The Black Rock Resort wants to add an hour to its Float Lounge’s liquor service and Ucluelet’s municipal council won’t stand in the way.
The resort has submitted two applications to BC’s Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) that, if approved, would push the lounge’s last call from midnight to 1 a.m. and allow liquor to be served on an outdoor patio adjacent to the lounge.
Ucluelet’s council had the option of collecting public feedback and providing input to the LCLB regarding these applications but chose to stay out of the process after reviewing a report from the district’s lead planner John Towgood during a recent council meeting.
“It should be noted that if the District of Ucluelet chooses to opt out of providing input, the LCLB will gather views of residents,” Towgood wrote.
He added that any district funds spent on a public review process would not be recovered and suggested the changes to the lounge’s liquor service would not have a significant impact on the town.
“The Black Rock Resort is located in relative isolation from surrounding residential neighbourhoods and the proposed change of hours and additional patio area are minor in nature,” he wrote.
Coun. Sally Mole suggested it would make sense for the district to save its dollars and let the LCLB do the work, especially considering the LCLB would have final say on the resort’s applications.
“In the end, it’s the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch that will decide,” she said. “If it’s a lot of staff time and demand on resources, then I don’t know that we need to spend that money.”
Council agreed and voted unanimously to opt out of providing comments or recommendations to the LCLB.