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CITY OF VANCOUVER

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

MARCH 14, 2000

A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Tuesday, March 14, 2000, at 7:30 p.m., in Council Chambers, Third Floor, City Hall, for the purpose of holding a Public Hearing to consider proposed amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law, the False Creek North Official Development Plan and the Coal Harbour Official Development Plan.

PRESENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Fred Bass Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Leave of Absence) Councillor Gordon Price
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Tarja Tuominen, 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, to consider proposed amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law, the False Creek North Official Development Plan and the Coal Harbour Official Development Plan..

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

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Noting he was in conflict of interest for the first two items because he lived in the area, Mayor Owen left the proceedings at 7:35 p.m. and did not return until consideration of Item 3. Councillor Don Lee, Deputy Mayor, assumed the chair.

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1. Text Amendment: 1268 Pacific Boulevard

An application by Concord Pacific Group Inc., was considered as follows:

Summary: The CD-1 text amendment would allow the transfer of office floor area from Quayside to Roundhouse Neighbourhood.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.

Staff Comments

Jonathan Barrett, Planner, briefly reviewed the application, noting staff have heard no concerns from the immediate neighbours. Staff recommend approval.

Applicant Comments

Matt Meehan, representing the applicant, advised he was present to answer questions.

Summary of Correspondence

There was no correspondence received on this application since the date the application was referred to Public Hearing.

Speakers

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

Clause No. 1 (cont’d)

MOVED by Cllr. Puil,
THAT the application by Concord Pacific Group Inc. to amend the existing CD-1 by-law for 1268 Pacific Boulevard to allow the transfer of office floor area from Quayside to Roundhouse Neighbourhood, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

(Mayor Owen and Councillor Sullivan not present for the vote)

2. Text Amendment: 1030 Pacific Boulevard

An application by Pacific Place Developments was considered as follows:

Summary: The CD-1 text amendment would allow the transfer of residential floor area from Roundhouse to Quayside Neighbourhood.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.

Staff Comments

Jonathan Barrett, Planner, briefly reviewed the application and advised staff were comfortable in recommending approval of the application. The immediate neighbours have had no concerns with the application.

Applicant Comments

Matt Meehan, representing the applicant, advised he was present to answer questions.

Summary of Correspondence

There was no correspondence received on this application since the date the application was referred to Public Hearing.

Speakers

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

Clause No. 2 (cont’d)

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,
THAT the application by Pacific Place Developments to amend the CD-1 by-law for 1030 Pacific Boulevard to allow the transfer of residential floor area from Roundhouse to Quayside Neighbourhood, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

(Mayor Owen and Councillor Sullivan not present for the vote)

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Mayor Owen returned to the meeting and resumed the chair at 7:50 p.m.

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3. Text Amendment: 301 Jervis Street

An application by James Cheng Architects was considered as follows:

Summary: There are two options proposed to amend the Coal Harbour Official Development Plan with respect to the Jervis Street-end view cone. One is proposed by the applicant, while an alternative is recommended by the Director of Current Planning.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval of the alternative proposal.

Staff Comments

Mike Kemble, Planner, reviewed the application to amend the Coal Harbour Official Development Plan and the two options for implementing the amendments: the applicant’s proposal and staff’s proposal. The applicant and staff agree on a stronger townhouse edge; however the applicant’s proposal will set a precedent and result in unequal setbacks on each side of the right-of-way. The staff option is more equitable to both properties on either side of Jervis Street and is more consistent with policy approved for other nearby street-ends to maintain public views of water and mountains.

In response to questions, Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, advised the staff proposal provides a slight benefit for pedestrians by maintaining water views.

Clause No. 3 (cont’d)

Applicant Comments

James Cheng, applicant, described his option, noting the public will have the entire Harbour Green Park to get to water views. The applicant’s proposal to permit the full extent of two-storey townhouses along the park edge will define the edge of the park and increase the amount of “ eyes” on the public space. The proposed application defines street and public realm. Approval of the application will not set a precedent.

Summary of Correspondence

There was no correspondence received on this application since the date the application was referred to Public Hearing.

Speakers

Mayor Owen called for speakers for and against the application.

Jim Hancock spoke in support of the staff option, as it deals with both properties on Jervis Street equally.

Applicant Closing Comments

James Cheng advised his proposal is not a win or lose situation; he can live with the staff option.

Staff Closing Comments

Mike Kemble reiterated staff feel the water views are critical; water views are scarce and staff try to protect them as much as possible. Staff also tried to achieve a balance and to be fair to both property owners.

Larry Beasley explained the options present the balancing of two public objectives: the edge of the park and the saving of views/precedent to other street-end views. Public input has been strong on views and preserving street-end views, and therefore staff tend to err on the conservative side.

Clause No. 3 (cont’d)

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,
THAT the application by James Cheng Architects, for 301 Jervis Street, to amend the Coal Harbour Official Development Plan with respect to the Jervis Street-end view cone, subject to alternative ODP amendments and consequential amendments to the CD-1 guidelines, and as presented in Appendices B and C of the Policy Report dated January 18, 2000, be approved.

- CARRIED

(Councillor Sullivan opposed)

4. Text Amendment and Rezoning: 1700 Block East Broadway

(Commercial SkyTrain Station)

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

Summary: The CD-1 text amendment would reduce density, delete residential uses and permit public authority use (Commercial SkyTrain Station) as a permitted use. The rezoning would incorporate a small C-2 zoned parcel into this CD-1.

The Director of City Plans, in consultation with Director of Current Planning and the Manager, Rapid Transit Office, recommended approval.

Staff Comments

Frank Ducote, Planner, explained the objectives of the proposed amendment and described the design concept for the area. Residential use is not appropriate. Site consolidation is a precondition of the rezoning. It is the intention to have the SkyTrain station and associated commercial development come on course at the same time.

Summary of Correspondence

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

· two letters, commenting on the proposed design elements.
· one letter in support for the public authority use for the new Commercial SkyTrain station.

Clause No. 4 (cont’d)

Speakers

Mayor Owen called for speakers for and against the application

The following speakers supported the application and the design guidelines for the northeast corner of Broadway and Commercial:

· Ann Roberts, Kensington-Cedar Cottage City Plan Committee (brief filed)
· Ken Baker, Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood Association (brief filed)
· Barb Wright, Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood Safety Office
· Joe Alvaro
· Reeyaz Thanawalla

The foregoing speakers offered additional comments, including the following:

· some of the planning initiatives should be expanded to ensure the new SkyTrain-related developments have a net positive impact on the community;
· the Kensington/Cedar Cottage CityPlan Committee has concerns with the inclusion of furniture and appliance stores as permitted uses on the site; they are not appropriate retail outlets for a site that is intended to be developed on a pedestrian scale or for a site without parking; a mix of uses is good to provide eyes on the street;
· the proposed greenway/bikeway does not replace the green space and wildlife habitat in the Grandview Cut that is being destroyed for the construction of the new station;
· the possibility of the Safety Office as a future tenant is appreciated;
· hopefully the development will encourage additional upscale developments in the area;
· the areas needs better policing to address the crime problems.

Council Discussion

Council generally supported the proposed development but agreed with the request to delete “furniture and appliance stores” as permitted uses on the site.

Clause No. 4 (cont’d)

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,
THAT the application by the Director of Current Planning to amend the CD-1 By-law for 1700 Block East Broadway (Commercial SkyTrain Station) to reduce density, delete residential uses and permit public authority use (commercial SkyTrain Station) as a permitted use, and to rezone 1700 Block East Broadway to incorporate a small C-2 zoned parcel into the CD-1 site, be approved, subject to:

· the following amendment to the proposed By-law to amend By-law No. 6663: 1. Section 2, of By-law No. 6663

(d) retail uses, but limited to grocery or drug store and retail store,” and

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Louis,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED BY Cllr. Puil,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted, and the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare and bring forward the necessary by-law amendments.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Special Council adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver