Port Alberni’s popular entertainment venue, Char’s Landing, continues to receive support from the community.
Owner Charlene Patterson, has applied to amend the Official Community Plan and the Zoning Bylaw to allow lodging and boarding with accessory uses at her venue such as hostel, restaurant, pub and assembly.
Char’s Landing is located on Argyle Street at Fifth Avenue, in a renovated church.
After going through financial struggles earlier this year, Patterson decided to apply to rezone her property, located in the heart of the Arts District on Argyle Street, from commercial to residential with accessories.
The rezone would lower the amount of interest Patterson is struggling to pay each month and allow her to apply for a personal line of credit.
Thirty-five letters of support from community members have been sent to city council regarding the zoning change.
Scott Smith, city planner with the City of Port Alberni, presented the details of the amendment to city council which went to a third reading at Monday’s council meeting.
Patterson has an appointment with notary Dorothy Clarkstone next week to consolidate the two legal land parcels, three commercial lots, into one parcel in order to satisfy the residential zone minimums. This has to be registered with Land Titles in Victoria.
“Next is to finalize with my bank which has pre-approved the new mortgage,” Patterson said.
A crowdfunding initiative that Patterson started on April 23 to raise money for business expenses has reached more than $10,000.
“Our GoFundMe is now at $10,785, double our initial target, thankfully because our expenses keep adding on.
“We probably will need to re-appraise the property which in 2012 cost upwards of $1,500 (for the property appraisal process),” Patterson said.
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