Standing Committee on Planning & Environment - Decisons of January 28, 1999 meeting

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

COUNCIL ACTIONS

DATE: Thursday, January 28, 1999

TIME: 2:00 p.m.

PLACE: Council Chamber

Third Floor, City Hall

At its meeting immediately following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment, Vancouver City Council approved the following recommendations of the Committee.

1. Significant Rezoning Applications File: 5302

THAT the list of Significant Rezoning Applications, prepared by the Planning Department, be received for information.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Interim City-wide Development Cost Levy (DCL) By-law and File # 1755

Interim City-wide Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) Policy

A. Interim City-wide DCL By-law Recommendations

A1. THAT Council adopt a policy to implement Development Cost Levies (DCLs) city-wide, subject to a report back by the Director of City Plans and Director of Legal Services to address existing DCL By-law Districts and Official Development Plans, CD-1s, and policy areas, that already have approved public benefit strategies.

FURTHER THAT the interim DCL remain effective until the financing growth review is completed or until area-specific DCL by-laws are adopted.

A2. THAT the 1999 rate for collection of Development Cost Levies (DCLs), in the interim city-wide District, be set at $2.50 per square foot ($26.91 per square metre) for all uses except as follows:

· all non-residential uses in industrial zones be set at $1.00 per square foot ($10.76 per square metre), and
· daycare and school use be set at $0.51 per square foot ($5.49 per square metre).

A3. THAT the Director of City Plans, in consultation with other departments, report back on the proposed allocation of levy proceeds.

A4. THAT following the report back on District boundaries and allocation of proceeds, the Director of Legal Services be instructed to report back with the by-law for enactment.

A5. THAT staff notify the development industry and the general public of the pending by-law, as summarized in Appendix A of the Policy Report, dated January 20, 1999, and as amended in the Memorandum, dated January 28, 1999, from the Director of City Plans.

A6. THAT the interim city-wide DCL be effective 12 months after adoption of Recommendation A2 to allow a grace period for development in process.

B. Interim City-wide CAC Policy Recommendations

B1. THAT the current negotiated approach for rezonings be replaced by an interim city-wide Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) policy, as described in the Policy Report,dated January 20, 1999, and amended in the Memorandum, dated January 28, 1999, from the Director of City Plans, for privately-initiated rezonings, including text-amendments for additional floor area or units, where the CAC is applied to the net increase in allowable floor space, as follows:

i. Standard rezonings provide a flat rate CAC of $3.00 per square foot ($32.29 per square metre) on the increase in allowable floor space or an equivalent value of in-kind desired public benefits.

ii. Non-Standard rezonings (i.e., sites 10 acres or larger, or change from industrial to residential use) be reported to Council for direction as to whether a flat rate or a negotiated approach to provide desired public benefits should be applied.

FURTHER THAT the interim city-wide CAC policies in Appendix B of the Policy Report, dated January 20, 1999, and amended in the Memorandum dated January 28, 1999, from the Director of City Plans, be adopted, and remain in place until completion of the financing growth review, or until area-specific public benefit strategies are adopted.

B2. THAT the interim city-wide CAC policy applies to all privately-initiated rezonings outside existing DCL Districts, Major Projects, and policy plan areas that already have adopted CAC policies.

B3. THAT the interim city-wide CAC policy exempt: text amendments where no increase in floor space or units are proposed, social housing, churches, and floor area or bonus area related to heritage preservation.

B4. THAT the interim city-wide CAC policy applies to all rezoning applications received after Council referral of the above recommendations to Committee on December 8, 1998.

B5. THAT staff notify the development industry and the general public of the new policy.

C. THAT the work program for the Financing Growth Review, include a request for a Charter amendment to eliminate the DCL exemption for projects with less than four units.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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A Regular Council meeting was convened immediately following the Standing Committee meeting.

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REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

A G E N D A

COMMUNICATIONS

1. FCM Resolutions
MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,

THAT the following resolutions, as recommended by the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee, be submitted for the FCM Annual Conference, June 4-7, 1999:

FCM Resolution A

WHEREAS tripartite treaty negotiations under the British Columbia Treaty Commission process are under way in many areas of the province;

AND WHEREAS these negotiations have the potential to significantly alter the manner in which many Local Government services are delivered;

AND WHEREAS the Memorandum of Understanding (March 22, 1993) and Protocol Agreement (September 19, 1994) signed between the Province and UBCM commit the Province to "...insuring that the B.C. municipalities are represented in the negotiating treaties as respected advisors of provincial negotiating teams...";

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Federation of Canadian Municipalities request the Province of British Columbia ensure that, in keeping with the Memorandum of Understanding and the Protocol Agreement, all documents signed at and developed for treaty negotiation tables are developed with the inclusion of Local Government input.

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FCM Resolution B

WHEREAS tripartite treaty negotiations under the British Columbia Treaty Commission process are under way in many areas of British Columbia;

AND WHEREAS the resulting treaty settlements will have the potential to significantly alter the existing social, political and economic fabric of the province;

AND WHEREAS residents of the province have the right to be kept apprised of the interests and positions their governments are representing on their behalf through an open and accessible negotiation process;

AND WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia has committed to a level of openness in negotiations through the public disclosure of negotiating mandates and the government of Canada has not;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Federation of Canadian Municipalities request the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada commit to a truly open negotiation process in British Columbia, including the public disclosure of federal negotiating mandates.

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FCM Resolution C

WHEREAS tripartite treaty negotiations under the British Columbia Treaty Commission process are under way in many areas of British Columbia;

AND WHEREAS these negotiations have the potential to significantly alter the manner in which many Local Government services are delivered;

AND WHEREAS the Memorandum of Understanding (March 22, 1993) and Protocol Agreement (September 19, 1994) signed between the Province and UBCM commit the Province to "...ensuring that B.C. municipalities are represented in the process of negotiating treaties as full members of provincial negotiating teams...";

AND WHEREAS in a number of negotiations the federal government has not acknowledged the important role for Local Government therein and has not been supported meaningful Local Government participation;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Federation of Canadian Municipalities request the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to acknowledge the important role of Local Government in the negotiation of urban treaties in British Columbia, and that the Minister direct the federal negotiations to support the meaningful participation of Local Government in negotiations.

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FCM Resolution D

WHEREAS under section 91 of the constitution Act, the federal government has authority to make laws in relation to "Indians, and lands reserved for Indians";

AND WHEREAS the federal government continues to negotiate and implement agreements with Aboriginal groups across Canada on a wide variety of issues, including land management, the removal of land tax registries, additions to reserves, and self governments;

AND WHEREAS these agreements often have significant implications for adjacent communities and Local Governments;

AND WHEREAS these agreements continue to be negotiated without participation of, or consultation with, affected communities and Local Governments;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Federation of Canadian Municipalities request the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada commit to the meaningful involvement of communities and of Local Governments in the negotiation and implementation of agreements with Aboriginal groups which will have implications for local communities.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

I. Standing Committee of Council

on Planning and Environment
January 28, 1999

At its meeting immediately following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment, Vancouver City Council approved the recommendations of the Committee as set out in its report dated January 28, 1999.

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