Proposed microbrewery near Maffeo Sutton Park seeks go-ahead

Another microbrewery could be coming to Nanaimo.

Cliffside Brewing Company is proposing to build a microbrewery at 11 Cliff St., near White Sails Brewing, according to a city staff report.

The business – called Cliffside Brewing Company – would include a lounge, outdoor patio and manufacturing area. Operating hours would be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday; 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Cliffside Brewing has submitted a liquor manufacturing application to the B.C. Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. However, the company must receive what is known as a lounge endorsement from Nanaimo councillors in order for its application with the B.C. LCRB to be approved.

A lounge endorsement would allow the company to serve and sell its products in permitted areas on the property, according to a staff report, which also notes that previous city councils have supported similar applications from Wolf Brewery and Arbutus Distillery.

Cliff Street’s existing zoning allows for a microbrewery.

Councillors, during Monday’s meeting, voted in favour of receiving the staff report and a public hearing for the proposal has been scheduled for May 2.

Dale Lindsay, the city’s director of community development, said in an e-mail that liquor applications follow a bit of an “unusual” path in that public hearings occur before first or second readings.

Council will vote on the application following the public hearing.