Langley City council approved two liquor license applications, which allow a pair of local businesses to serve alcohol to guests, 19 and older, later into the night and in more spaces than currently allowed.
Council endorsed the proposals during the June 9 regular council meeting, after no residents or property owners showed up to weigh in on the issue at a public hearing in the council chambers before the vote.
Cascades Casino and Cactus Club Café submitted the proposals to the City of Langley to have their liquor licences expanded, with the restaurant seeking longer hours and the casino looking to add floor space, both inside and outside the building, where alcoholic drinks may be served.
Cascades has also opened a new pub and restaurant, called Match Eatery and Public House.
“They’re a great restaurant in the city,” said acting mayor Ted Schaffer of Cactus Club after both votes.
“And to Cascades, you are now fulfilling the city’s interests in a greater entertainment area.”
Although council unanimously approved both applications, Councillor Dave Hall voiced concern over one applicant, Cactus Club, not having a formal arrangement with a local taxi company, given the proposed later hours of alcoholic beverage service and location’s inaccessibility to public transit late at night.
The restaurant, whose delegation at the council meeting cited an excellent record of employee training, evaluation and liquor service safety, is proposing to delay last call until 1 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and until 1:30 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
“Other arrangements must be made, and I think it’s the obligation of the service provider to come up with a plan for those arrangements,” said Hall, who finished by suggesting that the applicant research transit differences between the Langley location and other more transit- and pedestrian-friendly locals in the Cactus Club chain.