Liquor application no longer collecting dust on Council's desk

The Morning Star story Sunday, April 19/09, by Jennifer Smith Highlands Golf has taken another swing at landing a new liquor licence. The Buchanan Road golf course had previously applied to Coldstream for a change in the hours of operation, but was denied. Now, the course is seeking a liquor primary licence from the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch. The short course currently has a food primary licence, which restricts alcoholic beverages to the food facility. In a letter of intent, applicant and Highlands Golf owner Barb Mitchell states: "The benefit to Coldstream with my LP (liquor primary licence) would be that golfers are able to take a beverage with them onto the course, as they can at other courses." Having had golfers smuggle alcoholic beverages onto the course previously, Mitchell says the new licence would give her better control of consumption on the entire property. The application shows that hours of operation requested are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily as well as one beverage cart on site. But at least one neighbour to the site is concerned about the impacts if this licence is approved. "This type of change does not fit in the neighbourhood," said Sheila Schwartz. "This is a golf recreation facility, not a facility focused on food and liquor services." Coldstream will be seeking input to the application at a public hearing expected in approximately one month. Neighbours within three kilometres of Highlands Golf on Buchanan Road will be notified of the hearing and newspaper ads will be published to give as many residents the opportunity to speak. "The impact of this is felt all the way down Buchanan Road," said Councillor Doug Dirk.