.
Staff said in a report that most of the work could be done by the end of the year.
