Brew pub given go-ahead
Patio hours will be restricted after neighbour expresses concern
Meagan Leonard
Northern News Services
Friday, June 5, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
NWT Brewing Co. now has a name for its new pub and is one step closer to a July opening. The Woodyard Brewhouse and Eatery was granted a conditional liquor licence, but its outdoor patio will have to adhere to residential quiet hours.
During a liquor board hearing in Yellowknife May 29, chairperson Colin Baile told owners Fletcher and Miranda Stevens he received a letter from a resident living in close proximity to the pub, expressing concern about plans for an outdoor patio space.
"They have asked that (patio) hours conclude at 11 p.m to coincide with the city's noise bylaw," Baile told the Stevens. "The pub is located in the city's oldest neighbourhood and they are worried about excessive noise during quiet time."
During the hearing Fletcher said they intend to have a doorman and a manager working each night, as well as posted signage reminding patrons to be courteous of neighbours. Miranda added overall capacity will be reduced during the summer months to accommodate people on the patio. She said she had hoped the restaurant would be given a chance to be open later before strict rules were put in place.
"We do recognize that we are in a neighbourhood and have to adhere to the quiet hour," she said. "It would be nice to have been able to play it by ear to see how the noise level was before being restricted."
The patio was constructed so it faces Franklin Avenue and has a six-foot privacy fence in place to control noise, she said. Ideally it would have been open until closing time at 2 a.m.
"If we have music, it would be at a reasonable level, like background noise or ambiance," she added.
In its consideration, the board said it looked at past applications and said typically only bars located in non-residential areas have been allowed to stay open late.
"The board has restricted outdoor hours of operation to 11 p.m or earlier where the Class A establishment is located in or adjacent to residential areas," the decision reads. "We find the proper balance between the applicant's requested hours of operation and the public interest is to allow the establishment Š operating hours between 10 a.m and 11 p.m."
During a survey of patio bars in the city, Yellowknifer discovered the rules vary. After 8 Pub on Forrest Drive is also required to close its patio at 11 p.m due to the adjoining apartment building while the Twist Resto-Lounge on 50 Street is open until midnight. Sam's Monkey Tree Pub on Range Lake Road keeps its patio open until 2 a.m when the bar closes while the Wildcat Cafe's closes at 10 p.m.
Questioning 'popular' beverages
In order to stay true to their mandate of opening a microbrewery, the couple will be later looking for the board to waive a sub-section of the NWT Liquor regulations. The line in question specifies establishments selling liquor in the territory must have on hand an adequate supply of popular brands including beer, wine and spirits.
Miranda said she takes issue with the vague parametres specifying what is "popular."
"That is an interesting regulation Š it's very vague," she said. "Where is the list that says what is popular or not?"
Because the Stevens' could not provide a definitive opening date for their brew pub, liquor board chair Colin Baile said he was reluctant to issue them a licence outright. If the date arrived and the business was not able to open for its specified hours, the couple would then be in violation of the licencing act. They now have until October to provide the board with a date as long as five days notice is given, the pub should be able to open without incident.
NWT Brewing Co had planned to open in Old Town by the summer solstice in June, but now anticipate it may be closer to the end of July before they are up and running.
