There may soon be more room for you and your friends to enjoy some suds at Port Coquitlam breweries.
On Tuesday, Jan. 23, city council will hear from the public about a rezoning plan to boost the number of seats in PoCo brewery taste rooms and distillery lounges from 50 to 75.
The proposal, if approved, would also allow for liquor manufacturers to expand the interior floor area of their taste rooms to accommodate the extra patrons.
The move to increase the size comes at the request of the city’s chief administrative officer Rob Bremner.
Council unanimously gave first two readings to the rezoning amendment bylaw at a special council meeting on Dec. 5, 2023 (Couns. Darrell Penner and Dean Washington were not present for the vote).
Today, Jan. 19, Bremner told the Tri-City News that the seat hike proposal comes after city staff monitored of taste room capacities; local operators are also requesting the seat increase, he said.
Currently, Port Coquitlam breweries and distilleries include (in alphabetical order):
- Boardwalk
- NiceLife Cocktails
- Northpaw
- Patina
- PoCo Brothers
- Taylight
- Tinhouse
If the zoning bylaw passes, “all businesses must still adhere to provincial liquor rules, as well any increased capacity must be matched by making sure the business has adequate parking — if they don’t, we can offer a variance through a development variance permit — and complies with building code requirements (reviewed through business license renewal),” Bremner wrote to the Tri-City News.
“At this time, we are recommending a further increase to 75 seats contingent on parking and washroom capacity.”
In 2018, shortly after the civic election, Mayor Brad West moved a motion to double the number of tasting room seats; following a public hearing, council voted 6-1 in favour of changing the bylaw from 25 to 50 seats, with Coun. Penner opposing.
By comparison, Port Moody’s Brewers Row has up to 110 seats in each of their liquor establishments while Mariner Beer in Coquitlam has 75 spots.
Goldwin Chan, head brewer at Taylight, told the Tri-City News that he's pleased the city is revisiting the tasting room size as "it will definitely help Taylight."
"We have plans to expand and reinvigorate both our interior and exterior spaces," he said.
"We do not plan to speak at the public hearing, but we are excited for the potential of growth."
The public hearing for Zoning Amendment Bylaw 4350 (Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 4350 – Increased Seating Capacity for Liquor Manufacturer Accessory Lounge Endorsement Areas) starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at Port Coquitlam City Hall council chambers (2580 Shaughnessy St.). To make a written statement about the proposal, email [email protected].
