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CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
MAY 4, 2000
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, May 4, 2000, at 3:48 p.m., 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
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ABSENT: |
Councillor Fred Bass (Leave of Absence)
Councillor Don Lee (Leave of Absence) |
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CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator |
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. McCormick,
SECONDED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,
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
May 4, 2000
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl.1: Warning to Prospective Purchasers of 4286 Balkan Street
Cl.2: Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Buildings at 2600-2614 West 4th Avenue and 2015-2017 Trafalgar Street
Cl.3: Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Buildings at 5092 Hoy Street
Cl.4: Proposed Amendment to Subdivision By-law No. 5208 -
Reclassification of Properties at 2395, 2415, 2435 and 2455 East 38th Avenue
Cl.5: YMCA/Langara College Policy Review and Rezoning Process - Proposed Schedule and Resources
Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 5
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1, 2, 3 and 5 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Clause 4
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 4 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Sullivan opposed)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. McCormick,
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Price,
SECONDED by Cllr. Sullivan,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
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REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
MAY 4, 2000
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, May 4, 2000, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Mayor Philip Owen, Acting Chair
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ABSENT: |
Councillor Fred Bass (Leave of Absence)
Councillor Don Lee, Vice-Chair (Leave of Absence) |
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CITY MANAGER'S
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Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator |
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of April 6, 2000, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Warning to Prospective Purchasers of 4286 Balkan Street File: 2701-1
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April 11, 2000, in which the City Building Inspector recommended a 336D Notice be filed against the Certificate of Title to the property at 4286 Balkan Street, in order to warn prospective purchasers there are contraventions of the Zoning and Development and Vancouver Building By-laws related to this building. The City Building Inspector further recommended that Council authorize the Director of Legal Services to commence legal action or an injunction if, in her opinion, it is appropriate to do so. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of the foregoing.
Peter Sweeney, Manager, Building Inspection, with the aid of overheads, reviewed the unauthorized work which has been carried out on the subject property and the history of orders related to the property.
The following motion by Councillor Louis was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT the City Clerk be directed to file a 336D Notice against the Certificate of Title to the property at 4286 Balkan Street (Lot 4 of J of 19 & 20, Blocks 10 to 13 & 22 to 25, District Lots 391 & 392, Plan 6251) in order to warn prospective purchasers that there are contraventions of the Zoning and Development and Vancouver Building By-laws related to this building.
B. THAT the Director of Legal Services is hereby authorized, in her discretion, to commence a legal action or proceeding in relation to the premises located at 4286 Balkan Street and may, in her discretion, seek injunctive relief in that action or proceeding.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Buildings at
2600-2614 West 4th Avenue and 2015-2017 Trafalgar Street File: 2701-1
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April 5, 2000, in which the City Building Inspector recommended that Council declare the buildings at 2600-2614 West 4th Avenue and 2015-2017 Trafalgar Street a nuisance and dangerous to public safety and order they be demolished and all demolition debris be removed and a chain-link fence be erected around the perimeter of the property to prevent trespass and dumping. It was further recommended that a 336D be filed against the title to the property to warn prospective purchasers of Council's resolution. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of the foregoing.
Peter Sweeney, Manager, Building Inspection, with the aid of overheads, reviewed the report, noting the subject buildings have been slated for demolition and the owner is not opposed to staff's recommendations.
Dierdre Holmes, area resident, expressed concerns about the subject properties, noting they are an eyesore, health hazard and firetrap and give a bad image to the neighbourhood. She further noted the properties attract loud groups of teens at night, vandalism, graffiti and the dumping of refuse. Ms. Holmes expressed support for the staff recommendations for demolition and the erection of a chain link fence around the perimeter of the site.
The following motion by Councillor Puil was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council declare that the two buildings situated on the corner site at 2600 - 2614 West 4th Avenue and 2015 - 2017 Trafalgar Street (Lot 1 Block 11 District Lot 192 Plan 774 PID 015-124-835) at the above location are a nuisance and dangerous to public safety pursuant to Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter.
B. THAT Council approve the Resolution attached to the Administrative Report dated April 5, 2000, and order the Registered owners of the property to demolish the buildings and remove all demolition debris from the site and provide a chain-link fence around the perimeter of the site within 30 days of a copy of this Resolution being served pursuant to Section 324A of the Vancouver Charter.
C. THAT in the event of the failure of the owners to comply with the order of Council, Council further orders and hereby authorizes the City Building Inspector to have the buildings demolished and have all the demolition debris removed from the site and provide a chain-link fence around the perimeter of the site at the expense of the owners.
D. THAT the City Clerk be directed to file a 336D Notice against the Certificate of Title to the property at 2600 - 2614 West 4th Avenue and 2015 - 2017 Trafalgar Street, in order to warn prospective purchasers that as a result of the condition of the buildings and Council’s Resolution, the purchaser could suffer a significant expense if the order of Council were enforced against him.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Buildings at 5092 Hoy Street File: 2701-1
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April 17, 2000, in which the City Building Inspector recommended that Council declare the building at 5092 Hoy Street a nuisance and dangerous to public safety and order the building be demolished and all demolition debris be removed and that a chain-link fence be erected around the perimeter of the property. It was further recommended that a 336D be filed against the title to the property in order to warn prospective purchasers of Council's resolution.
Peter Sweeney, Manager, Building Inspection, noted that the subject land had been sold for taxes in November 1999. He therefore requested that Council postpone consideration of the Administrative Report for two weeks, in order to notify the low bidder who paid the arrear taxes.
The following motion by Councillor McCormick was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT a decision on the Administrative Report dated April 17, 2000, titled Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Building at 5092 Hoy Street, be postponed to the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Proposed Amendment to Subdivision By-law No. 5208 - Reclassification
of Properties at 2395, 2415, 2435 and 2455 East 38th Avenue File: 5308/113
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report in which the Subdivision Approving Officer reviewed an application to reclassify four properties on the north side of the 2300-2400 block of East 38th 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 Subdivision Approving Officer and the General Manager of Community Services recommended that the reclassification application be refused.
Annetta Guichon, Development Services - Subdivision and Strata, provided an overview of the Administrative Report, noting the application had been submitted by an agent acting on behalf of the four owners.
The following were not in favour of the recommendation and expressed support for the application to reclassify the subject properties from Category 'B' to 'A':
· Fagan Darby, owner
· Bill Kwan, owner
· Kenny Wong, owner
· David Chiu, owner (with the aid of an interpreter)
· Babulal Patel, agent for the owners
The following is a summary of comments made by the foregoing speakers:
· proposal is to create 8 parcels, which is only one more than currently allowed under existing Category 'B';
· to build new houses on the existing large lots is not economically feasible;
· smaller lots with new houses will raise property values in the area, beautify the block, and fit nicely into the existing streetscape;
· all owners expressed the desire to be able to subdivide their lot independently, to enable them each to build two houses, one of which in each case would be occupied by a family member;
· there would be difficulties associated with the four owners collectively subdividing their properties (as allowed under the current classification) such as how to work out the appropriate financial distribution;
· reclassification will not generate an excessive amount of additional on-street parking.
The following speakers were supportive of the staff recommendation for refusal of the reclassification application:
· Dona Saunders
· Leonard Saunders
· Erna Krische
· Ann Cronin
· Olive Stogrin
· Frank Chies
Concerns expressed by the foregoing speakers are summarized as follows:
· additional houses will generate increased parking requirements both on East 38th and in the lane and increased traffic congestion in the lane; safety concerns were expressed with regard to the already heavy pedestrian traffic in the lane from the adjacent school which will increase with a future expansion of the school;
· reclassification will result in increased traffic on East 38th Avenue which will negatively impact the Midtown Bikeway;
· proposed reclassification would destroy the present character of the block and lower property values;
· opinions were expressed that profit is the motivating factor in this application.
Rick Scobie, Director, Development Services, in response to a question, noted it is not uncommon for two lots to be subdivided into three.
The following motion by Councillor Puil was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT the application to reclassify the properties at 2395, 2415, 2435 and 2455 East 38th Avenue from Category ‘B’ to Category ‘A’ of Schedule A, Table 1, of Subdivision By-law No. 5208 be refused.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Sullivan opposed)
5. YMCA/Langara College Policy Review and Rezoning Process -
Proposed Schedule and Resources File: 5304-1
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated April 19, 2000, in which the Director of Central Area Planning, in consultation with the General Managers of Engineering Services and Parks and Recreation, and the Director of Financial Planning and Treasury, reviewed a proposal for a significant development initiative from Langara College and the YMCA (South Slope), and recommended Council approval of a proposed four-stage process to undertake a City policy review in anticipation of a rezoning application.
Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, reviewed the recommendations, noting they do not put forward any conclusions for approval but rather a planning process for approval in principle. The proposed process will be fully cost-recovered and will involve widespread community consultation.
Rob Jenkins, Assistant Director - Current Planning Initiatives Branch, with the aid of a large aerial photograph of the site and adjacent area, briefly reviewed the proposal from the YMCA and Langara College, and provided an overview of the issues which would be addressed through the proposed policy review and rezoning process.
The following speakers were in support of the recommendations:
· Linda Holmes, President, Langara College
· George Rodger, Sr. VP of Development, YMCA of Greater Vancouver
· Ray Spaxman, Spaxman Consulting Group
The foregoing speakers cited the need for the college and YMCA to expand their facilities to meet the increasing needs of the community. They advised the residential component of their proposal will enable the two not-for-profit institutions to fund the proposed additional facilities, which include a gym, library, creative arts centre and additional space for the cafeteria.
Paul Weaver, Langara Students' Union, expressed concern regarding the lack of public consultation in regard to the recommended process, and noted that the residential component of the proposal should be non-market housing.
Mr. Beasley responded to questions regarding the proposed planning process and public consultation. Susan Mundick, General Manager of Parks and Recreation, in response to a question regarding the existing green belt adjacent the college, noted it is important to the Park Board that there be no net loss of park land, and that the needs and wishes of the community are considered.
The following motion by Councillor Louis was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT a four phase policy review and rezoning process to address a YMCA (South Slope)/Langara College development concept, be approved in principle;
B. THAT staff resources and a total budget of $335,578 be approved for YMCA/Langara College policy review and rezoning process;
C. THAT, consistent with City cost recovery policy, the YMCA and Langara College contribute $65,641 for the City work on Phase 1, and, if wishing to proceed beyond Phase 1, submit the following contributions prior to the commencement of the subsequent phases: $85,109 for Phase 2; $122,608 for Phase 3 and $62,220 for Phase 4;
Further, THAT these contributions will be applied to rezoning fees.
D. THAT, while the City will endeavour to meet the proposed process schedule, approval of this report and receipt of payments does not oblige the City to comply with the proposed time frame nor change the zoning;
E. THAT, with respect to Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) policy, that a negotiated CAC approach be applied.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Committee adjourned at 3:48 p.m.
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