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CITY OF VANCOUVER SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JUNE 26, 2003 |
A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, June 26, 2003, at 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, for the purpose of holding a Public Hearing to consider proposed amendments to the the Downtown District & Downtown Eastside - Oppenheimer ODPs, the Zoning and Development By-law, and to enter into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement.
PRESENT: |
Mayor Larry Campbell
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ABSENT: |
Councillor Jim Green (Leave of Absence)
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CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Lori Isfeld, Meeting Coordinator |
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Roberts
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Campbell in the Chair, to consider proposed amendments to the the Downtown District & Downtown Eastside - Oppenheimer ODPs, the Zoning and Development By-law, and to enter into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1. Text Amendment: Downtown District & Downtown Eastside - Oppenheimer ODPs
An application by the Director of Current Planning was considered as follows:
Summary: |
The proposed text amendment would permit relaxation of the retail continuity requirement. |
The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.
Also before Council was a Memorandum dated June 25, 2003, from Dave Thomsett, Senior Planner, Rezoning Centre, regarding an amendment to correct an error in the first line of Section 1 of By-law No. 5532 by changing reference to "By-law No. 4912" to "Bylaw No. 5532".
Staff Opening Comments
Nathan Edelson, Planner, Downtown Neighbourhood Groups, reviewed the application and provided rationale for allowing uses such as Social Service Centres, General Offices or Health Care Offices on Hastings Street east of Cambie Street, in order to fill vacant retail storefronts. Mr. Edelson with Rob Jenkins, Assistant Director, Current Planning Initiatives Branch, responded to questions, noted safe injection sites may be included in the new uses and advised the inclusion of new uses in the area would be monitored for effectiveness.
Summary of Correspondence
Council received the following correspondence on this application:
· 1 letter recommending postponement;
· 1 letter in support of the application;
· 3 letters in opposition to the application.
Speakers
The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application.
The following spoke in support of the application:
Evan Wood
Thomas Kerr
Comments provided by the foregoing speakers included the following:
· support was expressed for the "four pillar approach" drug strategy, which includes interventions and drug treatment and a balanced approach to drug problems in the city;
· decisions need to be based on evidence, not speculation; evidence indicates safe injection sites do not attract drug users and sometimes help reduce drug-related activity;
· the additional uses would help revitalize Hastings Street by filling the vacant storefronts.
The following spoke in opposition to the application:
Leanore Sali, Gastown Business Improvement Society
Cathy Kwan
Barbara Lee
Comments provided by the foregoing speakers included the following:
· Council was urged to bring back vital retail to Hastings such as stores and coffee shops, rather than health services and offices which can be located on side streets;
· opposition was expressed regarding safe injection sites because they bring more drugs to the area and are not properly used by drug addicts;
· there needs to be a cap imposed so there is retail mixed with office use;
· the proposed amendments are not an effective short or long term solution and will decrease the chances of revitalizing the Downtown Eastside.
Council Decision
MOVED by Councillor Louis
A. THAT the application by the Director of Current Planning to amend the Downtown District & Downtown Eastside - Oppenheimer ODPs to permit relaxation of the retail continuity requirement be approved as outlined below:
i. amend the Downtown-Eastside Oppenheimer District Official Development Plan to permit General Office, Health Care Office, and Social Service Centre as temporary uses in Sub-area 1 at grade, generally as contained in Appendix A of the Policy Report dated May 1, 2003, entitled "Use and Retail Requirement Relaxations At Grade on Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside";
ii. amend Sub-area 1 of the Downtown-Eastside Oppenheimer District Official Development Plan to make it possible to relax retail continuity requirements at grade, generally as contained in Appendix A of the Policy Report dated May 1, 2003, entitled "Use and Retail Requirement Relaxations At Grade on Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside";
iii. amend Sub-area C of the Downtown District Official Development Plan to make it possible to relax retail continuity requirements to allow General Office and Health Care Office uses at grade on Hastings Street east of Cambie Street, generally as contained in Appendix B of the Policy Report dated May 1, 2003, entitled "Use and Retail Requirement Relaxations At Grade on Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside".
B. THAT the Director of Current Planning be instructed to monitor the proposed amendments and report back to Council on changes in storefront vacancy rates on Hastings Street.
C. THAT the By-law to amend By-law No. 5532 regarding retail continuity be amended to correct an error in the first line of Section 1 by replacing the reference to "By-law No. 4912" to "By-law No. 5532".
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Text Amendment: 4500 Oak Street & 501 Bute Street CD-1s
An application by the Director of Current Planning was considered as follows:
Summary: |
The proposed amendments would correct errors in the two CD-1 By-laws. |
The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.
Staff Opening Comments
Rob Jenkins, Assistant Director, Current Planning Initiatives Branch, was available for questions.
Summary of Correspondence
No correspondence was received since the date the application was referred to Public Hearing.
Speakers
The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application and none came forward.
Council Decision
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the application by the Director of Current Planning to amend the CD-1 By-law No. 5091 for 4500 Oak Street and CD-1 By-law No. 7681 for 501 Bute Street to correct errors generally in accordance with Appendices A and B of the Policy Report dated May 13, 2003, entitled "Corrections to CD-1 By-laws for 4500 Oak Street and 501 Bute Street" be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Heritage Designation: 900 Main Street
An application by Harvey Hatch, M.A.I.B.C. was considered as follows:
Summary: |
Designation and Heritage Revitalization Agreement for the `B' listed former Bank of Montreal building with retail and residential infill on adjoining sites. |
The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.
Staff Opening Comments
Terry Brunette, Heritage Planner, was available to answer questions.
Summary of Correspondence
No correspondence was received.
Speakers
The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application and none came forward.
Council Decision
MOVED by Councillor Louis
A. THAT Council authorize the Director of Legal Services to enter into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement for the property at 900 Main Street to:
$ secure the rehabilitation, protection and on-going maintenance of the "B" category Vancouver Heritage Register former bank building; and
$ vary the FC-1 District Schedule of the Zoning and Development By-law to:
- increase the maximum residential floor space ratio from 3.0 to a maximum of 4.4;
- increase the height of the infill building; and,
- not apply the maximum frontage of ground level use.
B. THAT Council require a registered agreement to secure the protection during construction and prohibit occupancy of any proposed dwelling until the heritage building is rehabilitated to the satisfaction of the Director of Current Planning;
C. THAT Council by by-law designate as municipally Protected Heritage Property the exterior of the heritage building, and portions of the interior of the main banking hall and basement, as described in detail in the Administrative Report dated June 11, 2003, entitled "Heritage Revitalization Agreement & Designation - 900 Main Street";
D. THAT the Director of Legal Services bring forth the by-law to authorize the Heritage Revitalization Agreement; and
E. THAT the Director of Legal Services bring forth the by-law to designate as municipally Protected Heritage Property, the exterior of the heritage building, and portions of the interior of the former main banking hall and basement, as described in detail in the Administrative Report dated June 11, 2003, entitled "Heritage Revitalization Agreement & Designation - 900 Main Street".
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Bass
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted, and the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare and bring forward the necessary by-law amendments.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Special Council adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
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