STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

DECISIONS

DATE:	Thursday, March 16, 2000
TIME:	2:00 p.m.
PLACE:	Committee Room No. 1 Third Floor, City Hall

For information, please contact Laura Kazakoff at 871-6353

The minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of February 24, 2000, were adopted.

1. Nuisance Building at 2549 Fraser Street File: 2701-1

A. THAT Council declare that the condition of the building and site at 2549 Fraser Street (Lot A of 13 to 15 of B, Block 156, District Lot 264A, Plans 390 and 177l PID 008-132-488) is a nuisance pursuant to Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter.

B. THAT Council approve the Resolution attached to the Administrative Report dated February 23, 2000, and order the Registered owner of the property to board-up the broken windows in this building with painted plywood, cut to fit inside the openings, and to provide a chain-link fence around the perimeter of the property within 14 days of a copy of the Resolution being served pursuant to Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter.

C. THAT in the event of the failure of the owner to comply with the order of Council, Council further orders and authorizes the City Building Inspector to have the broken windows boarded-up with painted plywood, cut to fit inside the openings, and to provide a chain-link fence around the perimeter of the property at the expense of the owner.

D. THAT the City Clerk be directed to file a 336D Notice against the Certificate of Title to the property at 2549 Fraser Street, in order to warn prospective purchasers that as a result of Council’s Resolution, the purchaser could suffer significant expense if the order of Council were enforced against him.
E. THAT staff be directed to obtain a copy of the Supreme Court Order setting aside the City's 1994 resolution ordering the building at 2549 Fraser Street be demolished to ascertain whether or not the City is now legally authorized to proceed with the demolition of the subject property and to report back to Council accordingly.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Proposed Amendment to Subdivision By-law No. 5208 -

Site Reclassification at 5154 and 5160 Ruby Street File: 5307

A. THAT Council approve the application to reclassify the properties at 5154 and 5160 Ruby Street from Category ‘B’ to Category ‘A’ of Schedule A, Table 1, of Subdivision By-law No. 5208.

B. THAT Council instruct staff to initiate a review of the classification of the properties shown in Appendix B of the Administrative Report dated February 23, 2000, to determine whether the affected property owners, and the surrounding neighbourhood, would support a reclassification from Category ‘B’ to Category ‘A’, thereby allowing for potential future subdivision into smaller parcels.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Update on the Theatre Row - Granville Street

Entertainment District File: 2611

THAT consideration of the Policy Report dated March 9, 2000, be postponed pending a Council workshop with staff to discuss liquor licensing policies.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. 870 Granville Street - Commodore Cabaret - Class 'C' Cabaret/

Restaurant Class 2 - Increase in Seating Capacity File: 2614-6

Council agreed to postpone this matter to a future Standing Committee meeting, due to a request from the applicant.

5. 965 Granville Street - Class 'C' Cabaret - John Teti File: 2614-17

THAT consideration of the Administrative Report dated February 17, 2000, be postponed pending a Council workshop with staff to discuss liquor licensing policies.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6. Downtown Eastside Economic Revitalization:

Economic Capacity Study File: 8104

A. THAT Council approve the carrying out of the Downtown Eastside Economic Capacity Study at a cost of up to $80,000, with the work being managed by the Vancouver Economic Development Commission, in consultation with staff from Planning and Real Estate Services, source of funding to be the 2000 Operating Budget.

AND THAT the Terms of Reference for the Downtown Eastside Economic Capacity Study be approved as shown in Appendix A of the Policy Report dated March 2, 2000.

AND FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to amend the contract for services with the Vancouver Economic Development Commission for the 2000 fiscal year to include that the Vancouver Economic Development Commission shall be responsible to carry out the Downtown Eastside Economic Capacity Study in accordance with the Terms of Reference attached hereto as Appendix A of the Policy Report dated March 2, 2000, and on such other terms and conditions, satisfactory to the Director of Legal Services, to be set out in the amended contract for a fee of $80,000 (including net GST) which fee shall be in addition to the amount otherwise payable to the Vancouver Economic Development Commission as approved by Council.

AND FURTHER THAT no legal obligation or right shall be created hereby and none shall arise hereafter until the amended contract for services is executed.

B. THAT the Vancouver Economic Development Commission, in consultation with the community and staff from the three levels of government, report back by September 2000 on the results of the Downtown Eastside Economic Capacity Study and on a work program to develop an Economic Revitalization Strategy.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7. Downtown Eastside Economic Revitalization: File: 8104

Pilot Programs to Encourage Locally-Based Businesses

A. THAT Council approve the Downtown Eastside Tenant-Improvements Assistance Program at a cost of $150,000 as outlined in the Policy Report dated March 3, 2000, with the program being managed by the Manager of Real Estate Services, in consultation with the Vancouver Economic Development Commission (VEDC), Planning and representatives from the community.

AND THAT the funds be allocated in advance of Council’s approval of the Capital Spending Program for 2000 (source of funds to be the Downtown Eastside allocation in the 2000-2002 Capital Plan).

B. THAT Council approve the Downtown Eastside Lease-Subsidy Program at a cost of $150,000 as outlined in the Policy Report dated March 3, 2000, with the program being managed by the Vancouver Economic Development Commission in consultation with Real Estate Services, Planning and representatives from the community.

AND THAT the VEDC and staff, in consultation with representatives from the community, report back to Council with a recommendation for approval, refusal or consideration of all grant applications for lease-subsidies for enterprises owned and managed by registered charitable institutions.

AND FURTHER THAT the funds be allocated in advance of Council’s approval of the Capital Spending Program for 2000 (source of funds to be the Downtown Eastside allocation in the 2000-2002 Capital Plan).

C. THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to amend the contract with the Vancouver Economic Development Commission for the 2000 fiscal year to include an additional $15,000 (including GST) as a fee for managing the Downtown Eastside Tenant-Improvements Assistance Program and the Downtown Eastside Lease-Subsidy Program and to include terms of administration satisfactory to the City Manager.

AND THAT the funds be allocated in advance of Council’s approval of the Capital Spending Program for 2000 (source of funds to be the Downtown Eastside allocation in the 2000-2002 Capital Plan).

D. THAT the Vancouver Economic Development Commission and staff, in consultation with representatives from the community, report back at least annually on the status of the Tenant-Improvements Assistance and Lease-Subsidy Programs and the businesses that have been encouraged to locate or expand in the Downtown Eastside.

- 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

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

I. Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment

March 16, 2000

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 March 16, 2000.

The Committee adjourned at 4:40 p.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver