22 Jun 2026 Council meeting Other

Liquor Licence Amendment Application No. LA159 - 240 Skinner Street

Motion
That Council recommend that the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch deny the application to amend an existing liquor primary licence for an entertainment use (nightclub) at 240 Skinner Street.
Minutes, page 10
Sources
Agenda itemCity agenda
Staff reportPage 2
Purpose
To present for Council’s consideration an amendment to an existing liquor primary licence for an entertainment use (nightclub) at 240 Skinner Street.
Staff report, page 2

Council’s motion differs from staff’s recommendation

Staff report, page 2
DocumentsStaff report about Economic Development, Land Use & Urban Form

Hilary Eastmure Yes

Smear. Thank you. So just to. Clarify in the report, it says that they're asking for the extended hours to have a sports bar and potential events during that, uh, those earlier hours. It doesn't give you any sense of, um, more confidence that it wouldn't be like, let's call them the nighttime activities that happen at that club.

Leonard Krog No

I want to emphasize not as a patron, but, um, old enough to remember that, uh, the flat roof building beside the palisatel was the office, la office of gear, rear Morton and spruel, as I recall.
In other words, other businesses essentially within the area. Um, five supported the application and two opposed, correct? submissions were received from outside the notification here.
And you have 175 people who've written in and said they are opposed to the extension. And you've had coach and arguments from councillors Thorpe and Armstrong about the use and it's permitted use. And yes, our bylaws and zoning may be somewhat behind. But, uh, candidly, um, please note the recommended motion is the council recommend the liquor and cannabis regulation branch deny the application. I want to emphasize something. This council has approved virtually every cannabis store that's come before it. With great respect, the use of cannabis, it is becoming apparent to me is far more damaging and dangerous to this community than whether or not we have another one or more licoricements. And whether or not those include adult entertainment. So as much as I am sympathetic to the challenges faced, it seems to me that the behaviours that are occurring that are disturbing and legitimately so to Mr. Butterworth and the dance school are things that need to be enforced. And we have good neighbour agreements and other things that can work to enforce that. So, uh, as much as I appreciate all being the minority tonight, uh, I'll be voting with councillors Armstrong and thorope on this. The motion is to recommend that the reliquarinal cannabis regulation branched deny the application. All those in favor of the motion, councillors Eastmare, Kessel Rock Manly Brown and preno, and those opposed. Councillor's Armstrong, Paloun Seremons, Mayor Crowe, Councillor Thorpe, the Motion carries. Thank you very much. Biggest debate tonight. We're on to 13D Rezoning Application Number RA523 - 235 Departure Bay Road.

Ian Thorpe No

Thank you, your worship. Thank you, Councillor Thorpe. Thank you, worship, through you to staff. If I may, I just want to be clear, because I sense that we're, we're confusing a couple of different issues here. And one of the issues we seem to be talking about is the type of club or operation that this is. And that's not, that's not under debate. It's a night club. It's, it's allowed to be there. It's allowed to have adult entertainment. That's not at issue. All we're talking about is extension of the hours to serve liquor. From 11 instead of from 7 p. m. 11 a. m. instead of from 7 p. m. So I think we need to focus on that and as councillor Perino has indicated, even if we indicate support, it still has to go to the, uh, liquor and cannabis regulation branch to make a determination. To me, most restaurants or clubs, uh, and I could stand to be corrected here. But I think most do have liquor sales, uh, earlier in the day. So I'm, I'm not sure that I see anything compelling here to deny this application and to confuse that with the type of club it is. Uh, where they're allowed to have the entertainment they do.

Sheryl Armstrong No

Thank you. I agree with the comments of Councillor Thorpe. We have to recognise it doesn't matter what's in there. It's, do we agree with having a liquor license from 11 o'clock or do we leave it at seven. Uh, I work this area for many, many years back in the 90s when there were seven strip clubs in the area. No issues. Um, I followed this on Facebook with the majority of people in favor of, of the extension of the license. And most of them said they're more concerned about CNADX and people passed out on the street and what they're doing than somebody leaving a place where you can't see inside. So I think as Councillor Thorpe says you have to remove what's being used there, whether it was a restaurant or whether it's a bar, do you extend the liquor license?
I won't vote and support. I think the big issue that again has said, we can't look at it as a strip club because that can change tomorrow. It's not a strip club. It's an entertainment. Like we have to be really careful with that. And I think because this council has approved other ones, whatever. I think we wouldn't even last in a court challenge because you can't use look at the purpose that it's a strip club. This is, can they extend their liquor license? That's all it's about. Secondly, strip clubs have been around this community for years. Some were gone. They're back. Whatever. I don't know what the big issue is because they never see the women that are operating in there. We see more coming out of some PUBs at night that are with drunk people. It doesn't matter whether it be a strip club or a regular pub or a restaurant. I've seen them come out of that as well. I've seen more people pass out on the streets and different acts of sexual stuff by some of our homeless people and others that are strung out. Then what I'm seeing coming out of a strip club, the police have zero issues with it. They're quite happy with the performance saying that they've got a good neighbourhood agreement, which from their perspective is excellence. So when your police are in favor and your biology and your staff are, I feel it's incumbent to be opposed to this particular motion.

Ben Geselbracht Yes

I think, uh, what we need to focus on here is that there's a strip club that has been allowed because we haven't updated our, uh. Zoning bylaw, um, which includes strip clubs to be allowed as part of the entertainment district. And it is unfortunately led to a strip club be located right beside a children's dance studio. And I think we can all appreciate the consternation of the many families that utilise this DANSTSDio with their young children going through there being co - located by a strip club. Uh, there's been a tremendous amount of opposition towards this. And I think realising that it is a permitted use. There's been a certain level of acceptance that this is going to be a strip club operating from seven to two o'clock in the morning. Um, around this. Uh, however now the request is to allow it to be able to serve liquor and operate, um, starting at 11 o'clock in the morning. And although there may be sports entertainment that will be there, uh, this is a strip club. And we will be extending the hours where liquor is going to be allowed there. And I think that it's very unreasonable to do this for multiple reasons. Um, you know, some very colourfully outlined by the, uh, delegation that spoke. Um, so I think that, um, it is responsible to deny this application. Um, and that I do think council in the future, um, given that I think this is a bit of a social dinosaur. There's only two strip clubs left on Vancouver Island. The other in Campbell River to look at amending our zoning bylaw. Um, so that strip clubs are not allowed in part of the entertainment district in the future. So we don't run into this ridiculous situation of having a strip club being co - located right beside a children's dan studio.

Paul Manly Yes

I think there's not a social license for this. I don't think it's into public interest to be having serving liquor in a script club, uh, during daytime hours in our downtown. We've been working hard on trying to revitalize our downtown space. And it's a party zone at night.

Tyler Brown Yes

Very much like the motion on the floor. Um, uh, unlike some of the other comments, though I that have been made, I would say it's incorrect to say that the type of use camp you looked at, uh, part of the, that's very clear the provincial policy on what councils can look like. I look at and one of them is the impact to the community. Arguably the extension of liquor hours for an exotic dancing establishment. Is a very different type of proposal than an extension of liquor license hours for a restaurant or a pub. Um, so I do think it's, uh, well, I can appreciate the argument. I actually don't think it's valid because we're, we're talking about provincial policy here and the things that council can consider. One of them being impacted to the community. For those reasons, um, and I think, uh, very highlighted by Councillor Guestlebrock, I won't repeat, um, I support the motion on the floor and, uh, I think at some point in the future, it would be very much, uh, wise to change the zoning and do these on site suspecific use if a proposal comes forward. Thank you.

Janice Perrino Yes

I think, um, councillor Armstrong and councillors both made some excellent comments in that. This isn't allowed use of the building. And, and I have, I have no problem with that. That's, uh, it has been allowed. It's fine. I don't have a problem, but I do have a problem with it going from 7 p. m. to 11 a. m. And I think it's important to note that, uh, some of the people who may have sent in comments may have been families of, uh, some of the children attending the dance school. I certainly know of one who's been in touch with me. And they're very concerned about their children attending the school. And they love the school. So that's not an issue for them. And I think it's important that, you know, from school's perspective, they're concerned about this, but also from the actual establishment, um, that is hosting the strip, they have a right as well. So I'm not proposing that I would be against, um, necessarily closing them up. You know, or changing the zoning necessarily, but I do think that having them opened with alcohol at 7 p. m. is certainly early enough. And it, um, it, it attracts a different kind of clientele in the evening. And I think that that's appropriate. So I'll be voting in favor of the motion by director Guess I Brother. Thank you very much.

Questions and answers

Councillor Paul Manly
Speaker identificationConfident
Yes

asked
your consideration. Thank you. Councillor Manley. Uh, thank you. Thank you for your presentation. Um, have you had neighbours like this in the past? Was there a club like this
A guest answered
In the, um, below the painted turtle. There was not in the last 37 years. We've had the club concept where this club is now operating before that there wasn't a club there that I'm aware of. Uh, we'll always have club two for one slash club concept slash the
followed up
jungle and the POS hotel. But in the painted turtle was her, was there, there was a gambling facility there. Was there a script club there at one point? Does
A guest answered
Anybody know. There was an off racetrack horse betting thing there when I came here? Okay. Yeah, I'm just curious.

Councillor Janice Perrino
Speaker identificationConfident
Yes

asked
you. I appreciate that. Cal Ceprino. Uh, thank you, your worship and thank you to the speaker this, um, your presentation was excellent. I'm just wondering you had talked about a couple of the other establishments that, you know, serve food and alcohol and they're open from the 11 to the 2 a. m. Do you experience any problems with
A guest answered
them for your business. We do councillor, but it's been 37 years. We're quite used to it. I clean up puke feces. Urine needles, um, all sorts of stuff on a regular basis. Yes. However, we are downtown and we appreciate that. And there is, you know, there's a certain amount of being downtown. This is what we put up with. And the clients who come to us are used to that. So that hasn't been an impediment in the past. With the specific nature of this business with its conflict with a school that has been an ongoing issue. And honestly, the other bars employee professionals in terms of bouncers and other staff, we're able to control their patrons
followed up
to a much higher degree. Yes. Yes. Okay. Thank you so much. I appreciate that. And your worship when it comes time for Staff, I have some questions for staff
Mayor Leonard Krog
Speaker identificationConfident
answered
if possible. Thank you. Thank you. Um, Mr. Butterworth, a couple of questions. The entrance to the dance school is off Bastion, is that correct? When entrance is off of Bastion and one is through our parking lot sir. We're parking lot. But you said the parking lot is for staff use. Yes. First half of a Harbour Dance Studios. Okay. So the general public though is entering off Bastion. I just want to be clear here and try and
A guest answered
Understand it. We have two entrances. So Bastion Street is where about 80 percent of our clientele going through. We have a lower studio in the basement that you require to go around the building into the parking lot and then enter into that through that area. Okay. So we do have clients of all ages from six, I think at the youngest up to 20 at the oldest plus centre adult classes who are all ages who go in

Mayor Leonard Krog
Speaker identificationConfident
No

asked
Thank you. Um, and look, I'm going to ask you, you said it would take a long time to discuss them, but, but what other kinds of incidents are you referring to when you say that it's been very, uh,
A guest answered
challenging for you. Um, we've had two incidents. We have a fence that protects the backstairs into our building on two incidents now. That's been knocked down by cars. The second one was by a drunk driver. Fortunately, there was a witness to that one who reported that a person came out of the club. Had parked their truck in our parking lot backed up, hit our fence and then drove away in a very erratic manner. Uh, that was reported to police, thankfully. The person was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, but was not able to be charged with impair driving. I have a video camera on the back parking lot. I regularly see patrons come out of the sweet spot going to our parking lot, go to our dumpster pee on the dumpster and go back with the bouncers watching them. Um, we had our neighbour who owns the park and block. Had an escort agency tried to set up in their business about two months after this club had opened. I don't suggest that had anything to do specifically with the people from the club. However, one kind of business draws in other kind of business. We were very, very thankful that she turned that down much to her own financial detriment. Um, the emotional impact to our clients. I related one story, but those impact reports, the surveys you got back, I would welcome you to read them. There are many more in there. Um, our problem is that we're looking at having to fence our parking lot as a minimum and that's 50, 000 dollars and really nobody's making a lot of money teaching children how to dance. So that's an incredible financial burden for us to bear. The garbage and waste our property has always been a problem. It's gone up a little bit. Um, but it's not in the thing, anything that's not unutil. Thank you very much. I'm not

Councillor Janice Perrino
Speaker identificationConfident
Yes

asked
Thank you Mr. Butterworth. Appreciate your time. Counselprino. Sorry you worship a question. A question to staff. If I might, I'm just wondering my understanding is, is that, um, the proponent is asking for the hours of course to switch from 7 PMs to start time to 11 AM start time. Is, is that, are they asking, um, or I'm saying it incorrectly, would they be allowing exotic dancers from as early as 11 a. m. on as far as we know or is that just for the evening hours.
J. Holm
Speaker identificationConfident
answeredDirector, Planning and Development
Mr. Holm, thank you through your, uh, worship to Councillor Prino. That's not their stated intent, although the use, the adult entertainment use is permitted anywhere, uh, nightclub is permitted, which this is operating as. So this is, uh, a permitted use on the property. What we're being councils being asked to consider is a, um, expansion of the liquor service hours. And that's a requirement of the province for council to consider, uh, input from the community and provide comment on the, um, expansion of ours to the liquor primary license. So I know, um, the challenge with the, uh, some of the concerns in the community. You know, it's understandable, um, related to the adult entertainment use, but it is a, uh, it's a metic. It is a permitted use. And what's being asked, uh, expansion of the liquor service hours, uh, not, not explicitly the expansion of the adult injurtainment use. It's really a separate issue. But I can understand the concern. And so the, the application was reviewed. In accordance with the, um, city's liquor license review policy. Council is established as well as the liquor control and licensing act, the requirements of the province. And in council's liquor license review policy, there's a requirement to provide notice within 100 metres. Um, provide a 30 day comment period. Although, um, notices the report, the staff report speaks to 180 comments, 182 comment sheets being provided. It does include all of the comment sheets provided. Um, it just breaks down that, um, seven of those were from within the 100 metre notification area. Whereas 175 were from outside the notification area just to clarify that item as
followed up
well. So. Okay. And just, just one more quick question. My understanding with the way these applications work is that. If we, if we agree and move it forward, then it goes on to the government. The government may or may not agree to it. Even if we vote against it, it may still go to the government and they
J. Holm
Speaker identificationConfident
answeredDirector, Planning and Development
still be passed. Is that correct? Uh, good question. I think, I think, um, the liquor control and liquor cannabis regulation branch takes council's input strongly. They do hold the final decision. But, uh, they do look, um, strongly to