Agenda Index City of Vancouver

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

FEBRUARY 7, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, February 7, 2002, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Lease Terms and Floor Space Relaxation for the MCC Housing/Wings

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January 16, 2002, in which the Director of Housing Centre, in conjunction with the Directors of Current Planning and Real Estate, sought Council approval of the terms of the ground lease to MCC Housing for anon-market housing project, a relaxation of density related to parking spaces and a soils remediation budget for the site. The General Manager of Community Services supported the recommendations.

Rob Whitlock, Senior Housing Officer, reviewed the report and responded to questions.

The following speakers opposed the recommendations:

Speakers' comments included:

· building density does not fit in with neighbourhood; towers should be set back 40' from neighbouring structures as per City urban design (built form) guidelines;
· residents directly south of project are impacted negatively;
· residents do not have an issue with social housing, but design improvements must be made to the tower;
· construction should be delayed until the project meets Yaletown standards and plans;
· concerns expressed regarding over-saturation of social housing, SROs coming from Granville Street into Yaletown.

Mr. Whitlock, along with Larry Adams of Adams, Neale Staniszkis Doll Adams Architects, and Don Kroeker, New Projects Manager, MCC Housing, responded to questions relating to reasons for proximity of one building to another and rationale relating to density, FSR policy, funding and client base for the project. It was noted the Province is currently reviewing the status of social housing projects.

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager, responded to questions relating to the soils remediation program.

Mr. MacGregor advised the Urban Design Panel approved the project subject to Council approval of specific conditions. Mr. Adams advised the parking structure configuration cannot be improved and the project was developed in consultation with city staff to work within urban design guidelines. Mr. Whitlock advised the Urban Design Panel, Development Permit Board and staff all concur this is the optimum design.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Update on the Implementation of the Dunbar and Kensington-Cedar Cottage Community Visions (File: 5340)

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated January 22, 2002, in which the Director of City Plans, in consultation with the General Manager of Engineering Services, provided Council with the status of community vision implementation actions in Dunbar and Kensington-Cedar Cottage. The General Manager of Community Services submitted the report for information.

Susan Anderson, Catherine Buckham, and Sandy James, Planning, reviewed the report, detailed specific projects that are under way, commended the community for their dedication and involvement in the process, and responded to questions.

Peter Wohlwend, Blooming Boulevards and Dickens Crime Watch, related his involvement in the community vision process. His comments included:
· community members instrumental in creating school gardens; teachers conducting tours;
· various pedestrian groups now interact;
· benches on boulevards well used;
· foot and bicycle traffic has increased;
· no graffiti, no theft in these community projects.

The following speakers spoke in favour of the report:

Speakers' comments included:

· KCC committee meetings are public; information is regularly updated on the City's community web site; brochures are translated and widely distributed;
· yearly priorities are determined at the Annual General Meeting;
· committee strives to maintain balance between immediate, visible and achievable projects and those that are more long-term;
· city staff commended for their input and assistance;
· transferring funding from one program to another may not be a good solution;
· garbage collection/refuse in lanes still a concern and City must be committed to goals of CityPlan;
· major examination of Knight Street Corridor should take place to resolve concerns relating to traffic, congestion, air pollution, traffic noise, etc.;
· there is capacity for growth in KCC area; citizens want to ensure it grows well;
· neighbourhood centre should be funded;
· a process to allow local decision-making and budget allocations on specific issues should be implemented.

Staff noted various programs available through the City, Park Board and Province, along with in-kind donations, have contributed to the success of the visioning program.

The following spoke expressing concerns regarding the report:

Speakers' comments included:

· changes in Dunbar area have generally been positive; however, as Dunbar is essentially a single-family neighbourhood, impacts of institutional growth, specifically St. George's School, should be considered;
· guidelines should be developed considering the perspective of all stakeholders.

Staff advised St. George's School will be discussed at the February 26, 2002 meeting of the Development Permit Board.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. 919 Granville Street - 600428 B.C. Ltd. (Paradise Theatre)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January 28, 2002, in which the Chief License Inspector recommended Council not endorse the request by 600428 BC Ltd. for an increase in seating capacity of 75 seats from 125 seats to 200 seats for the Class `C' Cabaret at 919 Granville Street. Staff put forward for Council consideration the option of an increase in seating capacity of 13 seats from 125 seats to 138 seats subject to specific conditions, or an increase in seating capacity of 75 seats from 125 seats to 200 seats subject to specific conditions. The General Manager of Community Services supported Recommendation A and submitted Recommendations B and C for consideration as an alternative to Recommendation A.

Guy Gusdal, License Coordinator, reviewed the report and responded to questions. Paul Teichroeb, Chief License Inspector, and Inspector Bob Meanley, Vancouver City Police, were also present and answered questions relating to City policies on licensed seat allocation and enforcement issues. It was noted that the address of all references to Carrall Street establishments in the Administrative Report 919 Granville Street - 600428 B.C. Ltd. (Paradise Theatre) Class `C' Cabaret - Increase in Seating Capacity dated January 28, 2002, should be 315 Carrall Street.

The following spoke in favour of the application:

Speakers' comments included:

· review of history and application process of establishments involved in the application;
· applicant has shut down three problem establishments and opened successful ones;
· this is not a new application, but part of a process already in place;
· currently there are no applications for 700 Block Granville; Council should recognize that some of 900 block projects may drop out of the process;
· neighbourhood notification last year elicited no public opposition;
· if approved, applicant is still subject to a Good Neighbour Agreement and Time Limited Development Permit; therefore, City retains control;
· currently, there are very few viable businesses on 900 Block Granville; denial of additional seats will increase the precarious nature of business on the block;
· Council should encourage operators willing to financially invest in the 900 Block Granville.

Inspector Meanley noted current requests for police service in the downtown core are overwhelming and with additional seats, policing problems will increase.

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Daniel Lee and Louis opposed)

The Committee adjourned at 5:56 p.m.

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CITY OF VANCOUVER

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

FEBRUARY 7, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, February 7, 2002, at 5:56 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.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
SECONDED by Councillor Don Lee

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1. Block 17 - Canton Alley/Guangzhou Alley (File: 5527)

At the February 7, 2002 Council meeting following the Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets, decision on this item was referred to the Council meeting following Standing Committee on Planning and Environment on February 7, 2002, to provide an opportunity for further consideration.

Accordingly, Council had before it a memo dated February 6, 2002, from the Office of the City Clerk providing information and options for consideration relating to signage at the former location of Canton Alley.

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Daniel Lee and Sullivan opposed)

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
February 7, 2002

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

Clauses 1 to 3

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Kennedy
SECONDED by Councillor Don Lee

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

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pe020207.htm

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