REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
MARCH 29, 2001
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, March 29, 2001, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Chair
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ABSENT: |
Councillor Fred Bass (Leave of Absence)
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CITY MANAGER'S
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Judy Rogers, City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator |
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of March 8, 2001, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Warning to Prospective Purchasers of 707 East 11th Avenue File: 2701
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 9, 2001 in which the City Building Inspector recommended approval to file a 336D Notice against the property at 707 East 11th Avenue to warn prospective purchasers of contraventions of the Zoning and Development and Vancouver Building By-law related to this building. It was further recommended the Director of Legal Services be authorized to commence legal action if deemed appropriate. The General Manager of Community Services supported the recommendations.
Peter Sweeney, Building Inspections Branch, and Frank Durante, District Building Inspector, reviewed the report and responded to questions.
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 title to the property at 707 East 11th Avenue (Lot 23 of D, Block 157, District Lot 264A, Plans 486 and 1771) 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 707 East 11th Avenue 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
2. 3311 West Broadway - Recycling Depot File: 3758
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 2, 2001 in which the Director of Planning, and Director of Licensing, Inspections & Enforcement, addressed complaints from neighbours regarding impacts of the bottle return depot operation at 3311 West Broadway.
Rick Michaels, Manager, Enquiry Centre and Michael Twynstra, Manager, Property Use Inspection Branch, reviewed the report and responded to questions.
Anton Kuipers, area resident, spoke in opposition to the report. Comments included:
· Planning Department made a poor decision to place recycling depot at this site and there are misrepresentations in the report
· community and property values have decreased as a result of the recycling operation
· while there has been improvement regarding noise and transient/drug traffic over the past several months, the situation is still not acceptable
· to resolve the transient/drug problem which is the major remaining concern, the depot should be relocated
Staff responded to questions regarding the process of the review relating to complaints, the number of depots in Vancouver, the applicable by-law permitting conditional use of this site for this purpose and improvements made over the last few months.
Azim Khimji, Westside Return-it Center Inc., operator of the depot, spoke in support of the report. Comments included:
· depot makes environmental sense
· returns are from within the community (50/50 split between residential and street)
· use of fencing/gate to move transient problem away from back of building may be option and will be discussed with the landlord
· commercial returns being moved off site has greatly reduced problems
The following motion by Councillor McCormick, was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT the Administrative Report dated February 2, 2001 be received for information.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Split Island Gasoline Stations - Full Service Hours File: 2501
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated February 6, 2001 in which the Director of Current Planning in consultation with the Director of Legal Services provided advice to Council regarding a Chevron Canada proposal to amend the Zoning and Development By-law currently requiring split-island gasoline stations to provide at least one full-service pump island at all times the station is open. The General Manager of Community Services supported the recommendation that this report be received for information.
Dave Thomsett, Planning, and Michael Twynstra, Manager, Property Use Inspection Branch, reviewed the report and responded to questions regarding the number of facilities in Vancouver and By-law enforcement. They advised there has been no enforcement while the parties were attempting to resolve these concerns.
The following spoke in support of the report:
Bruce Chown Special Advisory Committee on Seniors and Liaison to Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues
Vince Miele Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues.
Barbara Parson BC Paraplegic Association
Speakers' comments included:
· by-law is adequate and should be enforced
· full service is required and preferred by individuals in wheelchairs, individuals with invisible ailments and individuals lacking expertise to do maintenance
· at self-serve, danger is present for parents with children when they must leave their car in order to pay for service
The following spoke in opposition to the report:
Tom Eason Canadian Petroleum Products Institute
Deanna Eckford Chevron Canada Limited
Speakers' comments included:
· signage has been delayed pending a legal opinion and is part of Chevron's three-part proposal, not an item that would be dealt with separately
· noted there are discrepancies between industry and City figures noted in report
· at full service stations, the volume of gas dispensed by Chevron stations during hours of 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. accounts for 1% of daily volume
· cannot justify $1/2 million cost to offer 24-hour service at split-service stations
· one attendant for 24-hour service potentially contravenes fire regulations
Clause No. 3 (cont'd)
· while safety issues for lone motorists between 11 p.m. & 7 a.m. is a valid reason to consider expanded full-service facilities, having a lone attendant at a site can create other safety concerns i.e. opportunities for robbery, etc.
· if the by-law remains as is, industry will comply, but would like to reach a more reasonable solution
Patsy Scheer, Legal Services, responded to questions. Comments included:
· informal agreements as opposed to an official by-law would be difficult to enforce; current by-law is enforceable
· signage is not as big a problem as coverage - amendments to licensing by-law can deal with signage and brochures
· stations cannot be compelled through a by-law to stay open 24-hours with full service
· proposal by Chevron is not workable in form presented ie. making suggested amendments to by-law
The following motion by Councillor Louis was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT the Policy Report dated February 6, 2001 be received for information.
B. THAT staff be instructed to enforce, if necessary with prosecution, the current zoning and development by-laws requiring split island gas stations to have at least one full service pump island available at all times that they are open for business.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. Rezoning Policy Issues - 601 West 10th Avenue
(Cancer Research Centre) File: 5308
This item was withdrawn.
The Committee adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
MARCH 29, 2001
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, March 29, 2001, at 4:20 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)
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CITY MANAGER'S
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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. Kennedy,
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 29, 2001
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the foregoing report:
Cl.1: Warning to Prospective Purchasers of 707 East 11th Avenue
C1.2: 3311 West Broadway -Recycling Depot
C1.3: Split-Island Gasoline Stations - Full Service Hours
MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1-3 of this report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Price,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Council adjourned at 4:30 p.m.