Agenda Index City of Vancouver


ph000222.htm

CITY OF VANCOUVER

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

FEBRUARY 22, 2000

A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, February 22, 2000 at 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, for the purpose of holding a Public Hearing to consider a Heritage Designation and Revitalization Agreement and proposed amendments to the Heritage, Sub-Division, Zoning and Development and Sign By-laws and False Creek North Official Development Plan.

*Denotes presence for portion of the meeting.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,
SECONDED by Cllr. McCormick,

1. Designation and Heritage Revitalization

An application by Atlantic Street Investments Inc., was considered as follows:

Summary: The Vancouver Heritage Register would be amended to add 615 Princess Avenue in the "C" category and 621 Princess Avenue in the "B" category. The proposed amendments to Heritage By-law No. 4837 would designate the houses at 615 and 621 Princess Avenue as protected heritage property under Schedule A of the Heritage By-law. In addition, the proposed Heritage Revitalization Agreement would vary the zoning and sub-division by-laws to make the preservation of the two houses economically viable.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.

Staff Comments

Gerry McGeough, Heritage Planner, advised he was available to answer questions.
Applicant Comments

Steve Brouwers, the applicant, advised he had no comments to add and was available to answer questions.

Summary of Correspondence

There was no correspondence received on this application.

Speakers

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

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,

2. Text Amendment:

An application by Joe Wood, on behalf of St. Mary's Kerrisdale Church, was considered as follows:

Summary: The proposed text amendment to CD-1 By-law for 2490 West 37th Avenue (St. Mary's Church) would permit child day care facility as permitted use.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.

Staff Comments

Rob Whitlock, Planner, provided a brief overview of the application.

Applicant Comments

Joe Wood, the applicant on behalf of St. Mary's Church, advised he had no comments to add and was available to answer questions.

Summary of Correspondence

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

· one letter in opposition.

Speakers

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

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,

3. Text Amendment: 1125 Pacific Boulevard File 1401-17

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

Summary: The proposed text amendments to the CD-1 By-law for 1125 Pacific Boulevard and the False Creek North Official Development Plan would allow a change of non-market housing units from non-family to family units.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval, subject to conditions set out in the agenda of the Public Hearing.

Staff Comments

Cameron Gray, Director, Housing Centre, provided a brief overview of the application and responded to questions on process and timing for future school facilities in the neighbourhood. Bob Macdonald, Parking Engineer, responded to questions related to availability of parking in the neighbourhood.

Summary of Correspondence

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

· one letter in support.

Speakers

Deputy Mayor Clarke called for speakers for and against the application.

John Hunt spoke in support of the application and advised he had sought clarification from the Parking Branch on capacity issues. Mr. Hunt thanked Council, on behalf of over 300 area building owners, for the additional 140 parking stalls, although more are still needed.

Gillian Watson-Donald noted that while she was not opposed to family housing, she was concerned with giving up affordable seniors housing at this particular site in the downtown core, with so little housing available for ever increasing numbers of seniors. She urged Council consider the need for a plan for housing seniors, and agreed to provide demographics on seniors for Council's information.

Staff provided information on the City's current direction in regard to housing seniors and agreed to bring forward current numbers with regard to school population in the area.

Deputy Mayor Clarke called for further speakers and none came forward.

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

4. Rezoning:

An application by Stuart Lyon, Gomberoff Policzer Bell Lyon Architects, was considered as follows:

SUMMARY: The proposed rezoning would permit a nine storey 98 unit non-market residential project with commercial uses at grade at 55-67 East Hastings Street [Lux Theatre Site].

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval, subject to the conditions set out in the agenda of the Public Hearing.

Staff Comments

Mark Holland, Rezoning Planner, with the aid of schematics and a model, briefly reviewed the application, and advised the project is aimed at improving existing low-income housing stock. The proposed commercial space will assist with the revitalization of the area. Jill Davidson, Senior Housing Planner, provided details on replacement housing and noted the majority of the 700 single resident occupancy units (SRO's) lost, have now been replaced. Staff advised the intended balance for non-market housing in the neighbourhood is currently under review and responded to questions on intended staffing and security levels in theproject.

Shirley Chan, Director, Non-Market Operations, noted the City's Central Residence will be renovated, and a number of selected tenants relocated to the new building. This building is not intended to be alcohol and drug free, however Council may so direct staff. If this policy were adopted, some tenants would be ineligible for relocation; a report back on implications could be provided. Larry Beasley advised any motion in this regard would not be a condition of the rezoning, but rather a separate motion.

Applicant Comments

Stuart Lyon, the applicant, advised he had no comments to add and was available to answer questions.

Summary of Correspondence

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

· 6 letters in opposition.

Speakers

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

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,

A. That the application by Stuart Lyon, Gomberoff Policzer Bell Lyon Architect, to rezone 55-67 East Hastings Street (Lux Theatre Site) to permit a nine storey 98 unit non-market residential project with commercial uses at grade be approved subject to the following conditions:

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

B. THAT staff report back to Council with a proposed plan, including implications, on how to achieve a drug and alcohol free building at 55-67 East Hastings Street (Lux Theatre Site).

(Councillor Louis opposed)

5. Text Amendment:

An application by Henderson Development Limited, was considered as follows:

SUMMARY: The proposed amendments to the Sign By-law would permit an interior automatic changeable copy sign [a sign made of video monitors] on the second floor to be visible from the street.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.

Staff Comments

Michael Gordon, Senior Central Area Planner, with the aid of schematics and a model, provided an overview of the application. Mr. Gordon advised he had received a phone call from a resident on Beatty, expressing concern with the aesthetics of bright neon lights impinging on her living space.

Applicant Comments

Larry Kerr, Henderson Development Limited, advised he had no comments to add, and was available to answer questions.

Summary of Correspondence

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

· one letter in support.

Speakers

Deputy Mayor Clarke called for speakers for and against the application.

Harry Goldberg, member of the Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee, spoke in support of the application. He felt the project would enhance and enliven the area, and hopefully bring back the feel of an earlier era when neon signs were synonymous with a flourishing Chinatown.

Timothy Turner, representing the 183 Keefer Place Strata Council, spoke in support of the application. He felt the changeable copy sign, at the gateway to Chinatown, will attract attention and hopefully assist with the area's revitalization. The brightness should also assist with the security issues on the corner of Pender and Abbott.

Deputy Mayor Clarke called for further speakers and none came forward.

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)

(Councillor Puil not present for the vote)

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

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

BY-LAWS

1. A By-law to designate heritage property, and to amend By-law No. 4837, being the Heritage By-law (615 Princess Avenue)

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

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

2. A By-law to designate heritage property, and to amend By-law No. 4837, being the Heritage By-law (621 Princess Avenue)

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

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

3. A By-law to authorize Council entering into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement with the Owners of Heritage Property (615 and 621 Princess Avenue)

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

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

The Special Council adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

* * * *


ph000222.htm


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