ITEM NO. 1
P&E COMMITTEE AGENDA
December 13, 2001

SIGNIFICANT REZONING APPLICATION

1. Address: 651 Expo Blvd. and 630-690 Beatty St. Present Zone: BCPED

Applicant: Pacific Place Developments Corp. Proposed Zone: CD-1

Staff Contact: Phil Mondor, Michael Gordon, Jonathan Barrett

Proposal:

· to amend the False Creek North (FCN) Official Development Plan (ODP) and to rezone the site, designated as area 7(b) in FCN ODP, from B.C. Place/Expo District (BCPED) to CD-1, to alter the land use mix as follows, with no net change in density (6.0):

Land Use	Permitted Floor Area	Proposed Floor Area
Residential	24 061 m² (259,000 sq. ft.)	98 110 m² (1,056,081 sq. ft.)
Commercial	87 668 m² (943,681 sq. ft.)	13 563 m² (146,600 sq. ft.)
Total	111 729 m² (1,202,681 sq. ft.)	111 729 m² (1,202,681 sq. ft.)

· commercial floor area would be primarily developed with a Costco Wholesale store at the Expo Boulevard grade or level,

· residential development would include four towers (1,184 dwellings), ranging in height from 21 storeys to 29 storeys (within view cone limits), and 31 townhouse dwellings, with access/egress on Beatty St. and the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts,

· one of the four residential towers would fulfill the property owner's obligation to provide non-market housing (about 200 dwellings proposed), and

· open space (public, semi-public and private) and pedestrian linkages, including "softening" of viaduct edges.

Issues:

· the application proposes to "swap" 74 049 m² (797,081 sq. ft.) of commercial potential on this site (Area 7B) for an equal amount of residential potential on Area 6C, the site at the foot of Abbott Street immediately east of Plaza of Nations,

· the application proposes to make a residential precinct in what was designated in the FCN ODP as an office precinct,

· proximity to Skytrain Station, BC Place Stadium and GM Place will have impacts and implications in terms of pedestrian movement around and through the site,

· more commercial parking is proposed (726-750 spaces) than would be required (485 spaces) and less residential parking (995 spaces) than would be required (1,115),

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· a Costco Wholesale store at this central location raises questions about retail and traffic impacts (note: impact studies are being prepared),

· the proposed form of development raises several potential urban design questions,

· question is raised about relationship with the Armouries (Drill Hall) at corner of Beatty and Dunsmuir, and

· disposition of the City owned lot at corner of Beatty and Georgia Streets needs to be determined.

Applicable Policy:

· FCN ODP and Guidelines

· View Protection Guidelines

· Central Area Plan

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