Agenda Index City of Vancouver

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

JANUARY 24, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, January 24, 2002, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:

Councillor Don Lee, Vice-Chair
Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Sandy McCormick

*Councillor George Puil

Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Chair, (Civic Business)
Councillor Gordon Price (Leave of Absence)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

* Denotes presence for part of the meeting.

pe020124.htm

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of December 6, 2001 and December 13, 2001, were adopted.

RECOMMENDATION

1. 322 Davie Street - Opus Hotel Holding Corporation

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated December 21, 2001, in which the Chief License Inspector requested Council approve the request by Opus Hotel Holding Corporation for a 54-seat Class `A' (Lobby) Lounge area, but reject the request for an 86-seat Class `A" (Bar/Bistro) Lounge licensed area. The General Manager of Community services supported Recommendation A and B and submitted Recommendation C for consideration as an alternative to Recommendation B.

Guy Gusdal, License Coordinator, and Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector, reviewed the report and responded to questions.

The following spoke in favour of both the 54-seat Class `A' (Lobby) Lounge and the 86-seat Class `A' (Bar/Bistro) Lounge:

Barbara Jo McIntosh, area resident/business owner, Barbara Jo's Books to Cooks

Speakers comments included:

· midnight closing puts this operation out of marketplace;
· concerns with other establishments should not reflect on this operation;
· time limited development permit gives City protection;
· boutique hotels most successful segment of hotel industry due in part to synergy between food, beverage and rooms;
· facility will bring international acclaim to Vancouver and Yaletown community;
· suggested compromise is 2:00 a.m. closure Thursday to Saturday;
· hotel would generates more business for other establishments;
· Vancouver film industry needs late night access to food and beverage;

Jean Guimond, area resident, spoke in opposition to the recommendations:

Speakers' comments included:

· quality of life has been disturbed by incidents occurring between 10:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. throughout the week originating from various licensed establishments;
· staff recommendations disregard city policy on late night use and disregard individuals directly affected;
· recommended size be restricted to 54 seats and closure at 10 p.m. every night;
· increased hours would increase late night street activity resulting in disturbances.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council, having considered the opinion of the majority of area residents and business operators of the community as determined by neighbourhood notification and a public meeting, the proximity of residential developments, traffic patterns, road access, availability of parking, noise impacts and overall design, endorse the application by Opus Hotel Holding Corporation, for a 54-seat Class `A' (Lobby) Lounge liquor license at the Opus Hotel, 322 Davie Street, subject to:

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

LOST
(Mayor Owen, Councillors Bass, Clarke, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, McCormick, Puil, Sullivan opposed)

MOVED by Councillor Puil

THAT hours of operation for the Opus Hotel Class `A' Bar/Bistro lounge be limited to Monday through Saturday 12:00 noon to 2:00 a.m. and Sunday 12:00.noon to 2:00 a.m. to be reviewed within one year.

not put

MOVED by Councillor Clarke

THAT the hours of operation for the 86-seat Opus Hotel Class `A' Bar/Bistro lounge be limited to Monday through Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight with the understanding that staff can sign off for a 2:00 a.m. closing Monday to Saturday on a temporary basis for up to one year.

CARRIED
(Councillor Puil opposed)

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

B. THAT Council, having considered the opinion of the majority of area residents and business operators of the community, as determined by neighbourhood notification and a public meeting, the proximity of residential developments, traffic patterns, road access, availability of parking, noise impacts and overall design, endorse the application by Opus Hotel Holding Corporation, for an 86-seat Class `A' (Bar/Bistro) Lounge liquor license at the Opus Hotel, 322 Davie Street, subject to:

CARRIED
(Councillor Louis opposed)

2. Southeast False Creek: Zoning Considerations For Privately held Lands


The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated January 8, 2002, in which the Director of Current Planning requested Council approve the proposed strategy to develop and apply a new mixed-use zoning for the privately owned lands between 1st & 2nd Avenues and Wylie and Main Streets in the Southeast False Creek study area. The General Manager of Community Services supported the recommendations.

Ian Smith, Senior Planner, reviewed the report and responded to questions.

Anne Bancroft-Jones, VP Special Projects, Polygon Homes Ltd. spoke in support of the recommendations.

Speakers' comments included:

· expressed support of process, timelines and policy statement which ensures awareness of area sensitivities;
· commended effort of City Planning staff.

The following spoke in general support of the recommendations, but with concerns:

Speakers' comments included:

· if moving towards area-wide designation, there is concern regarding density as well the length of time and methodology of the process;
· each one-time density increase represents $7 million in revenue to the City; this source of revenue should be considered;
· during rezoning and redevelopment, existing assessments should be `grandfathered';
· DCLs conservatively have been $22/ft; owners have not been able to develop or use the land; buildings on the property represent 4% of total assessment; buildings are not in shape to lease and the cost to redo them is prohibitive.

Ian Smith advised that any effect of rezoning on tax assessments must be considered by the Assessment Board.

MOVED by Councillor Bass
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

A. THAT Council direct the Planning Department, in consultation with the land owners and the public, to develop new mixed land use zoning for the private properties generally between 1st and 2nd Avenues from Wylie Street to Main Street that were included in the Southeast False Creek Policy Statement.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Meeting on Provincial Government Cuts to Services and Programs (File: 1263)

At its meeting on January 22, 2002, Vancouver City Council referred this matter to a future Standing Committee meeting in order to hear from delegations who have requested to speak.

Accordingly, the Committee had before it the following Motion on Notice.

WHEREAS, the provincial government is responsible for the delivery of programs and services including healthcare, justice, child protection, housing, human rights protection, alcohol and drug treatment, and environmental protection that are essential to the safety and well-being of all Vancouver residents;

AND WHEREAS, anticipated cuts to many of those services by the provincial government could seriously jeopardize the safety and well-being of Vancouver residents;

AND WHEREAS, the city of Vancouver could find itself in a position of funding replacement services and programs for those previously provided by the province;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Vancouver city council seek an immediate meeting with Premier Gordon Campbell and the provincial cabinet to determine the implications of provincial service and program cuts to the citizens of Vancouver.

postponed

The following spoke in favour of the motion:

Rochelle Davidson

Speakers' comments included:

· it is Council's duty to protest unjustifiable cuts, speak in defence of citizens and protect the City's economic viability; 31 municipalities have already spoken out;
· there will be a negative impact on the social fabric of the Province in many areas;
· those denied help through provincial programs will rely on the City which could result in tax increases;
· if not challenged; the Province will see this as green light to make further cuts;
· money allocated to Olympic bid should be redirected to reduce cuts;
· BC has highest personal wealth in Canada, but greatest discrepancy between wealthy and poor;
· there is no transparency in Provincial model;
· cuts have been made without public consultation;
· February 6, 2002 is designated Day of Action - students urge Council to stand up with them in face of cuts;

The Deputy City Manager advised staff is currently analyzing the impact of the Province cuts.

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT the motion to meet with the Provincial Government regarding cuts to services and programs be postponed until staff reports back on implications of the Provincial cuts and implications on the City budget process and also until input from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities is received.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)

The Committee adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

- - - - -

CITY OF VANCOUVER

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

JANUARY 24, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, January 24, 2002, at 6:00 p.m. in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

PRESENT:

Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Sandy McCormick
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business)
Councillor Gordon Price (Leave of Absence)
Councillor George Puil (Civic Business)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor 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
January 24, 2002

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

Clauses 1 -3

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee

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 Councillor Don Lee

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor Daniel Lee

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 6:02 p.m.

* * * * *

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