REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
MAY 17, 2001
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, May 17, 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 Daniel Lee (Leave of Absence) |
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CITY MANAGER'S
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Francie Connell, Acting City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator |
* denotes presence for a portion of the meeting
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of April 26, 2001, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Great Northern Way Design (File: 5304)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated May 3, 2001 in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought Council approval for the design of the Great Northern Way in order to determine the final form of subdivision of the adjacent rezoned lands.
Ian Smith, Central Area Planning, Carli Williams and Ian Adam, Engineering Services, along with Tom Timm, Deputy City Engineer, reviewed the report. They advised the current report is concerned with how the City portion is being used, not with the multi-use path.
The following spoke in opposition to the recommendations:
Colin Brander, Vancouver Bicycle Advisory Committee (brief submitted - on file)
Dale McClanaghan, Chair, Vancouver City Planning Comm.
Ken Wuschke, Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (brief submitted - on file)
Lorne Milne, International In Line Skating Association
Don Buchanan, West End Residents' Association
John Irwin, SouthEast False Creek Working Group
Nancy Chiavario, Brewery Creek Historical Society & Mt.Pleasant CommunityCentre Assn.
Ray Straatsma, BEST
Richard Campbell
Speakers' comments included:
· user groups did not have sufficient time to provide input;
· proposed curb lane widths are unsafe; 4 metre minimum is acceptable;
· overall vision for the False Creek Flats area is unclear relating to industrial land strategies; should be clarified prior to action being taken;
· minimum standards should be maintained for all lanes;
· multi-use pathways should be as important an option as roadway in City plans;
· Great Northern Way is being used more by commuters/non-motorized vehicles;
· concern was expressed that this proposal is preparing the Great Northern Way for increased vehicle traffic due to a third crossing.
The following spoke in favour of the recommendations:
Bob Laurie, Manager, Real Estate Finning International
Jim Moodie, Moodie Consultants
Speakers' comments included:
· Finning agrees it is possible to expand curb lane width and parking is not required;
· timeframe for design completion is 5 years;
· public consultation has been on-going for several years; a buyer is now available and ready to implement the plan;
· concern for trees and property lines has always been a factor;
· loss of parking on north side of Great Northern Way would be made up elsewhere.
Staff responded to questions relating to proposed widths and rationale for changes, zoning, and the future of bus transportation on the route.
MOVED by Councillor Price
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Council approve removal of one of the parking lanes of the proposed Great Northern Way design and reallocate space to maximize comfort for vehicle movement, including buses, maximize width of median, and create full properly striped bicycle lanes within the existing property line.
LOST
(Councillors Clarke, Kennedy, Don Lee, Puil, Sullivan and Mayor Owen opposed)
MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
1. THAT Council request staff report back on options for design of Great Northern Way, excluding parking on the northern border, while confirming the existing property line, and under no scenario will the shared use lane be less than 4 metres.
CARRIED
(Councillors Puil and Sullivan opposed)
MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
2. THAT Staff prepare a route and design for a multi-use pathway between Clark Drive and Main street, including revisions to design guidelines for the Finning site as necessary, for report back to Council.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
3. THAT staff prepare a set of Public Realm Guidelines to develop the urban character of Great Northern Way, in consultation with the adjoining community and landowners, for report back to Council; and
4. THAT, upon completion of the construction of Great Northern Way as well as the completion of the Public Realm Guidelines, staff report back on increases to the Streets Operations maintenance budgets.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Changes to the China Creek Open Space Agreement (File: 1203)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated May 2, 2001 in which the General Manager of Engineering Services sought Council approval to amend the terms of the China Creek Open Space Agreement that was required as a condition of the rezoning of the Finning Lands. These amendments are recommended to improve the location of a landscaped public walkway.
Tom Timm, Deputy City Engineer, reviewed the report and responded to questions.
Peter Arbuckle , Arkle Development Services, consultant to the property owners, QLT Inc., spoke in favour of the recommendation with the exception of a minor revision noted in their May 15, 2001 letter previously submitted to Council.
MOVED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Council authorize the Director of Legal Services, in consultation with the General Manager of Engineering Services, to execute any agreements necessary to modify the terms of the China Creek Open Space Agreement (BN316013, and BN316014 and 481053M) and the Sewer Statutory Right-of-way Agreement (481053M) as outlined in the Administrative Report dated May 2, 2001.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Clarke and Puil not present for the vote)
3. General Amendments to the Vancouver Fire By-law (File: 113)
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated April 30, 2001, in which the General Manager of Fire and Rescue Services sought Council approval in principle of proposed amendments to the Fire By-law and authorization to the Director of Legal Services to bring forward the By-law amendments.
Ron Ritchie, Deputy Chief, Vancouver Fire Department, and Avy Woo, Fire Protection Engineer, reviewed the report and responded to questions. Appendix B to the Policy Report dated April 30, 2001 was submitted (on file).
MOVED BY Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council approve in principle the proposed amendments to the Fire By-law as summarized in the Appendix A &B of the Policy Report dated April 30, 2001, and
B. THAT Council authorize the Director of Legal Services to bring forward the By-law amendments generally as shown in Appendix A and B of the Policy Report dated April 30, 2001.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Puil not present for the vote)
4. Noise By-law Amendments - Controlling Music Noise Levels (File: 3755)
From Entertainment Facilities
At its April 26, 2001 meeting, Council having heard speakers, referred decision of this item to a future meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment.
Accordingly, the Committee had before it a memo from the Director of Environmental Health dated April 19, 2001, and a Policy Report dated February 26, 2001 in which the Director of Environmental Health requested Council endorse amendments to the City's Noise by-law to address concerns related to noise impacts on residential buildings from neighbouring cabarets and entertainment facilities, especially in the Downtown, Yaletown and Gastown areas. The General Manger, Community Services supported the recommendations.
Nick Losito, Director, Environmental Health, responded to questions.
MOVED BY Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the Noise By-law be amended to incorporate the measures proposed within this report to better control excessive noise from cabarets and other entertainment facilities where music is played.
B. THAT the Noise By-law be amended to set minimum fines for offences by commercial establishments playing excessively amplified sound at $500 and to allow for the issuance of offence tickets under the Noise By-law.
C. THAT the Director of Planning, in consultation with the Director of Legal Services, report back on the option of including acoustical provisions, including maximum interior noise levels enforced by automated control systems, in time-limited Development Permits in noise-sensitive areas.
D. THAT the Director of Legal Services report back on any necessary Vancouver Charter amendments to enable Council to incorporate maximum interior noise levels in the Noise By-law.
E. THAT the Director of Legal Services report back with the necessary by-law amendments to implement these recommendations.
F. THAT Planning staff works with the Director of Environmental Health to incorporate the acoustical design criteria recommended in this report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Committee adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
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CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
MAY 17, 2001
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, May 17, 2001, at 5:05 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 Daniel Lee (Leave of Absence)
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CITY MANAGER'S
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Francie Connell, Acting City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator |
* denotes presence for a portion of the meeting
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Price
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the chair.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Anti-Graffiti Initiatives (File: 3501)
At its meeting on May 17, 2001, the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets, having heard all speakers, referred decision on this item to the Council meeting following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment, May 17, 2001.
At the Council meeting following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment on May 17, 2001, Council, due to time constraints, postponed decision of this item to a future date, to be advised.
CITY MANAGER'S ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
1. Authority to Travel from Vancouver, to Winnipeg to Accompany Mayor Owen at the C-5 Mayors' Meeting (File: 1254)
MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
THAT Council authorize Councillor Gordon Price to travel from Vancouver to Winnipeg to accompany Mayor Owen at the C-5 Mayors' Meeting, at an estimated cost of $664.
CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed)
(Councillor Puil not present for the vote)
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
May 17, 2001
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the foregoing report:
Cl.1: Great Northern Way Design
C1.2: Changes to the China Creek Open Space Agreement
C1.3: General Amendments to the Vancouver Fire By-law
C1.4: Noise By-law Amendments - Controlling Music Noise Levels
From Entertainment Facilities
Clause 1
MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 1 of this report, be approved.
CARRIED
(Councillors Puil and Sullivan opposed to Recommendation 1.)
Clauses 2, 3 and 4
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 2, 3 and 4 of this report, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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Council also approved recommendations of the May 17, 2001 Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets. For ease of reference, this will be recorded separately in the May 17, 2001 minutes of the City Services and Budgets meeting.
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RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
SECONDED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
1. Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee (File: 3139)
It was agreed staff would review a letter from Mayor Don Bell, Chair, LMTAC, dated May 8, 2001 (on file) to determine the feasibility of its request.
The Council adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
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