Your chances of finding an empty seat at Green Leaf Brewing might be about to get 165 per cent better.
City of North Vancouver council recently hopped behind the Carrie Cates Court craft beer brewer’s bid to expand from 40 to 106 seats.
Citing “minimal” potential for noise as well as the “significant tourist draw” provided by the craft beer industry, city staff recommended supporting the expansion.
The final decision rests with the provincial government, but city approval was required before Green Leaf could get the green light.
The change would be permanent, reconfiguring the lounge to more than double capacity from 25 to 52 seats. The patio would be in for an even bigger change, expanding from 15 to 54 seats.
The Lonsdale Quay patio would still close at 11 p.m. Green Leaf’s lounge closes at midnight during the week and at 1 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Council approved the current configuration in September 2014. The new arrangement would allow Green Leaf to extend their patio eastward.
That extension earned support from Lonsdale Quay management.
The arrangement “contributes to the animation of the deck area which tends to be less populated in the evening hours,” noted a city staff report.
The report also credited Green Leaf for working with local food vendors at the market to “promote their products” as well as working with events at Shipbuilders’ Square.
Despite the potential increase in activity, opposition for the expansion was muted. There was no opposition from residents during the public consultation period. Council voted unanimously to support the additional seats without discussion.
“There have been no noise complaints resulting from the lounge and outdoor patio to date. Staff do not anticipate any noise impacts from the proposed change,” stated the staff report.
The bar is hoping to get approval from the province before the summer of 2018, according to owner Martin Ebadi.
Green Leaf occupies a spot that was previously taken by a Quay Market office, a travel agency, seafood vendor and muffin shop.
Green Leaf management was responsible for the installation of a drainage system in the market’s basement. The brewers also tweaked the ventilation in order to send the beer smell out to sea.
Speaking to the North Shore News in 2016, Ebadi credited Green Leaf’s lager for much of their success. The single beer accounted for 60 per cent of Green Leaf’s sales two months after it was introduced, according to Ebadi.
