|
CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
March 18, 2004 | |
Author: |
Jeffrey Patterson | |
Phone No.: |
6644 | |
RTS No.: |
03947 | |
CC File No.: |
5308 | |
Meeting Date: |
April 6, 2004 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
Director of Current Planning in consultation with the General Manager of Engineering Services, the General Manager of Parks and Recreation and the Director of the Housing Centre |
SUBJECT: |
Allocation of Community Amenity Contributions received for the rezoning of 550 Taylor Street (Block 17; also known as 599 Carroll Street and bounded by Carrall, Keefer, Taylor and Pender Streets) |
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the $774,070 remaining in the Community Amenity Contribution received for 550 Taylor Street (Block 17; Account 9100 320041) be allocated as follows:
Contribution to the Affordable Housing Fund for investment in non-market housing in the area, including International Village and the Downtown Eastside, $500,000;
Carrall Street Greenway, $134,070;
Pigeon Park Improvements (Hastings and Carrall Streets), $120,000; and
Development of the Downtown Skateboard plaza on the site bounded by Quebec and Union Streets and Expo Boulevard, $20,000.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
On June 24, 2003, after a period of extensive research and consultation, City Council approved policies arising from the Financing Growth report. This included replacing the Interim Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) Policy with an updated CAC Policy. The updated policies provide that amenities should serve the immediate site and/or community. Specific amenities must be approved by Council.
Previously, Council adopted a Community Amenity Contribution Policy on July 10, 1990, and reconfirmed its policy on March 7, 1991.
SUMMARY
The rezoning of 550 Taylor Street, also known as 599 Carrall Street and part of city-owned block 17, was completed in April 1997 with enactment of CD-1 zoning. Subsequently, and in accordance with the policies then in effect, the City of Vancouver received a sum of $1,054,070 in unallocated Community Amenity Contributions during the rezoning of the subject city-owned site. Council authorized the expenditure of $280,000 from this account for the two-waying of parts of three streets in the Gastown and Chinatown areas on February 10, 2004. This report contains recommendations for a proposed allocation of the balance of these contributions to capital works in the vicinity of the site.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to recommend projects and allocations for a city-wide Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) received for 550 Taylor Street for the rezoning of this city-owned block in Chinatown.
BACKGROUND
Council enacted formal policy with respect to the authorization of Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) in July 1990. CACs are contributions to community amenities provided through rezonings, to help address growth costs, area deficiencies and other community needs. CACs were the primary means of providing support for defraying the costs of capital projects associated with growth prior to Council authorization of Development Cost Levies (DCLs)in 1999.
Discussions and negotiations related to the development of City-owned Block 17, bounded by Carrall, Keefer, Taylor and Pender Streets, were ongoing over a number of years in the early and mid-1990s.
DISCUSSION
The projects included meet the following staff-developed criteria to a sufficient enough degree to be considered for a portion of the CAC funds:
Prior Council or Park Board approval;
Location proximity to Block 17;
Mitigation of development impacts or providing service to residents;
Important to community revitalization;
Urgency and readiness to be implemented; and
Need for funding beyond what is available from other sources at this time.
The following provides a brief summary of the projects recommended for partial or full support in this Report:
Contribution to the Affordable Housing Fund ($500,000): There are a number of sites and buildings which could be acquired to meet the City's affordable housing objectives in nearby areas, both in International Village and the Downtown Eastside. These include sites that are designated as non-market in International Village and lands or SRO buildings in the Downtown Eastside. The specific project will be reported to Council when negotiations have progressed.
Carrall Street Greenway ($134,070): This Greenway, included in the Downtown Transportation Plan, is considered a high priority investment for the Downtown Eastside and will play a vital role in linking the Gastown, Downtown Eastside and Chinatown areas, as well as the seawall recreational pedestrian and bike facilities along False Creek and the Burrard Inlet. Construction costs are estimated at $500,000 per block, or a total of $3,000,000. The Carrall Street Greenway will also be considered for a portion of the capital funds allocated to the Downtown Eastside in the 2002-2005 Capital Plan. It is anticipated that the Carrall Street greenway will be constructed over a number of years as funding becomes available.
Pigeon Park Improvements ($120,000): Pigeon Park is a small park located at the corner of Hastings and Carrall Streets that is well used by the low-income community as a gathering place. It is located at a key intersection in the Downtown Eastside, framed by significant heritage buildings, several of which house or are about to house important community-based agencies. This park is also viewed as an integral part of developing the Carrall Street Greenway. A public consultation process with members of the community is underway. An exploration of design options will be initiated later in 2004. Park improvements would be carried out in 2005. Cost is estimated at $120,000 and is proposed to be supported in full by the CAC allocation recommended herein.
Development of the Downtown Skateboard Plaza at Quebec and Union Streets ($20,000): Located some 300 metres from the subject site, the downtown skateboard plaza was approved by Park Board on February 24, 2003 and by Council on April 24, 2003. A total of $195,000 is available from the 2000-2002 Capital Plan for this project. An additional $50,000 is proposed to be allocated from other CACs to provide for improved skateboarding equipment and enhancing the edges of the site The additional $20,000 requested in this report will cover the escalation in construction costs (labour and materials) since the project was approved in early 2003. Construction on the skateboard plaza will start this spring and be completed in July 2004.
The allocation of $280,000 from the CAC contributed for 550 Taylor Street for the two-waying of Carrall, Abbott and Cambie Streets in the Gastown area was previously approved by Council on February 10, 2004. The CAC funds were approved in advance to facilitate the implementation of the street conversions, which is targeted for completion in April 2004. The conversion of these streets will increase accessibility to the area by providing motorists and cyclists shorter, more direct routes to their destinations.
The map in Appendix `A' to this report shows the location of the above projects relative to 550 Taylor Street and Block 17.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The recommended allocation of $774,070 in CAC funds towards selected projects may have future implications for operating costs in the case of the Carrall Street Greenway. These will be more fully developed and submitted to Council at the time the Greenway design is submitted to Council for approval. Other projects recommended for allocation are either redevelopment of existing facilities or contributions to projects for which the CAC contribution is a partial contribution and will thus have no financial operating implications in themselves.
SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Support for the projects recommended in this report has significant implications for the larger economic and social development of the Downtown Eastside, including the future development of a new social housing site providing non-market housing for some 100 households.
CONCLUSION
The allocation of CAC funds recommended in this report will result in the mitigation of development impacts associated with the developments in the vicinity of 550 Taylor Street. They will also make a significant positive contribution to the social and economic development of the Downtown Eastside area.
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APPENDIX A
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