ColWOOd City of ColwoodMEMORANDUM

File: 0400-20-MIN-19466

Date: February 19, 2019

To: Director of Long Range Planning & SustainabilityFrom: Senior Planner

To: Council

Date: February 25, 2019

RE: Correspondence - retail liquor policy changes and impact on small business

This memorandum relates to correspondence requiring Council direction under Agenda item 7:Correspondence - retail liquor policy changes and impact on small business, submitted by

representatives of the 4 Miie Liquor Store and Cascadia Liquor Store.

Similar correspondence was presented to Council at the Monday, May 24'^ 2016 Regular CouncilMeeting (Appendix 1 - March 12, 2016 correspondence). Council received the letter and did notdirect any further action (Appendix 2 - Excerpt of minutes of Regular Council Meeting - Monday May

24, 2016).

Staff note provincial regulations require private liquor stores and government liquor stores to

separated by a minimum distance of 1000m (1km). The correspondence discusses alcohol sales ingrocery stores exemption from the 1km provincial distance requirement and urges Mayor and Council

to review current zoning bylaws and definitions regarding retail liquor outlets.

If Council wish to direct Staff to review current land use bylaws and definitions regarding retail liquor

outlets, a minimum of 35 staffing hours is anticipated. Efforts focused on this review would divert

time and resources away from other identified priority areas.

Respectfully submitted,

JillCo(lSenior

nson, MClP, RPP

lanner, Long Range Planning & Sustainability

City of Colwood 3300 Wishart Road Victoria, BC V9C1R1 P: 250478 5999 F: 250 478 7516 E: info@colwood.ca Web: www.colwood.ca

Memorandum - retail liquor policy changes and impact on small business Page 2 of 2

lain Bourhill, MClP, RPP

Director of Long Range Planning & Sustainability Director of Corporate Services

ipPSM,1V1BAChris P^eJDipPSM,

Interim Chi^f Administrative Officer

Appendix 1

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March 12, 2016 UH hi APR 0 4 2016City of Colwood

3300 Wishart Road

Victoria, British ColumbiaV9C 1R1

Re: Retail liquor policy changes and impacts on local government

Dear Mayor and Council:

As largely small, independent, and family-owned businesses, private liquor store operators are

a key part of the business community. With the ongoing roll-out of the province's changes toliquor retailing, there are key issues that we ask the City of Colwood to consider.

Grocery and alcohol-on-the-shelf:

The province is allowing grocery stores around the province to sell wine on open shelves, In

standard, uncontrolled aisles and shopping areas. The "BC wine only" stipulation Is under tradechallenge and these licences are already being expanded to other types of alcohol.

The list of rules and regulations that are imposed on private and public liquor stores regardingaccess of unaccompanied minors; storage; stock room layout; security; distance requirementsand more are long, significant, and generally appropriate. They prevent people with substance

abuse problems from being unwillingly exposed to alcohol when they are buying necessitiessuch as food. The rules and regulations have also reduced alcohol-related policing costs.

Liquor is a controlled substance (like marijuana) and special regulations are needed. Alcohol,whether it is beer, cider or wine, is still alcohol. It is unfair and dangerous to have a different setof rules for two different retailers.

Alcohol on open grocery store shelves and tied to food sales is an issue that Addictions

Research of BC (UVIC), Island Health and MADD are tackling with provincial and municipalgovernments. Such organizations also support distance criteria and limitations on access.

Distance reouirements between retailers of alcohol

Alcohol-on-the-shelf in grocery stores will NOT be subject to the 1km rule, meaning you couldhave a shopping plaza with a Government Liquor Store (GLS) or Private Liquor Store (LRS)next door to a grocery store with a large section of wine and other types of alcohol. In manycases this puts too many retail liquor options on the same property or in an area of

concentration.

These two sets of rules the Province has outlined benefit large corporate grocery chains, hurt

small business and government employee unions that represent BC Liquor Stores as well asimpact public safety and municipal policing costs.

Small businesses have invested significantly in liquor retail stores in Colwood and their profitsare reinvested in the local community. Colwood liquor retailers have purchased expensive

licenses under previous provincial government assurances and have taken on long term lease

obligations and made significant long term Investments in Colwood properties. We respectfullyask you to consider our feedback and recommendations.

Recommendation

We ask the City of Colwood to review current zoning bylaws, definitions and the approvalprocess regarding liquor retail outlets.

Ensure that language In current or future legislation is not unintentionally self-llmlting (I.e.,"Liquor Stores" vs. "retailers of beverage alcohol" or use "pursuant to Liquor Control andLicensing Act".)

Ensure that any retailer of alcohol Is required to meet the common minimum standard of safetythat Is applied to a private or government liquor store. Ensure that dialogue is In place Inadvance of confirming zoning requirements to applicants and the LCLB.

Implement a distance criterion that eliminates concentrations of liquor retail. As of April 1, 2015,a 1,000 meter (1km) rule has been applied by the Province to any new private liquor stores andGovernment Liquor Stores. Retailing safeguards of this nature would not be a detriment In termsof reasonable access to alcohol in Colwood and would still allow for responsible liquor retaildevelopment In Identified mature and Immature comprehensive development zones such as theRoyal Bay and Latorla Road development areas.

Colwood residents would be well served by distance criteria for liquor retail that would not bedissimilar to future potential retail policies around other controlled substances (dispensariesetc...). This rule would include Government Liquor Stores, Private Stores and Grocery Stores.

While there are social safety and policing Issues outside of the realm of land use, we ask that

reports to council on zoning Issues related to controlled substances Include stakeholders who

support the responsible sale of alcohol.

Such policies would protect jobs, investment In the community; provide future Investmentcertainty while Insuring public access and appropriate safeguards to the citizens and taxpayersof Colwood.

RespectfOtly,/

Cascadia Colwodd LlqUor Store

4 Mile Liquor Stor^'- Cblwcod

Minutes of Regular Council Meeting - Monday, May 24, 2016 Page 142 of 335

• Juan de Fuca library is currently under renovatii Appendix 2with a week.

• Over 500 people attended the open house at the new library located at the YMCA inLangford.

• The Langford YMCA has already sold 3500 memberships, showing a need for recreation

services within the Westshore.

5. PRESENTATIONS

5.1. Presentation - Keith Barbon - Cascadia Liquor Store & Graham Haymes - 4

Mile Liquor Store

Re: Consideration for a Distance Metric between all types of Liquor Retailers

within Colwood 0400-20-MIN 19466

Mr. Keith Barbon from Cascadia Liquor Store and Mr. Graham Haymes from the 4 Mile Liquor

Store informed Council that recent provincial liquor poiicy changes will allow grocery stores to

sell BC only wine on open shelves. They explained that the new changes did not include anystipulations for distance between government iiquor stores or private liquor stores.

Mr. Haymes noted that the change will benefit the iarge corporate grocery stores but will hurt

small business and government empioyee unions representing the BC Liquor Stores.

They noted they are requesting that the City of Colwood review current zoning bylaws,definitions and the approval process regarding liquor retail outlets. They provided an overview

of municipal examples related to a distance metric between all types of liquor retailers.

It was questioned if the planning department has reviewed the request. Mr. Bourhill explained

that staff has not analyzed the information or developed any recommendations as the planning

department has a list of priorities for departmental workload.

6. CORRESPONDENCE REQUIRING COUNCIL DIRECTION

6.1. Letter - Cascadia Liquor Store & 4 Miie Liquor Store

Re: Retail Liquor Policy Changes and Impacts on Local Government[Council may receive for information only or refer to staff for consideration and futureaction as deemed warranted]

MOVED BY: COUNCILLOR NAULT

SECONDED: COUNCILLOR CHONG

That the March 12*^ 2016 letter from Cascadia Colwood Liquor Store and 4 MileLiquor Store regarding retail liquor policy changes and impacts on local governmentbe received.

CARRIED.