THAT Council close and stop-up all that portion of the lane west of Columbia Street, south from the lane south of Pender Street shown hatched on the plan attached as Appendix "A", subject to the following conditions:

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 30, 1999
Author/Local: MG Thomson/7329
RTS No. 00849
CC File No. 5753

Council: July 20, 1999

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

General Manager of Engineering Services in Consultation With the
Manager of Real Estate Services

SUBJECT:

555 Columbia Street - Chinese Cultural Centre
Proposed Closure of a Portion of the Lane Westerly of Columbia Street South from the Lane South of Pender Street

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council close and stop-up all that portion of the lane west of Columbia Street, south from the lane south of Pender Street shown hatched on the plan attached as Appendix "A", subject to the following conditions:

1. The portion of lane to be closed to be consolidated with the abutting City-owned Lot B, except part in Explanatory Plan VAP20550, Block 14, District Lots 196 and 2037, Plan 20495 the same as shown within the heavy outline on the plan attached as Appendix "A", to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services;

2. Registration of a statutory right-of-way for public access over the portion of the said consolidated parcel the same as shown shaded on the plan attached as Appendix "A", the statutory right-of-way to be to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Engineering Services and the Director of Legal Services and to allow construction of above-grade structures as long as a minimum clearance of 5.0 metres to the underside of any such structure is maintained.

COUNCIL POLICY

The authority for closing and disposing of streets and lanes is set out in the Vancouver Charter.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to obtain Council authority to close, stop-up and consolidate with City-owned lands all that lane west of Columbia Street, south from the lane south of Pender Street.

BACKGROUND

The City is the owner of a large parcel of land bounded by Columbia Street on the east, Keefer Street on the south, Carrall Street on the west and Pender Street on the north. The site is legally described as Lot B, except part in Explanatory Plan VAP20550, Block 14, District Lots 196 and 2037, Plan 20495. It houses the Chinese Cultural Centre, the Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Garden and the Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Park.

A portion of the site is leased to the Chinese Cultural Centre and the remainder of the site is permanent park (with the exception of a small area originally designated temporary park).

The Park Board then sub-lease a portion of the site to the Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Society to house the garden. The present physical occupation of the site does not match the original Council approval of the lease areas. The Director of Legal Services and the Manager of Real Estate Services are working with the affected parties to address these anomolies and will be reporting to Council shortly on matters related to the lease.

DISCUSSION

The Chinese Cultural Centre proposes to construct an addition composed mainly of a 240 seat presentation theatre. A development permit has been applied for under DE404033. The proposal includes construction over the lane west of Columbia Street, south from the lane south of Pender Street as shown hatched on the plan attached hereto as Appendix "A". This portion of lane was dedicated by the deposit of Plan 17949 in November 1979.

The area was intended to act as a hammerhead turnaround for the dead-end lane and to assist with access to loading facilities for the properties fronting Pender Street in this block. Engineering Services Transportation Division staff in reviewing the proposal have noted that shifting the turnaround east by approximately 20 feet would have minimal impact on the operation of vehicles in the lane.

We are therefore prepared to support the construction over the lane as proposed, subject to the acquisition of statutory right-of-way for access as shown shaded on the plan attached as Appendix "A". Construction of above-grade features within the right-of-way area would be acceptable as long as a minimum of vertical clearance of 5 metres is maintained.

CONCLUSION

We therefore recommend that all portion of lane shown hatched on the plan attached hereto as Appendix "A" be closed and stopped-up subject to the conditions contained in the Recommendation.

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TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services in Consultation With the Manager of Real Estate Services
SUBJECT:	555 Columbia Street - Chinese Cultural Centre Proposed Closure of a Portion of the Lane Westerly of Columbia Street South from the Lane South of Pender Street