ITEM NO. 1
P&E COMMITTEE AGENDA
April 11, 2002

SIGNIFICANT REZONING APPLICATIONS

1. Address: 688 Dunsmuir St. (formerly 600 Granville St.) Present Zone: DD

Applicant: Malcolm Elliot, Architectura Proposed Zone: CD-1
Heritage Buildings: BC Electric Showroom Bldg. is `B' on Heritage Register, St. Regis Hotel, Gotham Restaurant Bldg, and the facade at 648 Granville St.
Date of Previous Inquiry: December 19, 2001
Date of Application: March 8, 2002
Staff Contact: Dave Thomsett, Gerry McGeough, Jonathan Barrett, Michael Gordon

Proposal:

· A new four level commercial development plus three options for a residential tower or towers and a Granville Street Skytrain connection with universal access

· Rehabilitation and retention of the BC Electric Showroom Bldg., the facade of 648 Granville and the St. Regis Hotel plus protection of the Gotham Restaurant Bldg.

· Overall density of 9.37 (12.39 FSR on Granville side, 3.31 FSR on Seymour side)

· Additional 4 011 m² (43,177 sq. ft.) of heritage bonus density available for transfer off site

· DCL relief

Issues:

· Residential generally not supported in this part of downtown

· No policy to support rezoning for a transit connector

· Design and livability of residential in this part of the downtown

· High amount of density proposed for the Granville side

· Timing - Council has instructed staff to fast track

· Final option being negotiated = very tight timelines from when it is submitted

· Whether legal agreements for the transit connector need to be enabling or requiring performance

· Impact of additional transferable density on the viability of the density bank

Applicable Policy:

· DD policy to discourage residential in this area, unless heritage involved

· Heritage policy to provide density or uses to assist in conservation costs

CAC Implications:

· Site located in the area that applies to current City-wide interim CAC policies

· No CAC because only increase in density is heritage bonus density that is exempt

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