Four Vancouver plazas approved for pilot project allowing outdoor drinking

Vancouver council has approved a pilot project that would allow alcohol at four public plazas in the city.

Council voted in favour of the plan yesterday and the project is slated to begin August 10th and continue until mid-October.

Approved plazas include three in downtown Vancouver, one on the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery, another near the Vancouver Convention Centre and the third on a reclaimed side street at Bute and Robson.

The fourth plaza is also part of a blocked off side street on 17th Avenue at Cambie Street, in the Cambie Village neighbourhood.

A report on the proposal says city staff worked to resolve concerns raised by police and health officials who were opposed to the project.