1

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

FEBRUARY 22, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, February 22, 2001, at 2:10 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Chair Councillor Fred Bass Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee, Vice-Chair *Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Sandy McCormick Councillor Gordon Price Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor George Puil (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator

*Denotes presence for a portion of the meeting.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Grant to "Save Our Living Environment" File: 2201

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January 2, 2001, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended approval of a $50,000 grant to “Save Our Living Environment” (SOLE) to allow it to continue for another year its program of supplementary cleaning of public spaces in the Downtown Eastside.

Robert Ross, Solid Waste and Information Services, provided an overview of the SOLE program, and, with the aid of photographs, reviewed actions taken in the last year by staff to mitigate problems with garbage and litter in the area. Mr. Ross noted the SOLE program is very successful in supplementing the City's sanitation program in the Downtown Eastside.

Ken Lyotier, United We Can, provided information concerning the street cleaning program, noting that last year the program was expanded to include a larger area, with more frequent cleanings and an increased number of people taking part. Mr. Lyotier advised the program has resulted in a significant improvement to the look and condition of the Downtown Eastside area, and has raised a heightened consciousness among residents and business operators in trying to keep the area cleaner.

The following motion by Councillor McCormick was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

THAT Council approve a grant of $50,000 to Save Our Living Environment (SOLE) for supplementary cleaning of sidewalks, lanes and parks in the Downtown Eastside in 2001, as outlined in the Administrative Report dated January 2, 2001, with funding provided from the Solid Waste Capital Reserve.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

* * * * *

The Committee recessed at 2:43 p.m. to convene in Council to approve the above recommendation and reconvened at 2:45 p.m., with the same members present.

* * * * *

2. 2058 West 41st Avenue File: 2605

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 7, 2001, in which the Director of Current Planning recommended Council advise the Director of Planning it would favour approval of Development Application DE405449 for a liquor store at 2058 West 41st Avenue. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of the foregoing.

Bill Boons, Co-Manager of Permit Processing - Development, Development Services, provided an overview of the report, noting a liquor store has existed at this location for many years. Mr. Boons, Paul Pinsker, Parking and Development Engineer, and Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, responded to questions concerning parking and parking enforcement in the area.

Ron Stromberg, area resident, advised he represents 30 people who signed a petition expressing concerns with the traffic impacts of commercial development, such as this application, on the 2000 block of West 42nd Avenue. He reviewed the existing problems with traffic and parking and noted that there was a high risk of a pedestrian/vehicle accident occurring due to uncontrolled left-turn vehicle movements. Mr. Stromberg requested assurance that the Engineering Department will work to resolve the traffic and parking issues outlined in his letter dated January 4, 2001 (Appendix B of the Administrative Report dated February 7, 2001).

Mr. Pinsker responded to concerns raised by the foregoing speaker.

The following spoke in support of the application and their comments are summarized below:

Brian Anderson, Province of BC, Liquor Distribution Branch
Jim McLean, McLean Courtenay Development Associates Ltd.
Bob Thompson, London Drugs
Aaron Fry

· a liquor store at this location has been part of the Kerrisdale community for many years; the proposed store is smaller than the original, and is looking to cater to the local community;
· development provides more parking than is required; parking costs are refunded by merchants; parking lot contains several large spots for bigger cars or elderly drivers;
· concerns with parking in the neighbourhood are not related to the liquor store, but have more to do with enforcement and policing;
· the previous manager of the London Drugs store in this development spoke of measures taken by store staff to resolve problems for residents, e.g. asking customers not to park on residential streets;
· one of the speakers who lives in the neighbourhood and works in the development above the London Drugs noted that, from his observations, people use the underground parking lot and do not park on West 42nd.

The following motion by Councillor McCormick was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT the Director of Planning be advised that Council would favour approval of Development Application Number DE405449 for a liquor store at 2058 West 41st Avenue.

B. THAT staff be directed to work with the community on an ongoing basis with regard to traffic management in the neighbourhood.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

(Councillor Louis not present for the vote)

3. Moratorium on SkyTrain Extension File: 5559

At its meeting on January 30, 2001, Vancouver City Council referred consideration of the following motion to the February 15, 2001, Planning and Environment Committee meeting, in order to hear from delegations wishing to speak on this matter:

MOVED by Cllr. Bass,
SECONDED by Cllr. Louis,

WHEREAS the provincial government’s reluctance to implement TransLink’s automobile levy combined with the extremely high costs of further SkyTrain construction has created a fiscal crisis in transportation funding in the Lower Mainland;

AND WHEREAS the high costs of further SkyTrain expansion will be borne by taxpayers for decades: The total capital costs are Phase II Commercial Drive West SkyTrain option to Granville--$579 million (1999 dollars) vs. Rapid Bus--$88 million (1999 dollars);

AND WHEREAS George Puil, the Chair of Translink, has stated that, SkyTrain Phase 2 will likely not be extended west of Vancouver Community College for a decade, by which time both the route and SkyTrain technology may no longer be the best choices;

AND WHEREAS the Vancouver City Council supported the extension of Skytrain to Granville Street on the basis that the provincial government would pay 2/3 of the cost only if the expensive Skytrain option was the choice of technology used;

AND WHEREAS public consultation which preceded the City’s adoption of SkyTrain technology was restricted and focused on a part of one corridor--Broadway to Arbutus;

AND WHEREAS the people of the GVRD have not been offered specific plans forall transportation in the region, including total costs, choice of transit technology, and routes of automobiles, buses, transit and other forms of transportation;

AND WHEREAS the people of Vancouver have not been given an opportunity to express their views on the routes and technology on currently-planned rapid transit expansion, including the Richmond/YVR transit line currently under limited study;

AND WHEREAS the Grandview Woodlands Area Council and adjacent neighbourhood organizations have unanimously opposed the expansion of SkyTrain along the Grandview Cut west of Commercial Drive;

AND WHEREAS a SkyTrain terminus at the Finning lands north of Vancouver Community College would result in further destruction of the Grandview Cut and little benefit to local residents and provide no connection to other transit;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Vancouver calls on all parties concerned with funding and construction of the extension of SkyTrain west of Commercial Drive to place a moratorium on further work until completion of the following three tasks:

1) Development of an overall, long-term, fully-costed and up-to-date regional transportation plan;
2) A full environmental assessment of that plan, and,
3) After development of the plan and the environmental assessment, extensive region-wide public consultation in order to make appropriate modifications to the plan.

- referred

Council did not conclude hearing from speakers on the above motion at the February 15th meeting and therefore referred the matter to the February 22, 2001, Planning and Environment meeting.

The following speakers expressed support for a moratorium on SkyTrain extension west of Commercial Drive:

Doug Ragan, Environmental Youth Alliance
Earl Peach
Phil LeGood
Judy Lynn
Deming Smith, Society Promoting Environmental Conservation

Comments made by the foregoing speakers include the following:

· Grandview Cut should be retained as a green space for the east side;
· concern expressed regarding the public process used by Rapid Transit Project (RTP) -public was not kept adequately informed;
· request made for Council to call on the Provincial Government to fund transit options other than SkyTrain;
· taxpayers are going to have to pay the price of SkyTrain;
· Vancouver Community College (VCC) SkyTrain station will not be safe or convenient due to its proposed location;
· rather than expanding SkyTrain the existing bus routes should be retained, and a real rapid bus along Broadway be implemented;
· further SkyTrain construction will have an extremely negative impact on the transportation network as a whole;
· strongly urge Council revisit its April 4, 2000, endorsement of SkyTrain west of Commercial;
· urge Council to call on Office of BC Auditor General for audit of entire regional transit system.

The following speakers were opposed to a moratorium on SkyTrain extension west of Commercial Drive, and their comments are summarized below:

Ken Baker
Barb Wright

· Grandview Cut is an artificial creation, made for transportation uses;
· SkyTrain should continue to VCC as planned;
· do not allow an unfinished project into the centre of the neighbourhood;

· if SkyTrain is stopped at Commercial Drive, amenities promised by the RTP, such as neighbourhood safety office, increased SkyTrain enforcement, improvements to the existing station, turnstiles, etc., may be in jeopardy; extension to VCC will take a lot of the pressure off the Commercial station;
· SkyTrain should go to VCC and further west; will aid a neighbourhood which is trying to revitalize, create jobs and provide transportation choice; will also aid in alleviating traffic problems in neighbourhood.

The Chair noted that the motion had been previously moved.

The following amendment by Councillor Clarke was put and carried.

THAT the motion be amended to remove all of the "Whereas" statements leading up to the resolution.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

(Councillor Louis absent for the vote)

The following amendment by Councillor Price was put and carried.

THAT the motion be amended to change the words "Commercial Drive" to "Vancouver Community College".

- CARRIED

(Councillor Bass opposed)
(Councillor Louis absent for the vote)

The amendments having carried, the motion as amended was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

THAT the City of Vancouver calls on all parties concerned with funding and construction of the extension of SkyTrain west of Vancouver Community College to place a moratorium on further work until completion of the following three tasks:

1) Development of an overall, long-term, fully-costed and up-to-date regional transportation plan;
2) A full environmental assessment of that plan, and,
3) After development of the plan and the environmental assessment, extensive region-wide public consultation in order to make appropriate modifications to the plan.

- CARRIED

(Councillor Bass opposed)
(Councillor Louis not present for the vote)

The Committee adjourned at 4:49 p.m.

* * * * *

CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

FEBRUARY 22, 2001

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, February 22, 2001, at 2:43 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:	Deputy Mayor Sandy McCormick Councillor Fred Bass Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee *Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Gordon Price Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor George Puil (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	*Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator

*Denotes presence for a portion of the meeting.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Price,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Deputy Mayor McCormick in the chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
February 22, 2001

Council considered the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in the following clause of the foregoing report:

Cl.1: Grant to "Save Our Living Environment"

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in Clause 1 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
AND BY THE REQUIRED
MAJORITY

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. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bass,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

* * * * *

The Council adjourned at 2:45 p.m., and reconvened at 4:49 p.m., with the same members present, except for Councillor Louis, to consider the remainder of the recommendations of the Committee.

* * * * *

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Price,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Deputy Mayor McCormick in the chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
February 22, 2001

Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the foregoing report:

Cl.2: 2058 West 41st Avenue - Development Application Number DE405449
Cl.3: Moratorium on SkyTrain Extension

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in Clause 2 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as contained in Clause 3 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED

(Councillor Bass 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. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver