CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

MAY 31, 2000

A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Wednesday, May 31, 2000, at 12:20 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Special Meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

PRESENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Fred Bass Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil
ABSENT:	Councillor Tim Louis (Leave of Absence) Councillor Sam Sullivan (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

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

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
May 31, 2000

Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clause of the attached report:

Cl.1: Vancouver General Hospital Precinct

Clause 1

Due to time constraints and speakers having been heard, Council agreed to postpone discussion of this issue to the Standing Committee on Planning & Environment meeting on June 15, 2000 at 2:00 p.m. (Clerk's Note: Subsequent to the meeting, the date was changed.)

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. Puil,
SECONDED by Cllr. McCormick,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 12:21 p.m.
- - - - -

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

MAY 31, 2000

A Special Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Wednesday, May 31, 2000, at 9:30 a.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Fred Bass Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee, Vice Chair Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor George Puil Councillor Gordon Price
ABSENT:	Councillor Tim Louis (Leave of Absence) Councillor Sam Sullivan (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

RECOMMENDATION

1. Vancouver General Hospital Precinct File: 5308

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated May 16, 2000, in which the Director of Current Planning, in consultation with the General Managers of Parks and Recreation, and Engineering Services sought approval of objectives for evaluating an anticipated Text Amendment Rezoning Application for the Vancouver General Hospital CD-1 District. These objectives will guide development of buildings, open space and public realm features and also be used to evaluate rezoning applications from other agencies within the precinct.

Clause No. 1 (cont'd)

Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, and Tom Phipps, Senior Planner, reviewed the Report and responded to questions. Piet Rutgers, Parks and Recreation, advised the Park Board supports the recommendations, but not Consideration Items E & F of the Policy Report dated May 16, 2000. Mr. Beasley noted this was a policy proposal only and a decision regarding selection of a specific scenario was not being sought. Staff also noted that representatives for the BC Cancer Research Centre recently advised a rezoning application is being prepared for submission to the City.

Dr. Elliot Mintz (brief filed) expressed concerns as follows:

· the hospital's role in chronic care is increasing and biotech facilities will negatively impact future patient care facilities
· biotech facilities will negatively alter the residential nature of the community and should locate between 10th/Broadway which is already commercial
· decreased parking and increased traffic will cause problems

Mr. Beasley noted there are no plans to demolish the hospital parkade.

Stephen Howard, Hospital Employees' Union, (brief filed) spoke in opposition to the recommendations noting:

· the decision regarding policy framework should be deferred until the Minister of Health and Vancouver/Richmond Health Board have reviewed the proposal

· economic, moral and commercial aspects of biotechnology must be considered as well as land use
· future hospital needs have not been considered in relation to a regional plan
· public forums should be held including the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board and the Province

The following spoke in favour of the recommendations:

Ann Bailey, Universal Garden Society (brief filed)
Shelagh Smith, (brief filed)
June Binkert, Save Our Parkland Association (brief filed)
Murray Martin, President, Vancouver Hospital & Health Science Centre
Dr. Bernie Bressler, Vancouver Hospital & Health Science Centre
Mark Betteridge, Vancouver Hospital & Health Science Centre

Russ Anthony, RPA Group, Project Managers for BC Cancer Research Centre

Clause No. 1 (cont'd)

Phil Levine, IBI Group, Architects for BC Cancer Research Centre
Janet Anderson, Heather Heritage Society

Speakers' comments included:
· large contiguous green space area provides healing environment, reduces stress and benefits both patients and employees
· supports concept advocating sustainability and alternative energy sources
· VGH as an adult teaching hospital benefits the Province
· biotech facilities would make Vancouver/Canada an international player in the healthcare technology field as an exporter rather than an importer
· technological advances developed in Vancouver would benefit Vancouver
· biotech focus would be on medical research
· funding opportunities would increase with biotech facilities in the area
· consultation continues with Vancouver/Richmond Health Board and the Province
· accessibility to hospital facilities for research is essential; a company can move away from the facility once a certain size and financial stability is attained
· heritage concerns have been met regarding Heath Pavilion
· the hospital intends to submit a rezoning application within four weeks
· the BC Cancer Research Centre supports the plan in principle, but would like to review the policy in relation to the area north of 10th Avenue

Mr. Beasley noted that if the policy as presented in the Policy Report dated May 16, 2000 is adopted, it does not change zoning or agreements already in place.

Due to time constraints and speakers having been heard, Council agreed to postpone discussion of this issue to the Standing Committee on Planning & Environment meeting on June 15, 2000. (Clerk's Note: Subsequent to the meeting, the date was changed.)

Mr. Beasley advised staff will prepare a summation of speakers' comments for Council prior to the Standing Committee on Planning & Environment meeting on June 15, 2000.

The Committee adjourned at 12:20 p.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver