City of Powell River council is in favour of Carlson Community Club expanding its outdoor service area by 16 seats.
At the May 20 city council meeting, councillor Rob Southcott said the club wants to expand the outdoor patio on the west side of the building, consistent with various other buildings that have done the same thing in the community. Southcott said the expansion is contingent on allowances made by the provincial government to allow businesses to expand outside because it’s healthier to do than inside at this time of COVID-19. He said he supports the recommendation.
Councillor Cindy Elliott said she would like to echo her support as stated by Southcott.
“I believe we’ve been promoting the idea of people sitting outside,” said Elliott. “With the Carlson Community Club, it makes very good sense to use part of the parking lot.”
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said she wanted to lend her support for this application.
“The Carlson Community Club is a good community club, it’s well used,” said Hathaway. “It turned over from a club where all of the fundraising went out of town at one point in time and now it all stays in town. It’s a very worthwhile organization.
“We have an obligation in these COVID-19 times to help small businesses and organizations as much as we can. If that’s going to help them survive, I’m all for it.”
Council voted unanimously in favour of the outdoor patio expansion. Council approved a recommendation that the director of planning services be delegated the authority to provide written confirmation to the liquor and cannabis regulation branch that it has no objection to the proposed temporary expanded service area of 16 outdoor patio seats at Carlson Community Club.
