ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 15, 1999

Author/Local:R.Louie/7156

RTS No. 00917
CC File No. 8205

Council: July 27, 1999

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the Director of Central Area Planning and the General Manager of Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT:	Shoreline Protection Works Design/Pedestrian and Bicycle Pathway Design for the Beach Neighbourhood - Area 1

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approve the revised design of the shoreline protection works for the Beach Neighbourhood as shown in Appendix A.

B. THAT Council approve the design of the pedestrian and bicycle pathway for the Beach Neighbourhood as shown in Appendix A.

C. THAT Council approve the design and location of handrails along the portions of the pedestrian and bicycle pathway as shown in Appendix B.

COUNCIL POLICY

On March 25, 1997, Council approved the report, Waterfront Pedestrian/Bicycle Widths Coal Harbour, Bayshore and False Creek North, which revised the widths of the shoreline pedestrian and bicycle pathways.

On April 2, 1996, Council approved the rezoning of the Beach Neighbourhood East - Area 1B. As a condition of rezoning, the developer is required to design and construct shoreline protection works and a waterfront pedestrian/bicycle pathway.

On October 24, 1991, Council approved the report, Conceptual Shoreline Designs Coal Harbour and False Creek North, and requested that, with respect to the detailed design, Council only review issues which represent changes to the approved proposals and principles.

On October 24, 1991, Council approved the report, Waterfront Pedestrian/Bicycle Route Concept Plan Bayshore, Marathon and False Creek North Developments, and requested that staff report back on the detailed design of the waterfront pedestrian/bicycle system through False Creek North prior to any development permit approval in a waterfront subarea.

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council approval of the design of the shoreline protection works, the design of the waterfront pedestrian and bicycle pathway, and the design and location of the handrails along the pathways.

DISCUSSION

Shoreline Protection Works

Council requested a report back on the design for the shoreline protection works only if the design differs significantly from the approved proposals and principles. The shoreline design is generally in accordance with the concept approved by Council. As with the Roundhouse and Quayside Neighbourhoods, the deck on piles with louvres has been replaced with a reinforced earth wall. The stone-like finish of the pre-cast stresswall panels found in Roundhouse and Quayside have been replaced with a fine sandblasted finish. This finish has been selected to better match the 2 existing sections of concrete walls and step walls that will be retained at the western half of the Area 1 seawall. The panels will be 8 foot tall instead of the 4 foot panels used in Roundhouse and Quayside, to reduce the number of joints between panels.

However, the design of a section of the seawall at the Beach Avenue extension leading to the ferry dock has changed slightly to accommodate staff issues. The approved concept plan calls for pre-cast concrete panels in the portion of the seawall. With the high public visibility of this section of the seawall due to the adjacent stepwall and ferry dock, the design has been revised to a cast-in-place wall with granite facing. Staff believe that this treatment is better suited here, and recommend approval of the revised shoreline protection works design.

Handrails

The design of the handrails along the walkway, as shown in Appendix A, is similar to that used in the Roundhouse and Quayside Neighbourhoods. The handrail is designed to be difficult to climb over or through and minimizes view blockage.

Staff are seeking Council's direction on the extent of handrails to be used along the walkway. This issue involves the need to balance aesthetic objectives against safety concerns and potential liability for the City. In Octobern 1991, Council approved, as part of the conceptual shoreline design report, that "shoreline handrails be kept to a minimum" to limit view obstruction. The Building By-law requires all drops over 600mm (2 feet) to have guards. However, this requirement only applies to private property.

Council dealt with this issue previously when considering the shoreline design for the Roundhouse Neighbourhood and for the Quayside Neighbourhood. After considering a number of criteria, Council approved a shoreline walkway design for the Roundhouse Neighbourhood without handrails in locations where the vertical drop is 2.35m (almost 8 feet). In the Quayside Neighbourhood, sections of the shoreline walkway with 5.0 m, 3.0 m, and 2.0 m vertical drops, were approved by Council with the installation of railings. In the section of the shoreline walkway in Quayside with a 1.0 m vertical drop, Council approved a design without handrails.

There are five sections of the seawall in Area 1 with different vertical drops as follows:

1. Railings Proposed (5.0m): Along the western half of the seawall, the minimum vertical drop is 5.0 m (16.4 feet) with railings proposed in this section. Also included, is a section of 3 existing step walls (2.0 m drop each) designed with railings.

2. Railings Proposed (4.0m): Moving eastward, the next section of seawall has a minimum vertical drop of 4.0 m (13 feet), and the inclusion of handrails is proposed.

3. No Railings Proposed (1.0m to 0m): The next 95 m (310 feet) section of the seawall to the east has a minimum vertical drop of 1.0m (3.28 feet) with potential fish habitat and planter areas adjacent the seawall. This section of the seawall is proposed with stone caps only, without handrails, and would be very similar to the situation found in the Quayside section of seawall with no handrails. The shoreline pathway then leads inland, with a landscaped park feature with no vertical drops, and leading to a cobble beach.

4. Railings Proposed (2.4m): The Beach Avenue extension through the park leads to the ferry dock, and this section of the seawall has a minimum vertical drop of 2.4 m (almost 8 feet) with railings proposed in the design.

5. No Railings Proposed: This section of the seawall at the eastern end of Area 1 in front of David Lam Park Extension is designed as a step wall to provide access to the water. Between the shoreline pathway and the water is a landscaped strip 3.0 m wide, followed by seat wall steps dropping down 600mm (2 feet) to a secondary walkway 3.0 m wide, and finally leading the step wall to the water. No railings are proposed in the stepwall section of the seawall.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Pathway

On March 11, 1997, Council approved revised widths for separated pedestrian and bicycle pathways in False Creek North, requiring that 4.5 metre pathways with a 1.5 metre landscaped buffer strip be provided. The proposed design of the pedestrian and bicycle pathway for Area 1, as shown in Appendix A, follows the concepts and standards in the 1991 concept plan report approved by Council and the revised pedestrian and bicycle pathway widths approved by Council in 1997.

The surface treatment, lighting, furniture and landscaping have been developed through a process involving input from Parks, Planning and Engineering staff, and the developer's design team. The proposed design balances urban design objectives and maintenance costs and provides a safe and enjoyable experience for pedestrians and cyclists. The proposed treatment of the shoreline pathways consists of a concrete paver pedestrian pathway and an asphalt bicycle pathway throughout the Area 1 seawall.

Stone Caps

Stone caps will be provided along the entire walkway, with the exception the natural slope section in the park and the section along the stepwall at the eastern end. This treatment will provide continuity to the entire shoreline system, similar to the Roundhouse and Quayside Neighbourhoods.

CONCLUSION

The shoreline protection works and the pedestrian/bicycle route design proposed is generally in accordance with the concept approved by Council in 1991 and the revised pedestrian and bicycle pathway widths approved by Council on March 11, 1997. Staff support these proposed designs and request Council's approval.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver