PENTICTON — Penticton council is looking to impose stricter regulations on liquor sales in grocery stores.
On Monday night, all but one councillor voted in favour of amending a zoning bylaw to limit stores to the sale of 100 per cent B.C. wines and follow the one-kilometre separation rule.
Rob Ingram, a member of the Winery Owner Coalition, says he was impressed with council’s decision.
“The main thing is they understand that Penticton is a tourism-based town and it is a different decision for them than it is for other cities,” says Ingram.
Get daily National news
The zoning bylaw amendment would impose stricter restrictions beyond those imposed by the provincial government.
“In an area that’s worked so hard to create Penticton as a destination, for many reasons, but our wine industry is paramount and our small wineries are significant in that. And I fear for their ability to continue,” says councillor Judy Sentes.
Councillor Andre Martin voted against the amendment, saying the B.C. government continues to work with the industry so he’d like to see what comes out of those consultations.
“I think we heard today that they need a little more time to figure things out so I’d like to give that process that much more time to do it,” says Martin.
Staff will draft a new legislation by next month before it goes to a public hearing, which is anticipated to take place March 21.
Comments