3
CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
MARCH 30, 2000
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, March 30, 2000, at 5:15, in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.
PRESENT: |
Mayor Philip Owen
|
ABSENT: |
Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Civic Business)
|
CITY MANAGER'S
|
Judy Rogers, City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator |
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Sullivan,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
March 30, 2000
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl.1: Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Principal and Infill Buildings at
539 East 7th Avenue
C1.2: Nuisance/Dangerous Building at 3047 East 27th Avenue
C1.3: Nuisance Building at 2549 Fraser Street
C1.4: Approval of Business Improvement Area (BIA) Budgets
C1.5: Proposed Amendment to Subdivision By-law No. 5208
Site Reclassification of Six Properties at 1720 to 1774 East 56th Avenue
C1.6: Wellness Walkways - Status and Next Phase for Implementation
C1.7: Heritage Revitalization Agreement - 211 Columbia
Clauses 1, 3, 6 and 7
MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy ,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1, 3, 6 and 7 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Clause 2
MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 2 of this report be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)
Clause 4
MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 4 of this report be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed to Recommendation B)
Clause 5
MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 5 of this report be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Sullivan opposed)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,
SECONDED by Cllr. Don Lee,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 5:17 p.m.
- - - - -
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
MARCH 30, 2000
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, March 30, 2000, at 2:00 p.m.., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Chair
|
ABSENT: |
Councillor George Puil |
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: |
Judy Rogers, City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator |
* Denotes presence during part of the meeting
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of March 9, 2000, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Principal and Infill Buildings File: 2701-1
at 539 East 7th Avenue
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January 12, 2000, which was previously considered by this Committee at its meeting on February 17, 2000.
In the report, the City Building Inspector recommended Council declare the principal and infill dwellings at 539 East 7th Avenue a nuisance and dangerous to public safety and order the owner to demolish the buildings, remove all demolition debris from the site, and that a 336D notice be filed against the Certificate of Title to the Property in order to warn any prospective purchasers of Council's resolution.
At that meeting, Council postponed the decision on the recommendations for thirty days to provide time for transfer of ownership. Accordingly, this report is brought forward to this meeting.
The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of the recommendations.
Katherine Kinahan, Legal Services, Peter Sweeney, Manager, Building Inspection, and Carlene Robbins, Manager, By-law Administration, with the aid of overheads, reviewed the report, and responded to questions regarding the physical status of the property as of the morning of this meeting and the legal ramifications.
John Morrison, and his legal representative, Tim Lack; and Karen Ann Ryan and her legal representative, Ray Wong, advised they were prepared to complete the transfer of ownership. Accordingly, Council instructed staff and the interested parties to leave the meeting and frame a resolution that would be satisfactory to both parties and provide an opportunity for the transfer to take place within a specific period of time. They returned to the meeting at 4:20 p.m.
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
The following motion by Councillor Louis was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council declare that the principal and infill buildings at 539 East 7th Avenue, (Lot 18 Block 101 District Lot 264A Plans 442 and 1771 PID 005-921-635), are a nuisance and dangerous to public safety pursuant to Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter.
B. THAT Council approve the revised Resolution as submitted at this meeting of March 30, 2000, and order the Registered owner of the property to pull down and demolish the principal and infill dwellings at the above location and remove all demolition debris from the site 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 hereby authorizes the City Building Inspector to have the principal and infill dwellings at the above location demolished and have all demolition debris removed 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 539 East 7th Avenue, in order to warn prospective purchasers that there are by-law violations and a Council resolution related to these buildings and that the purchaser could suffer a significant expense if the by-laws and/or resolution of Council were enforced against him.
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
E. THAT in the event that, within 14 days of the date of this Resolution, John Morrisonn files a Form A Transfer in the Land Title Office registering the title to the property at 539 East 7th Avenue in his name, applies for a Building Permit, and submits a clean, unconditional irrevocable letter of credit to the City in the amount of $75,000, guaranteeing completion of construction by September 30, 2000, this demolition order shall be stayed to September 30, 2000. Should John Morrisonn fail to complete construction by September 30, 2000, to the satisfaction of the City Building Official, the City may, at its sole discretion, cash the letter of credit and retain the proceeds thereof without any obligation to account for those proceeds.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Nuisance/Dangerous Building at 3047 East 27th Avenue File: 2701-1
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 3, 2000, in which the City Building Inspector recommended that Council declare the building at 3047 East 7th Avenue a nuisance and dangerous to public safety and health, order the owner to demolish the building, remove all demolition debris and discarded materials from the site, and further that a 336D Notice be filed against the Certificate of Title to the property in order to warn any prospective purchasers of Council's Resolution. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of the recommendations.
Peter Sweeney, Manager, Building Inspection , Tom McClure, Building Supervisor, Sy Jung, Property Inspector, and Carlene Robbins, Manager, By-law Administration, with the aid of overheads, reported on the condition of the property and responded to questions.
The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
A. THAT Council declare that the building at 3047 East 27th Avenue (Lot 8 Block 3 District Lot Section 48 SE Qtr. THSL, Plan 1692, PID 009-306-765) is a nuisance and a danger to public safety and health pursuant to Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter.
Clause No. 2 (cont'd)
B. THAT Council approve the Resolution attached to Administrative Report dated March 3, 2000, and order the Registered Owner of the property to:
1) hire a pest control agency to take the necessary steps to rid the building and site of rodents and other pests in order to prepare the site for demolition;
2) pull down and demolish the building and remove all demolition debris, discarded materials and garbage from the site within 30 days of a copy of the Resolution attached to Administrative Report dated March 3, 2000, being served pursuant to Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter;
3) THAT in the event the owner fails to comply with the order of Council, Council further orders and hereby authorizes the City Building Inspector to carry out the necessary work to prepare the building and site for demolition and to pull down and demolish the building and remove the resulting demolition debris, discarded materials and garbage from the site at the cost of the owner. The City Building Inspector may dispose of the materials by selling to the demolition contractor any material he may agree to purchase and will have the remainder delivered to a disposal site.
4) THAT the City Clerk be directed to file a 336D Notice against the Certificate of Title to the Property at 3047 East 27th Avenue, in order to warn any prospective purchasers that as a result of the condition of the building and Council's Resolution, the purchaser could suffer a significant expense if the order of Council were enforced against him.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)
3. Nuisance/Dangerous Building at 2549 Fraser Street File: 2701-1
Peter Sweeney, Manager Building Inspection gave a verbal report regarding the current condition of the buildings at 2549 Fraser Street, reasons why demolition is no longer being requested and the rationale for erecting a chain link fence to inhibit access to the rear yard.
The following motion by Councillor Clarke was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council receive a verbal report by Peter Sweeney, Manager, Building Inspection, on 2549 Fraser Street, for information.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Approval of Business Improvement Area (BIA) Budgets File: 8300
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 15, 2000, in which the Director of City Plans, in consultation with the Director of Finance, recommended that Council approve the 2000-2001 budgets for the eight existing BIAs and five new BIAs, and to instruct staff to prepare appropriate rating by-laws. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of the recommendations.
Peter Vaisbord, Coordinator, Business Improvement Program, reviewed the report and responded to questions relating specifically to the Fraser Street BIA.
The following spoke in opposition to the recommendations regarding the Fraser Street BIA:
Tarlok Sablok, (brief filed)
Mukesh Goyal
Anand Jain
Speakers comments included:
· notice was not distributed in sufficient time to allow response and those not responding were presumed to be in favour
· translation of information was not made available to merchants
Clause No. 4 (cont'd)
· those attending special general meeting did not reflect the majority opinion of merchants in the area
· there were disagreements as to the amount of budget and allocation of funds
· beautification of the area including removal of excessive garbage will not be solved by proposing funds in budget
The following spoke in favour of the recommendations regarding the Fraser Street BIA:
Deborah Rota, Legal representative for Fraser Street BIA (brief filed)
William Wong, Director of Fraser Street BIA
Jack Hilton (brief filed)
Susan Faehndrich
Isidor Eisner
Ravi Lally
Cheryl Samson
Speakers comments included:
· every effort was made to include all neighbourhood merchants by providing translations of notices, personal contact, and ample time for response
· it was felt that merchants understood the process and the purpose of the notice
· there was opportunity at the special general meeting to discuss specific budget items and priorities
· Fraser Street neighbourhood needs the BIA to progress and revitalize itself
· concerns include hazardous condition of sidewalks and lanes, increase in crime rate, and lack of progress in clean- up of area despite City-donated equipment
Ann McAfee, Director of City Plans, reviewed the options available regarding the Fraser Street BIA.
-----
During discussion of this item, Councillor Clarke left the meeting on civic business and did not return.
-----
Clause No. 4 (cont'd)
The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council approve the BIA Business Promotion Schemes and Budgets for the 2000-2001 year listed below and instruct staff to bring forward the appropriate rating by-laws:
BIA LEVY
Downtown $1,800,000
Robson 297,700
Kerrisdale 215,000
Mount Pleasant 140,000
Gastown 304,000
Davie Village 74,379
South Granville 198,000
Yaletown 213,293
Commercial Drive 100,000
Marpole 75,000
Strathcona Area 250,000
B. THAT Council approve the BIA Business Promotion Scheme and Budget for the 2000-2001 year listed below and instruct staff to bring forward the appropriate rating by-laws:
BIA LEVY
Chinatown 90,000
- CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed to B)
(Councillor Clarke not present for the vote)
Clause No. 4 (cont'd)
The following motion by Councillor Don Lee was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council approve, in principle, the BIA Business Promotion Scheme and Budget for the 2000-2001 year for the Fraser Street BIA listed below and instruct staff to bring forward the appropriate rating by-laws;
BIA LEVY
Fraser Street 120,000
FURTHER THAT the City assign a facilitator to work with the Fraser Street BIA to reach an agreement regarding the detailed allocation of funds; and
FURTHER THAT funds not be issued to the Fraser Street BIA until City staff is satisfied that an agreement has been reached.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Clarke not present for the vote)
5. Proposed Amendment to Subdivision By-law No. 5208 File: 113
Site Reclassification of Six Properties at 1720 to 1774 East 56th Avenue
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 24, 2000, in which the Subdivision Approving Officer sought Council's approval to refuse reclassification of six properties on the south side of the 1700 block of East 56th Avenue from Category 'B' to Category 'A' for the purpose of subdivision in accordance with the minimum parcel size requirements of Schedule A, Table 1 of the Subdivision By-law. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of the recommendations.
Rick Scobie, Director of Development Services, reviewed the report and responded to questions.
Clause No. 5 (cont'd)
The following spoke in favour:
Sharon Ducklow
Bill Ducklow
Wally Yu
Speakers' comments included:
· subdividing this space for row-housing is not appropriate
· the intent of the developer is to build row-housing to minimum standards and maximum profits
The following spoke in opposition:
Babulal Patel
Sami Gill
Joe Crooks
Speakers' comments included:
· real estate market trends are in favour of smaller lots as opposed to large lots
· rental units currently on this site are poorly maintained and this subdivision would upgrade the neighbourhood
-----
During discussion of this item, Councillor McCormick left the meeting on civic business and did not return.
-----
The following motion by Councillor Louis was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council refuse the application to reclassify the properties at 1720, 1732, 1744, 1756, 1768 and 1774 East 56th Avenue from Category `B' to Category `A' of Schedule A, Table 1, of Subdivision By-law No. 5208.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Sullivan opposed)
(Councillors McCormick and Clarke were not present for the vote)
6. Wellness Walkways - Status and Next Phase for Implementation File: 5767
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January 27, 2000, in which the General Managers of Engineering and Community Services reviewed the progress of the Wellness Walkways project and sought Council approval for the proposed allocations for $50,000 Provincial funding.
The following motion by Councillor Price was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council receive for information the Administrative Report, dated January 27, 2000, on the status of the Mount Pleasant Wellness Walkways.
B. THAT Council approve the allocation of the $50,000 provided by the Provincial Government from Local Governments Grants - Other Infrastructure Implementation Projects to further the implementation of the Wellness Walkways as described in the Administrative Report, dated January 27, 2000.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Clarke and Mayor Owen not present for the vote)
7. Heritage Revitalization Agreement - 211 Columbia Street File: 5051
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated March 16, 2000, in which the Director of Current Planning recommended approval of Council in principle of a Heritage Revitalization Agreement for the site at 211 Columbia which would secure rehabilitation of the building, limit the amount of floor space on site, and provide a density bonus. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of the recommendations.
Clause No. 7 (cont'd)
The following motion by Councillor Price was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council endorse in principle the use of a Heritage Revitalization Agreement to assist in the rehabilitation and reuse of 211 Columbia Street, a "C" listed and provincially designated building, with the following terms:
- a density bonus in the amount of approximately 3,456 m2 (37,200 sq. ft.), required to be transferred off-site;
- the Central Area to be considered an appropriate location for a receiver site(s) with the process to follow Council's policy on Transfer of Density;
- the on-site density to be restricted to "as built";
- the building to be rehabilitated to standards consistent with those required for other buildings receiving density bonuses; and
- the building to also be municipally designated.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Clarke and Mayor Owen not present for the vote)
The Committee adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver