FILE PHOTO - RCMP investigators on the scene of fires at the Liquid Zoo in Kelowna, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014. The strip club wants to increase capacity from 301 to 450 patrons. A public hearing will be held at city hall on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.

(KELLY CURTIS / iNFOnews.ca)

CLUB WAS SUBSTANTIALLY RENOVATED LAST YEAR

KELOWNA - Adding capacity to the Liquid Zoo, a downtown Kelowna strip club, will only add to the problems police experience during the 2 a.m. bar flush.

That’s the main reason Kelowna planning staff are recommending against support for an application by club owner David Habib to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch to increase capacity by 50 per cent from 301 to 450 patrons.

“Concern for the potential negative impacts of an increase in liquor primary patron capacity in this area by adding to the existing challenges in the area regarding noise, patron behaviour and increase in police enforcement,” writes urban planner Paul McVey in a report to council.

“There is the potential for significant negative community impacts related to late night noise and inappropriate behaviour which could result in additional policing costs,” McVey adds.

However planning does note the primary disqualifier of the Liquid Zoo is being too close to another nightclub, Cake, which is just 90 meters away instead of the required 250 metres.

It is within the so-called Entertainment District and is unlikely to generate residential noise complaints although future residential development in the area could be affected, McVey writes.

The Liquid Zoo was substantially renovated in 2015 including expansion of the covered rooftop patio area.

Planning staff do provide an alternate recommendation where its distance from Cake nightclub is overlooked and the application is supported.

Kelowna city council will consider the application at a public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. in Kelowna council chambers.

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