Public Hearing brings support for Port City Spirits proposal, moves zoning application forward

The proposed Distillery plans for Port City Spirits found
no opposition from Monday's Public Hearing

The Public Hearing process of review of the Port City Spirits rezoning application took less than seven minutes, with Council members finding much to like from the comments of a number of community members who had written letters of support for the proposed use of the old U Brew Location for a small scale distillery and tasing room.

The Public Hearing began at 6PM on Monday, with a review of a report from the city's planning office which traced the background for the proposed use, a review which provided for no questions from the city council members for staff.

While no members of the public came forward during the Public Hearing comment period, Rosa Miller the city's Corporate Administrator, did provide notice of a number of correspondences in support of the rezoning applications.

Ms Miller outlined for Council that a number of local residents had spoken in favour, included on the list were:

Scott Farwell -- Board Chair of Tourism Prince Rupert

Tom Chang -- Local business person

Gina Garon -- Blue Heron Design Centre Local business person

Chris Proctor Contracting -- Local Business person

David Geronazzo -- Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce 

Frances Riley/Richard Haley -- The Argosy Local business persons

Mike Slubowski/Barb Burton -- Stuck On Desings Local business persons

Chris Woodrow/Leon Collins -- Coastal Tek local business persons

Jack Payne -- Local Business person

David Smook/Lucy -- Homework/Seahorse Trading local business person

The copies of those letters have not as of yet, been made part of the information release related to the Public Hearing.

Later in the Regular Council session, the topic returned for consideration, with the council members making note of the positive response that the proposal received from those who took the time to submit letters.

"I would only note, that for those that missed it there was a great deal of expression of support from a number of different places, so that's what I think I'm hearing from the public on this one" -- Councillor Nick Adey

"We never heard one negative thing about it, I had a couple of people come to me and concern about a lounge, and when I explained to the them that it wasn't a lounge it was a testing room they had no problem what so ever with it. I think from the tourism point of view it's going to be a good thing. And it's four entrepreneurs that have come up with an idea and I think we should support it"  -- Councillor Barry Cunningham

"One of the letters  of support was from someone who actually lives right behind the establishment. So I figured if you live right next to it and your support it  then that's an indication that it's a good thing to have happen ... I definitely support this application" -- Mayor Lee Brain

The Council members then voted to move the rezoning application process forward. 

You can review the Public Hearing below:

The Council Discussion of the rezoning from the Regular Council session starts at the 39 minute mark.

Some background on the proposed Distillery can be found from our Monday preview item here.

More notes on Monday's Council session are available from our Council Timeline, while the archive of past Public Hearings can be explored here. 

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.