Comox pub owners hope to open restaurant

Food, beverages and waterfront views in a family-oriented restaurant is what the owners of the Blackfin Pub hope to offer patrons of Comox.Edd Moyes and Lisa Moyes, owner/operators of Kaycar Holdings Ltd. who own the pub, applied to council Wednesday for a parking variance to proceed with a restaurant in the lower level of the building. The variance seeks to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces from 25 to 18 for the 60-seat bistro.In their application, the owners note the Blackfin Pub draws people to Comox and with the addition of a seaside bistro/restaurant downstairs, they could ultimately draw a larger group which will in turn, benefit other Comox merchants. They also proposed to double the size of existing bike racks to accommodate up to 16 bicycles. The zoning bylaw was given first and second reading by council, and should go to a public heading within approximately one month. • • • Council approved a recommendation from the Dec. 5 committee of the whole meeting that the town continue monthly grant payments to the Comox Archives and Museum Society at $2,083 per month until the cultural services budget for 2012 through 2016 is adopted as part of the next financial plan bylaw. They also formally approved $57,000 be included for a pedestrian crossing project at the Robb/Anderton intersection as outlines in the Comox transportation study for consideration in 2012 for the 2012-2016 financial plan.• • • Two motions from the Jan. 11 committee of the whole meeting were approved to aid the process of creating an arts community centre. A motion to fast-track a zoning amendment for residential and restaurant use at 2182 Comox Ave. (St. John the Baptist Church) and a motion that staff be directed to prepare a tax exemption program bylaw for the project were formally approved Wednesday. Resident Kelly Pound presented council in December with her idea to create the centre in the church, which is designated as a heritage building.She hopes to rent a house which is also located on the property behind the church to subsidize her income while she works on renovations to the building, which would require the rezoning change.photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com