Land is the only thing they’re not making more of – usually.
West Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»council voted unanimously to rezone the Beachhouse Restaurant Monday night – in part to deal with extra landmass created by water gradually retreating on the foreshore.
Council’s vote allows the tenant to add a 689-square-foot two-storey addition including an elevator and ramp to ease access.
The district is slated to contribute $750,000 to the estimated $5-million project.
Modernizing the restaurant should benefit the district, according to West Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»senior community planner Lisa Berg. While Earls operates the restaurant, the district owns the site and receives a percentage of the rent.
The restaurant’s capacity is set to remain at 168 seats.
At approximately 33 feet, the restaurant currently exceeds district height restrictions by about eight feet. However, the renovation is expected to lower the roof peak to approximately 26 feet, bringing it closer to district guidelines. Other work includes a new pergola with retractable awning slated to replace fabric awnings.
Ordinarily, a restaurant the size of the Beachhouse would need to provide 35 parking spots. However, due to a parking variance, the restaurant will continue to provide seven parking spots.
The 106-year-old restaurant is also slated to do away with the fireplace and add south-facing windows.
While there were no complaints about rezoning the foreshore segment from marine to commercial, one neighbour expressed concerns about the heritage trees in the area, requesting they be limbed to allow a little more light into Dundarave Park.
The other concern related to the restaurant’s fans. Citing noise concerns, Bellevue Avenue resident Joe Winkler requested the fans be redirected away from his building.
District staff said they would investigate both concerns.
The restaurant is not included in the district’s heritage register.
