The owners of a Coquitlam eatery set a new bar for the City Centre area this week when they won the right to pour alcohol past midnight.
But the liquor extension for the Urban Gate Restaurant, located on The High Street off Glen Drive, will apply only for Fridays and Saturdays until 1 a.m.
The move by Coquitlam city council on Monday set off another debate about the need to make City Centre more vibrant while respecting the wishes of the residents living in surrounding - and yet-to-be-built - highrises.
In a public consultation exercise last month, prompted by the Urban Gate's request to have its liquor hours extended to 2 a.m. seven days a week, 134 area residents wrote to city hall to comment on the bid, with 87% of those opposing it.
Many cited concerns about possible increased disorderly behaviour by restaurant patrons as well as noise, litter and cigarette smoking.
Those in favour of the liquor extension, however, noted the economic benefits to the City Centre, the proximity to the Coquitlam RCMP detachment and the need to have drinking establishments close to home.
Coun. Mae Reid, chair of the city's land use committee, said the area is poised for massive growth, especially with the Evergreen Line coming down Pinetree Way soon, and the city has to get ready for late-night traffic.
"This is a mixed-use neighbourhood and this is our City Centre so if we are going to turn it into a vibrant place, then we ought to support its vibrancy - at least, starting with Friday and Saturday nights," Coun. Selina Robinson said.
"We have a downtown that does not have a lot of life later in the evening," Coun. Brent Asmundson added. "I think there was more life when I was younger 25 or 30 years ago in Coquitlam than there is today."
Coun. Barrie Lynch said the Keg Restaurant also recently got approval to serve booze until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays but it's in an area where no one lives. Having a 1 a.m. weekend cut-off at Urban Gate is a "fair compromise," he said, adding, "I think that we have to consider what type of downtown we want."
Coun. Doug Macdonell, who as chair of the city's recreation committee is pressing to make Coquitlam "fun" with a new strategy to attract events and festivals year-round, also urged city managers to look at introducing entertainment zones or outdoor patios for Coquitlam businesses that want to offer late-night socializing. The topic was referred to the land use committee for discussion by the next council.
Coun. Lou Sekora was the only councillor to vote against the Friday and Saturday liquor extension, saying, "It's not what [the owner] wanted."
Meanwhile, Sekora and Mayor Richard Stewart voted against a liquor extension until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays for D'yar (Daniel's) Restaurant, located at 2786 Barnet Hwy., which had applied to serve booze until 1:30 a.m. seven days a week (its current liquor licence allows staff to serve booze until midnight, Monday to Sunday).
Stewart said, in this case, the restaurant is not near homes but along a commercial/industrial strip.
