Nightclub developer Ted Coole said his business partners, and the public, were shortchanged by a city council decision Monday night to deny approval for the proposed Coyote's nightclub.
Coole and his partners were seeking to convert the former Cineplex Odeon movie theater and Good Time's Bingo hall at the corner of Third Avenue and Vancouver Street into a 370-seat nightclub and live music venue. On Monday, city council denied approval of first and second reading of a rezoning bylaw for the site, preventing a public hearing which would have allowed the proponents and opponents of the nightclub to make their case to council.
"It is one thing to lose after [a public hearing], but it is another to be denied the opportunity to present," Coole said. "It's just incredible that council would take this position, not only to the proponents, but the public as well. We have a petition with over 2,000 signatures in support. Some of those people would have liked to speak."
The controversial proposal has drawn opposition from area residents, organizations and business owners, including a 109-name petition.
In a recent report, the Select
Committee on Business called on City Hall to treat developers as customers, Coole said. Denying a customer the opportunity to make their case doesn't send the message the Prince George is open for business, he added.
Coole said at this point, he and his business partners are not looking at any alternative locations for the club. To renovate another building downtown to provide the same level of service is not financially viable, he said.
"Is there another location that would even compare to this? No. If we can't go to this calibre of entertainment and venue, then for us it's dead," Coole said. "It's a lost business opportunity for our group, but it's a huge lost opportunity for people in Prince George as well."
City decision
In its report to council, the city's planning and development department recommended against approving the
rezoning bylaw.
"The applicant's proposal has the potential to create unacceptable land use impacts," planning and development
director Dan Milburn said.
"We believe the potential of impact is sufficient for the recommendation of
denial."
The proposal does not fit with city council's planning direction in the Official Community Plan or Smart Growth on the Ground concept plan, he said. In the report, staff anticipated the club would generate complaints of noise, traffic, parking, litter and safety issues.
"The RCMP expressed concerns that the size of establishment... would put a strain on police resources at closing hours," the report said.
Coun. Dave Wilbur said he had no reservations about denying the application at first reading.
"This is adjacent to a quiet, established, great neighbourhood: the Crescents," Wilbur said. "It's not a good fit in my view."
Coun. Murry Krause said while council does not want to discourage entertainment options in the downtown, the location was not a good fit.
"Loud and clearly we've heard from
residents in the area, and commercial residents in the area, that it is not wanted," Krause said. "Of course we want to see development of entertainment options downtown... [But] I think there has to be some planning in advance, as has happened in other communities, to contain it or manage it."
Councillors Cameron Stolz and Lyn Hall said this decision should not be interpreted to mean council is not, "open for business."
"It may be the right idea... but there is a concern here with the particular location," Stolz said. "We are open for business... [but] we're not open to any business in any location."
Coun. Frank Everitt was the only member of council to oppose the decision.
"I think the applicant deserves the opportunity to have the public hearing... once that is done [we can] make the appropriate decision," Everitt said. "We've said to folks that we are open to business, but we're stopping the process before the public hearing."
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