REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

JULY 31, 2003

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, July 31, 2003, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:

Councillor Anne Roberts, Chair
Mayor Larry Campbell
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor David Cadman
Councillor Jim Green, Vice-Chair
Councillor Peter Ladner
Councillor Raymond Louie
Councillor Tim Louis
*Councillor Tim Stevenson
Councillor Sam Sullivan
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth

   

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Diane Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

* Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.

RECOMMENDATION

1. Significant New Rezoning Appilcation - 325 West 59th Avenue (File 5304)

The Committee had before it a description of a Significant New Rezoning Application for 325 West 59th Avenue.

Phil Mondor, Rezoning Planner, provided an overview of the application submitted by Dale Staples, Integra Architecture. A report detailing the issues of this proposal will be brought to council at a future date.

MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillors Louie and Stevenson not present for the vote)


2. Request from Owners of 44 and 48-56 Water Street Seeking Heritage Incentives (File:5051/1363)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July 17, 2003, in which the Director of Current Planning in Consultation with Director of Real Estate Services and Director of Financial Planning and Treasury provided options for Council to consider if an exception should be granted regarding the calculation methodology for determining the extent of incentives support available under the Gastown Heritage Management Program for the properties at 44 and 48-56 Water Street. The General Manager of Community Services submitted the options for consideration.

Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning and Marco D'Agostini, Planner, reviewed the report noting a correction relating to the value of the properties. They responded to questions regarding financing, the pro forma and third party assessment, effect of a delay, residual densities, and impact on future heritage incentive applications.

The following spoke in favour of granting the request for an exception to the calculation methodology:

Scott Hawthorn, Blood Alley Holdings Inc. (documents         submitted - on file)
Niels Bendtsen, Property Owner in Gastown (document submitted - on file)
Jon Stovell, Gastown Business Improvement Society

Speakers' comments included:

· supportive of Gastown Heritage Management Plan;
· approval will give area a boost;
· willing to provide third party appraisal noting that without this appraisal, the project will have to wait until 2004 for property to become economically viable;
· 44 Water Street already has had a third party appraisal completed and the bank has agreed to provide financing;
· if incentive removed, unable to continue with project;
· applicants are not professional developers, however they have a passion for Gastown and have retained experienced professionals;
· applicants are working on developing their properties and encouraging neighbouring properties to revitalize Blood Alley;
· project will have environmentally sound features;
· while this is not an easy project, effort is being made to retain as much of the building as possible along with heritage characteristics;
· third party appraisal has not yet been done on 48-56 Water Street property;
· paid too much for building, under impression there would be fair market value;
· by October, it will cost $20,000/month to hold property as tenants will be leaving;
· there is a high degree of confidence that appraisals will be similar to 2004 assessments;
· density bank or City's costs will not be impacted more by proceeding now;
· positive impact of granting incentives will override any risk or potential impact.

Mr. Beasley clarified the process relating to third party appraisal indicating that mutually agreed-upon appraisers would be retained to do the appraisals on both properties.

MOVED by Councillor Green
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Change in Hours for Liquor Primary License: 595 Hornby Street (5th Floor),
596573 BC Ltd., DBA Brandi's Show Lounge (File 2614-1)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July 7, 2003, in which the Chief License Inspector sought Council approval of an application by 596573 BC Ltd., operating as Brandi's Show Lounge, to allow a change of hours of operation for the Liquor Primary License at 595 Hornby Street, 5th Floor. The General Manager of Community Services supported the recommendations.

MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

THAT Council, having considered the opinion of area residents and business operators of the community and existing Council liquor policy, endorse the application by 596573 BC Ltd (Brandi's Show Lounge) for a change in hours of operation from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am Monday through Saturday and 7:00 pm to midnight on Sunday, to 12 noon to 2:00 am Monday through Saturday and 12 noon to midnight on Sunday, for the Liquor Primary license (cabaret) at 595 Hornby Street, subject to the following conditions:
i. adherence to clean air principles; and
ii. a signed Good Neighbour Agreement prior to issuing the business license.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4. 1424 West Broadway, Kits on Broadway (File 2614-1)

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July 7, 2003, in which the Chief License Inspector sought Council approval of an application by Kits Cabaret Vancouver to change their hours of operation for the Liquor Primary license at 1424 West Broadway. Council is requested to facilitate the transition in operating hours by granting a temporary extension Monday through Wednesday for a period of time not exceeding six months.

Guy Gusdal, License Coordinator, reviewed the report and responded to questions relating to the establishment's history with the police.
 

MOVED by Mayor Campbell
THAT the Committee recommend to Council

i. adherence to clean air principles; and

ii. a signed Good Neighbour Agreement prior to issuing the business license.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Louis, Roberts and Woodsworth opposed)

The Committee adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

* * * * *

 

CITY OF VANCOUVER

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

JULY 31, 2003

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, July 31, 2003, at 3:30 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 Larry Campbell
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor Jim Green
Councillor Peter Ladner
Councillor Raymond Louie
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Anne Roberts
Councillor Tim Stevenson
Councillor Sam Sullivan

   

ABSENT:

Councillor David Cadman
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth

   

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Diane Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Green

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1. Introduction of Slot Machines at Hastings Park Racetrack (File 2633-0/8009)

At its reconvened meeting on July 29, 2003, the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment, having heard all registered speakers, referred decision on this item to the Council meeting immediately following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting on this date.

MOVED by Councillor Sullivan
SECONDED by Councillor Ladner

THAT Council further consider the introduction of slot machines at Hastings Racetrack, by requesting staff to report back no later than October 2003 on the procedural and other issues relevant to the introduction of slot machines at the racetrack. The report will outline a public consultation process to be implemented prior to any Council decision; and

FURTHER THAT the revenues generated from the introduction of slot machines be allocated to the City's General Revenue Fund without allocation for specific purpose; and

FURTHER THAT the applications for slot machines be judged on their merits.

LOST
(Councillors Bass, Green, Louie, Louis, Roberts, Stevenson and Mayor Campbell opposed)

MOVED by Councillor Louie
SECONDED by Councillor Stevenson

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Louis, Roberts and Sullivan opposed)

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
July 31, 2003

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

C1.1 Significant New Rezoning Application - 325 West 59th Avenue

C1.2 Request from Owners of 44 and 48 - 56 Water Street Seeking Heritage Incentives


C1.3 Change in Hours for Liquor Primary License: 595 Hornby Street (5th Floor) 596573 BC Ltd., DBA Brandi's Show Lounge
 

C1.4 1424 West Broadway, Kits on Broadway

Clauses 1 - 3

MOVED by Councillor Roberts

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, contained in Clauses 1-3 of this report, be approved.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Clause 4

MOVED by Councillor Green

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass, Louis and Roberts opposed)

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Roberts

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Roberts
SECONDED by Councillor Green

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

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