Whistler should have a new eight-screen movie theatre by Christmas, and there may be an indoor skateboard park adjacent to it.
Bylaws to allow the rezoning of the former AlpenRock space to permit the theatre, a nightclub, a restaurant, storage space and the skateboard park were adopted by council Tuesday.
While the eight-screen theatre, to be operated by Marshall Smith, who operates theatres in other mountain resorts, will be open in time for the Christmas holidays, the restaurant and nightclub won’t open until the fall of 2003.
Jack Evrensel, owner of Araxi’s Restaurant in Whistler and restaurants in Vancouver, has proposed a nightclub for the over-35 crowd, alongside the restaurant in the underground Whistler Village Centre location, but he needs time to develop his concept.
The restaurant and nightclub application involved a rearrangement of existing liquor licence seats, which faced opposition from other nightclub owners and residents at a July 2 public hearing. Under the bylaw adopted Tuesday there will be a maximum of 263 A licensed seats and 146 B licensed seats. The number of A licensed seats may only be increased with the consent of the municipality.
Meanwhile, at the suggestion of some speakers at the public hearing the owners of the space, Larco Investments Ltd., are exploring the possibility of using a 3,000 square foot area for an indoor skateboard park.
