Liquor store faces little opposition in UBCO neighbourhood

KELOWNA – Imagine, if you will, an application to open a liquor store in Kelowna that faced little opposition from local neighbours and in fact, will likely be warmly embraced when it finally does open.

That’s because the neighbours in the building on Academy Way where the liquor store will be located are by and large UBC Okanagan students who will almost certainly welcome the shortened trek for their weekend case of beer or bottle of wine.

The closest current option is almost two kilometres away located in the commercial/industrial subdivision across Highway 97 from the Kelowna Airport, neither a convenient walk or bus ride from the area.

Academy Apartments applied for the rezoning necessary to open the liquor store in September. It went to public hearing October 20 and will be considered for final adoption at today’s council meeting.

City planner Tracy Yuzik says there has been some opposition to the liquor store but not enough to stop council from endorsing the application.

In her report to council, Yuzik notes there are no restaurants serving liquor in the area and the addition of a retail liquor store in the University South village centre would fill a need for local residents.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.