West Coast Liquor Company is trying for a second time to open up a liquor store within a block of Renfrew Elementary and in the vicinity of a number of other family-oriented establishments.

Many residents and families of Renfrew Elementary have already told them last year that they are not welcome. We are making sure that our voice is heard again this year.

In 2021, West Coast Liquor Company applied for a development permit to open a liquor store at the new development at 3737 Rupert St, directly across the street from Renfrew Elementary. Many in the community were against it and submitted their comments to the city. The Director of Planning denied their application: https://shapeyourcity.ca/3737-rupert-st?fbclid=IwAR2qIZbux6wDCdbgnfoUUyPxPdHkNaAeCZhB2E1lZrxc7IZSZNX0VceCiiE. Their refusal letter specifically states reasons for refusal including:

• non-compliant with the Liquor Store Guidelines:
  1) not located within a Local Shopping Area and
  2) located within 150 m of a school- within 150 m of Renfrew Elementary School; directly across the street,

Reference: https://guidelines.vancouver.ca/guidelines-liquor-store.pdf

They proceeded to the Board of Variance where the vote was a 2-2 tie, which led to a denial.

Now, they are trying again at the new development on the other corner of Rupert & 22nd, 3838 Rupert St. Their application was refused again by the Director of Planning: https://shapeyourcity.ca/3838-rupert-st?fbclid=IwAR2X8Nkxo4aWtHag3dq2FU5KxoLSn3MvaRNovK-gT98ZsllmUZD9BSh4sYA. They are again proceeding to the Board of Variance.

This time, they purposely designed their storefront to be on East 23rd and measured the distance from their front entrance to the front doors of Renfrew Elementary to come up with a number over 150 metres. If we’re measuring by property lines, it would be under 100 metres. In their letter asking for support, they state that they chose this location “keeping in mind that there is literally no visibility to nearby schools”? Not facing a school is one thing, as the proposed location for 3737 Rupert was also not directly facing the school, but bending the guidelines this way is not honest and shows their true colours of doing whatever it takes to get what they want.

Vancouver School Board has confirmed that they measure the distance by property lines, as the crow flies. VSB has supported a position of opposition.

The new proposed location entrance at 3309 East 23rd Avenue is also just 230 metres from Blue Spruce Montessori School on East 25th Avenue.

Regardless of their location within this intersection, they would still not be within a "Local Shopping Area" in accordance with Liquor Store Guidelines. The guidelines state that "New locations for liquor stores are focussed in certain identified Local Shopping Areas. These Local Shopping Areas come from adopted Community Visions, Local Area Plans, or Council Policy, and are intended to serve the daily needs of residents."

If this company is allowed to blatantly disregard the guidelines, how many other liquor stores will then be allowed to open OUTSIDE of Local Shopping Areas and WITHIN 150 metres of a church, park, elementary or secondary school, community centre or neighbourhood house?

On May 28 & 29, 2:00-4:00pm each day, they are holding an open house at Lucky Plus Restaurant (corner of Rupert & 22nd) to try to garner support. Residents in the area have been solicited for support at their homes. We plan to be at the open house to express our views.

Please sign our petition against a liquor store in our neighbourhood. Every signature helps!