4
CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
JUNE 15, 2000
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, June 15, 2000, at 3:06 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
|
ABSENT: |
Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Civic Business)
|
CITY MANAGER'S
|
Judy Rogers, City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Laura Kazakoff, 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.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
June 15, 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 6668 Clarendon Street
Cl.2: Vancouver General Hospital Precinct
Cl.3: Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Principal and Infill Buildings
at 539 East 7th Avenue
Clauses 1 and 3
MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1 and 3 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 Puil opposed to Recommendation A)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bass,
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. Bass,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 3:07 p.m.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
JUNE 15, 2000
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, June 15, 2000, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Chair
|
ABSENT: |
Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Civic Business)
|
CITY MANAGER'S
|
Judy Rogers, City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator |
*Denotes presence for a portion of the meeting.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meetings of May 4, 18 and 31, 2000, were adopted.
VARY AGENDA
The Committee agreed to add to and vary the order of the Agenda to first consider a letter dated June 15, 2000, regarding 539 East 7th Avenue. For clarity, the Agenda items are minuted in the order they were dealt with.
RECOMMENDATION
3. Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Principal and Infill Buildings
at 539 East 7th Avenue File: 2701-1
The Committee had before it a letter dated June 15, 2000, from Timothy Jacob Lack of Devlin Jensen, Barristers and Solicitors, regarding 539 East 7th Avenue.
Carlene Robbins, Manager of Bylaw Administration and Records, reviewed the background of this matter, noting Council had passed a Resolution on March 30, 2000, which declared the buildings at 539 East 7th Avenue a nuisance and dangerous to public safety, and set out conditions and a timeframe to be met by the owner. Ms. Robbins noted that Mr. Lack, who represents the owner, was now in possession of a bank draft in the amount of $50,000 US and she advised staff were therefore supportive of the request by Mr. Lack to extend the timeframe for providing a Letter of Credit in the amount of $75,000 to June 20, 2000. All other conditions of the Resolution of March 30, 2000, however, would remain the same.
The following motion by Councillor Don Lee and was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT the timeframe for submitting the Letter of Credit referred to in Recommendation E of Council's Resolution of March 30, 2000, be extended to June 20, 2000. All other conditions of the Resolution of March 30, 2000, set out below, remain the same.
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 Resolution attached to the Administrative Report dated January 12, 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.
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
(Mayor Owen not present for the vote)
1. Warning to Prospective Purchasers of 6668 Clarendon Street File: 2701-1
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated May 3, 2000, in which the City Building Inspector recommended that a 336D Notice be filed against the title to the property at 6668 Clarendon Street in order to warn prospective purchasers there are violations of the Zoning and Development and Vancouver Building By-laws related to this building. The City Building Inspector also recommended the Director of Legal Services be authorized to commence legal action or proceedings if she deems it necessary. The General Manager of Community Services supported the recommendations.
Peter Sweeney, Manager, Building Inspection, with the aid of graphics, provided an overview of the Administrative Report, and responded to a question regarding the unapproved sundeck.
The following motion by Councillor Puil 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 6668 Clarendon Street (Lot 21 of C, Block 3, District Lot 336 SW Qtr, Plan 2580) 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 6668 Clarendon Street and may, in her discretion, seek injunctive relief in that action or proceeding, in order to bring this building into compliance with City By-laws.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Mayor Owen not present for the vote)
2. Vancouver General Hospital Precinct File: 5308
Councillor Louis declared a conflict of interest as he is a member of the VGH Board,
and therefore left the meeting at 2:15 p.m. and did not return.
At a special meeting on May 31, 2000, the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment had before it for consideration a Policy Report dated May 16, 2000. The Committee concluded hearing from delegations on the report and referred the matter to the next Committee meeting for discussion and decision.
Accordingly, the Committee had before it the Policy Report dated May 16, 2000, in which the Director of Current Planning, in consultation with the General Managers of Parks and Recreation and Engineering Services, recommended policies to be used as objectives or 'goal posts' for evaluating an anticipated text amendment rezoning application for the Vancouver General Hospital CD-1 District, and to be used to guide development of buildings, open space and public realm features in this precinct.
The Committee also had before it a memo dated June 15, 2000, in which the Director of Current Planning recommended staff be directed to meet with the BC Cancer Foundation regarding the design concept for the Cancer Research Centre.
Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, briefly reviewed the rationale for the additional recommendation put forward in the memo dated June 15, 2000. He also noted the report puts forward a policy statement only, and that any development issues that arise which are not covered by the policy will be brought back to Council.
Tom Phipps, Current Planning, provided an overview of the Policy Report and the three development scenarios which are supported by staff and put forward in the policy statement attached to the report. He noted staff prefer Scenario A, but all three recommended scenarios would allow VGH to phase in biotechnology facilities while still achieving City objectives in terms of future hospital needs, public open space and retention of the heritage Heather Pavilion.
Mr. Beasley and Mr. Phipps responded to questions regarding:
· long-term care facilities;
· the 1989 Open Space Agreement;
· why staff do not recommend options be sought to increase public open space beyond the 1989 agreement;
· the anticipated increase in employment positions; and
· the proposed shelter for homeless people being released from the hospital suggested by the Housing Centre as a possible 'in-kind' Community Amenity Contribution.
In response to additional questions concerning CACs, Mr. Beasley clarified why the attainment of permanent park space could be considered as an 'in-kind' contribution.
Piet Rutgers, Parks and Recreation, in response to questions, confirmed the subject area contains less park space than many other areas of the city. He noted the precinct provides the best opportunity to attain large open space in this area, and any of the three proposed scenarios will be an improvement over the current situation.
Murray Martin, President, Vancouver Hospital and Health Science Centre, responded to questions concerning nurses training programs, and increased classroom space for ambulatory care training.
A Council member requested staff provide information on whether there were plans for the hospital to provide additional space for long-term care facilities, e.g. for persons awaiting placement in seniors' care homes.
The following motion by Councillor McCormick was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT the document entitled Vancouver General Hospital Precinct Policy Statement dated May 2000 (attached as Appendix A to the Policy Report dated May 16, 2000), be adopted as the guiding policy for evaluation of future zoning and development in the precinct, including introduction of medical biotechnology uses.
B. THAT the Vancouver Hospital be urged to come forward with a schedule for delivery of open space which strives to achieve a timetable closer that of the 1989 legal agreement timetable with a parallel biotechnology development timetable.
C. THAT no development permit be issued for new structures on sites currently providing open space until at least an equivalent public open space has been landscaped to serve the same sector of the precinct.
D. THAT, with respect to Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) policy, that a CAC of at least the flat rate be negotiated in kind or cash.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Puil opposed to Recommendation A)
(Councillor Louis not present for the vote)
The following motion by the Mayor was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
E. THAT a minimum of 150,000 sq ft of biotechnology floor space be made available for and capable of hospital use for patient care if needed.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Louis not present for the vote)
The following motion by Councillor Puil was put and lost.
THAT options to increase public open space beyond the current requirement, while retaining the 1906 Heather Pavilion, be sought at the rezoning stage and development implications of such options be identified for Council consideration prior to referral of a rezoning application to Public Hearing.
- LOST
(Councillors Kennedy, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, McCormick and the Mayor opposed)
(Councillor Louis not present for the vote)
The following motion by Councillor McCormick was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
F. THAT the Director of Current Planning be instructed to meet with the BC Cancer Foundation and report back to Council at an early date on any policy adjustments which would be needed to accommodate the design concept for the Cancer Research Centre.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Louis not present for the vote)
The following motion by Councillor Puil was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
G. THAT the Director of Current Planning be instructed to meet with the Arthritis Society and report back to Council at an early date on any policy adjustments which would be needed to accommodate the design concept for the Arthritis Society.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Louis not present for the vote)
The Committee adjourned at 3:06 p.m.
* * * * *
(c) 1998 City of Vancouver