Agenda Index City of Vancouver

2

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

APRIL 11, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, April 11, 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 Gordon Price

Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Chair (Sick Leave)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator

*Denotes presence for a portion of the meeting.

pe020411.htm

INFORMATION

1. Significant Rezoning Application - 688 Dunsmuir Street

The Committee had before it a description of a Significant Rezoning Application which has been submitted for the site at 688 Dunsmuir Street.

Dave Thomsett, Senior Planner, Rezoning Centre, provided an overview of the application by Architectura and the major issues in regard to that application. Mr. Thomsett noted this will likely be reported to Council in mid-June of this year.

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT the description of a Significant Rezoning Application for 688 Dunsmuir Street, prepared by the Planning Department, be received for information.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Clarke absent for the vote)

2. The Silk Road and the Downtown Historic Trail (File 5761)

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated March 12, 2002, in which the Director of Current Planning and the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended that the Silk Road be adopted as the first segment of the Downtown Historic Trail and that a task force be struck to assist in developing the remaining pieces of the Trail to provide a north-south pedestrian connection to Gastown and Yaletown.

Brent Elliott, Planning Analyst, Central Area Planning Branch, with the aid of graphics reviewed the report and responded to questions concerning routing and the estimated cost of the project.

The following speakers expressed support for the recommendations and a summary of their comments is noted below:

· pedestrian activity in the downtown area is rising;
· proposal will help to create a very walkable downtown;
· project will serve to connect the three heritage districts of Yaletown, Gastown and Chinatown;
· the Silk Road has provided Chinatown with a certain identity and the project drew the interest and support of many different groups.

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. 310 Water Street - Heritage Revitalization Agreement (File 5051)

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated March 25, 2002, in which the Director of Current Planning recommended approval in principle of a Heritage Revitalization Agreement for the Taylor Building at 310 Water Street in order to secure the rehabilitation of the building and provide a density bonus which must be transferred off-site.

Jeannette Hlavach, Heritage Planner, with the aid of graphics, reviewed the proposed renovations and rehabilitation of the subject building and reviewed the status of the heritage management plan and the density bank. Kolvane Yuh, Senior Property Development Officer, in response to a question, provided information related to the value of the density bonus and confirmed the major cost of the rehabilitation project would be for seismic upgrading.

MOVED by Councillor Clarke
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT Council endorse, in principle, the use of a Heritage Revitalization Agreement to assist in the rehabilitation of the "C" listed Taylor Building at 310 Water Street, with the following terms:

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. 1 West Cordova - Sunview Villa Ltd. - Restaurant - Class 2 (File 2613-15)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 25, 2002, in which the Chief License Inspector reviewed an application to replace the existing 120-seat with 24-seat patio Restaurant Class 1 with a restricted use Restaurant Class 2 at 1 West Cordova Street. Offered for Council's consideration was the option to endorse the request subject to conditions, or not to endorse the request.

Guy Gusdal, Licensing Coordinator, provided an overview of the report and responded to questions concerning the conditions which would be required as part of Council's endorsement, whether there have been any noise complaints in relation to the existing restaurant, and whether endorsement of this application would set a precedent.

Marilou Villar, Sunview Villa Ltd., requested Council endorse the application, noting that the restaurant would like to provide a place for members of the Filipino community to hold events involving dancing such as birthday and anniversary parties. Ms. Villar noted there is no other such Class 2 restaurant in the city run by a Filipino family.

MOVED by the Mayor
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT Council, having considered the opinion of the area residents and business operators of the community, endorse the request by Sunview Villa Ltd., to replace the existing 120-seat with 24-seat patio Restaurant-Class 1 with karaoke with a restricted use Restaurant-Class 2 at Gastown's Best Steak & Rib Villa, 1 West Cordova Street, subject to:

i. A Time Limited Development Permit for the exclusive use of Sunview Villa Ltd., and its Directorship as of April 11, 2002;

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Price absent for the vote)

5. Restaurant Parking Standards in Central Broadway and the West End (File 113)

The Committee had before it a Policy Report in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the Director of Current Planning, the Director of City Plans, and the Director of Legal Services, recommended an amendment to the Parking By-law to reduce the parking requirements for restaurants in the Central Broadway and West End to bring them into line with other commercial uses in the same districts.

Paul Pinsker, Parking and Development Engineer, reviewed the report and provided a rationale for its recommendation.

MOVED by Councillor Price
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT the Parking By-Law be amended for restaurant parking requirements generally as contained in Appendix A of the Policy Report dated March 13, 2002, entitled "Restaurant Parking Standards in Central Broadway and the West End": to reduce the parking requirements in the Central Broadway commercial area (C3A) and the West End commercial area (C5 and C6);

FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare and bring forward the necessary amending By-law for enactment.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6. Central Valley Greenway/Bikeway - Commercial to Victoria: Traffic Calming Plan (File 5767/5553)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated March 14, 2002, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended approval of a traffic calming plan that enhances landscaping for the Grandview Cut for the section of the Central Valley Greenway between Commercial and Victoria Drives. Also offered for Council's consideration was the option to approve a traffic calming plan that would enhance landscaping on the north side of Grandview Highway North.

Lon LaClaire, Transportation Engineering, with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation and traffic simulator software program, reviewed the proposed traffic calming measures.

The following speakers expressed concerns with the proposed traffic calming plan:

The following is a summary of points made by the foregoing speakers:

· community's concerns and requests are being ignored;
· in exchange for losing a forest, we have gained another SkyTrain line and a bus loop near our front doors;
· if an adequate green buffer cannot be provided, Grandview Highway North should be closed off to traffic;
· concern was expressed with regard to the location of the proposed bus-drivers washroom facility;
· for people in the neighbourhood this is not just a traffic calming issue;

· there is going to be serious erosion in the neighbourhood if we do not get the buffer back;
· the traffic calming options were not fully researched; creative solutions can be found;
· the Central Valley Greenway is to form part of a regional vision, a green connection from Science World to Burnaby's park system and beyond to the Fraser Valley; it is important that all parts of this greenway work and are done properly in the first place;
· BEST recognizes that this intersection is particularly problematic and encourages the City to work to resolve these issues and to continue its approach of providing good greenways;
· suggestion that right turns could be prohibited onto Commercial Drive from Broadway and not cause huge impacts;
· since losing the green buffer, noise from Grandview Highway and the SkyTrain is a major concern for residents;
· the difficulties at the intersection of Broadway and Victoria could be resolved by the use of a "Texas Scramble", whereby traffic is stopped in all directions to allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross diagonally;
· closing Grandview Highway North to westbound traffic would allow more green space and provide a safer environment for cyclists of all abilities;
· people do not walk along the south sidewalk of Grandview Highway North; with the SkyTrain on one side and buses on the other side, it is not inviting; people will continue to use the north sidewalk;
· the community consultative process should continue and be facilitated by an independent party;
· Grandview Highway North should be removed from the list of arterial routes; suggestion made that a trial closure to traffic be undertaken;
· cars and buses are being accommodated over everything else.

Wayne Pledger, Strategic Transportation Planning Engineer, Ian Adam, Assistant City Engineer - Transportation, Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, and Mr. LaClaire, responded to questions raised in regard to points made by the foregoing delegations.

MOVED by Councillor Puil
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT decision on this matter be postponed to a future meeting of Council in order to receive additional information from staff.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Clarke absent for the vote - on civic business)

Council members requested staff provide further information and feedback on the following:

· the feasibility of eliminating east bound traffic, other than buses, on Grandview Highway North;
· a more detailed landscaping plan for Grandview Highway North;
· feasability of a Texas Scramble at the Broadway/Victoria intersection;
· possibility of closing Grandview Highway North for a trial period.

The Committee adjourned at 5:03 p.m.

- - - - -

CITY OF VANCOUVER

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

APRIL 11, 2002

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, April 11, 2002, at 5:03 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
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Sandy McCormick
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan

ABSENT:

Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Civic Business)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Sick Leave)

CITY MANAGER'S
OFFICE:

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator

"IN CAMERA" MEETING

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan

THAT Council will go into a meeting later this day which is closed to the public, pursuant to Section 165.2 of the Vancouver Charter, to discuss matters related to paragraph:

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee
SECONDED by Councillor Bass

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
April 11, 2002

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

Clauses 1-6

MOVED by Councillor Don Lee

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1-6 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Bass

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 Bass

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

BY-LAWS

1. A By-law to contract a debt by the issue and sale of 3.5% - 6.125% non-callable serial debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 in lawful money of Canada for the objects set out in Schedule "B" (By-law No. 8460)

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan

THAT the by-law be introduced and read a first time.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The by-law was read a first time and the Presiding Officer declared the by-law open for discussion and amendment.

There being no amendments, it was

MOVED by Councillor McCormick
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan

THAT the by-law be given second and third readings and the Presiding Officer and City Clerk be authorized to sign and seal the by-law.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council recessed at 5:05 p.m. and reconvened "in camera"

* * * * *

pe020411.htm

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