Loitering, "unsavoury characters," offsales and the effects of a liquor establishment on a nearby day care were some concerns raised at a Yukon Liquor Board hearing this week to discuss an application for a liquor licence in Granger.

Rod Malchow and Mike Palamar have applied for a food primary, liquor primary and offsales at 81 Wilson Dr.

Malchow and Palamar hope to open an establishment called The Ridge Pub and Lounge at the location.

About 12 residents and non-residents of Granger met with the board, Malchow and Palamar, and representatives of the Yukon Liquor Corp. Tuesday afternoon to discuss the application.

Many residents took issue with the potential crowd a pub and lounge would bring into their neighbourhood.

They said a pub and offsales in Granger would draw a similar crowd to those which congregate around the downtown offsales and liquor establishments.

"We don't believe we'll have that sort of crowd whatsoever," said Malchow.

"I believe we've addressed that by choosing our hours of operation, and our mandate to run a nice, classy, friendly establishment."

By opening at 3 p.m. and closing at 11 p.m., the pub would not attract "unsavoury characters" hanging around during the day, said Malchow.

The offsales service, too, was a hot topic at the meeting.

"Offsales is a legal way of bootlegging and should not be allowed anywhere in the Yukon," said Johan Groenewegen, a friend of a Granger resident.

"There are several existing offsales establishments in and around town that, after regular liquor store hours are closed, can be accessed by patrons in need of booze. This neighbourhood can do without it."

Malchow said they thought an offsales service would be a benefit to their business, and that they are not out to attract crowds like those in the downtown area.

Although they would sell wine, beer and larger bottles of liquor, their offsales would not supply small, cheap bottles of liquor.

They would also have security cameras around the location to monitor activity in the surrounding area.

If the application is approved, the pub would be in the same area as a day care, so the effect a local liquor establishment would have on area children was also addressed by Granger residents.

Joseph Tetlichn of Granger said establishments where there is liquor brings "a whole new breed of people in."

"My concern is young kids could see that and think it's the norm," said Tetlichn.

"Nobody in their right mind would think of having something like that close to our precious children."

Malchow said that since he lives two blocks from the location, he shares the same concerns the Granger residents have, and has already met with the Granger Neighbourhood Association to debate the issues.

Some Granger residents also found problems with the consultation process itself.

They said they only found out about the application by word of mouth, not through the posting in the newspaper requesting registered letters be sent to the corporation outlining any opposition to the application.

Many said they were unhappy that the posting, published in the Star April 22, April 29 and May 6, appeared on Wednesdays instead of Fridays, the most-read edition of the week.

Also, because the meeting was held during work hours, many who would have liked to attend were unable to, they said.

The liquor board is made up of volunteers and is independent of the corporation.

The board will continue the consultation process and decide on the application within the next few weeks.