Public Hearing Minutes - May 16, 2000

CITY OF VANCOUVER

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

MAY 16, 2000

A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, May 16, 2000, at 7:40 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, for the purpose of holding a Public Hearing to consider proposed amendments to the Heritage and Zoning and Development By-laws.

PRESENT: Mayor Philip Owen

Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Lynne Kennedy
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Sandy McCormick
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT: Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Leave of Absence)

CITY CLERK'S
OFFICE: Tarja Tuominen, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Sullivan,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the Chair, to consider proposed amendments to the Heritage and Zoning and Development By-laws.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

1. Heritage Designation: 400-404 West Hastings Street

An application by Simon Bonettemaker was considered as follows:

Summary: To approve a Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) and Designation that would authorize a transferrable density bonus and secure the conservation and protection of the "B" listed heritage building 400-404 West Hastings Street.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.

Staff Comments

Gerry Mcgeough, Heritage Planner, reviewed the background to the application and provided the history of the "B" listed heritage building at 400-404 West Hasting Street. Staff recommend approval.

Applicant Comments

Simon Bonettemaker, applicant, advised he had no comments to make.

Summary of Correspondence

Council was advised the following correspondence was received since the date the application was referred to Public Hearing:

· one letter requesting information on the density value of the site.

Speakers

Mayor Owen called for speakers for and against the application and none were present.

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

A. THAT the "B" listed former Royal Bank of Canada building at 400-404 West Hastings Street be eligible for a heritage density bonus.

B. THAT Council authorize the City to enter into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement to secure the conservation and protection of the former Royal Bank of Canada building at 400 - 404 West Hastings Street and vary Section 3 of the Downtown Official Development Plan By-law to permit a maximum onsite density of 3.49 FSR (2,025 m²/ 21,794 sq. ft.) and a density bonus of anadditional 2.72 FSR (1,579.3 m²/ 17,000 sq. ft.).

C. THAT Council amend Schedule A of the Heritage By-law to designate the building and the three interior bank vault doors and frames of the former Royal Bank of Canada building at 400 - 404 West Hastings Street as protected Heritage Property.

D. THAT the Director of Legal Services bring forth the by-laws to authorize the Heritage Revitalization Agreement and amend the Heritage By-law.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Text Amendment: 699 Cardero Street (Bayshore Gardens)

An application by Hancock Bruckner Eng & Wright Architects was considered as follows:

Summary: The proposed CD-1 By-law amendment would amend the method of calculating building heights by using Georgia Street building grades.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.

Staff Comments

Michael Gordon, Planner, with the aid of conceptual drawings, presented a brief overview of the application. If approved, the height of the building will be brought down approximately 10 feet. There will be no consequential impacts on private views. Staff recommend approval.

Applicant Comments

Martin Bruckner, representing the applicant, advised he had no comments to make.

Summary of Correspondence

There was no correspondence received since the date the application was referred to Public Hearing.

Speakers

Mayor Owen called for speakers for and against the application and none werepresent.

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT the application by Hancock Bruckner Eng & Wright Architects to amend the CD-1 by-law for 699 Cardero Street (Bayshore Gardens) to amend the method of calculating building heights by using Georgia Street building grades, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Text Amendment: One-Family Districts - Impervious Site Coverage

An application by the Director of Current Planning was considered as follows:

Summary: The proposed amendment would restrict the amount of impervious site coverage in one-family districts to reduce stormwater runoff.

The Director of CityPlans recommended approval.

Also before Council was a memorandum, dated May 12, 2000, from the Senior Rezoning Planner, noting the following correction is required to Section 1(c) of the draft by-law (addition in bold italics, deletions in ~~strikeout)~~:

"4.8.6 Except for multiple dwellings, the~~The~~area of impermeable materials, including building coverage, ...".

Staff Comments

Jeff Addis, Sewers Engineer, with the aid of a slide presentation, reviewed the benefits of the application. If approved, the application proposed amendments will reduce the amount of storm water run-off; and add more green space. The addition of more trees and plants should have impacts on air quality, contribute to a perceived reduction in traffic sounds, and meet CityPlan objectives for green space.

Bob McGilvray, Planner, with the aid of a slide presentation, described how the proposed amendments would affect neighbourhoods. Mr. McGilvray also circulated a revised map showing existing and proposed area of City with impermeable materials coverage or storm water run-off controls.

Summary of Correspondence

Council was advised the following correspondence was received since the date theapplication was referred to Public Hearing:

· One letter in support of the application.

Speakers

Mayor Owen called for speakers for and against the application.

Greg Reid (brief filed) expressed his concerns with the proposed by-law to limit the site coverage of impervious material to 60%. If the intent of the by-law amendment is to limit storm water runoff, it should address ways to reduce it or deal with it. If the intent is to limit the use of a person's property then it is unfairly infringing on the rights of the property owner. Furthermore, the proposed amendments will not address the issues of noise and air pollution.

Staff Closing Comments

Bob McGilvray advised the proposed amendments have received the support of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, the Society of B.C. Landscape Architects and the Greater Vancouver Homebuilders Association.

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT the application by the Director of Current Planning to amend the Zoning and Development By-law to restrict the amount of impervious site coverage in one-family districts to reduce stormwater runoff, including the draft "RS Zones Impermeable Materials Site Coverage Guidelines For RS-1, RS-1S, RS-1A, RS-1B, RS-2, RS-3, RS-3A, RS-4, RS-5, RS-5S and RS-6 Zones", be approved;

FURTHER THAT Section 1(c) of the draft by-law be corrected as follows (addition in bold italics, deletions in ~~strikeout)~~:

4.8.6 Except for multiple dwellings, the~~The~~ area of impermeable materials, including building coverage, . . .

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr.Don Lee,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr.Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Louis,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted, and the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare and bring forward the necessary by-law amendments.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Special Council adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

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