Vancouver City Council

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING - SEPTEMBER 16, 2003
RR-2

2. Regulation of Single Room Accommodation (File 4656)

The following provided a report reference on the regulation of single room accommodation:
· Nathan Edelson, Senior Planner, Central Area Planning
· Celine Mauboules, Planner, Central Area Planner
· Jill Davidson, Senior Housing Planner

Ms. Davidson presented an overview of the City's interim Downtown Eastside low-income housing policies, referencing her report on "Downtown Eastside Low-Income Housing Policies", dated September 3, 2003 (see A10).

Mr. Edelson and Ms. Mauboules presented the background to, and an overview of, a proposed Single Room Accommodation (SRA) By-law to manage the rate of change in the existing stock of rooms in the downtown core. A draft by-law was presented in the Policy Report "Regulation of Single Room Accommodation" dated September 9, 2003, for referral to a public meeting and subsequent Council decision.

MOVED by Councillor Green

A. THAT the Director of Legal Services by instructed to prepare a Single Room Accommodation By-law in accordance with Section 193D of the Vancouver Charter to regulate the conversion of low-cost single room accommodation, generally in accordance with the draft Single Room Accommodation By-law attached as Appendix A to the Policy Report "Regulation of Single Room Accommodation" dated September 9, 2003, that:

· would designate the hotels, rooming houses and other buildings listed in Appendix A to the Policy Report as Single Room Accommodation;
· would require Council approval for the conversion or demolition of Single Room Accommodation; and,
· would allow Council to approve the conversion or demolition of Single Room Accommodation with conditions, including payment of $5,000.00 per room which will be deposited in a reserve fund earmarked for the creation of replacement housing;

FURTHER THAT the draft By-law be referred to a public meeting, following the format of a public hearing, to provide an opportunity for persons to make their views known to Council.

B. THAT the owners of the hotels, rooming houses and other buildings proposed for designation as Single Room Accommodation be advised that Council will consider amending the Single Room Accommodation By-law in the future to delete Single Room Accommodation rooms which should not have been included in the first instance on the basis that they:

· are 320 sq. ft. (29.73 sq. m.) or greater in size, or
· have been primarily used for transient guests (tourist) or other non-permanent resident purposes prior to the adoption of the SRA By-law;

FURTHER THAT owners of Single Room Accommodation will have 90 days from the enactment of the Single Room Accommodation By-law to submit the necessary documentation as outlined in the Policy Report "Regulation of Single Room Accommodation" dated September 9, 2003, to justify deleting some or all designated rooms in an SRA building on the basis set out in the preceding paragraph;

AND FURTHER THAT the General Manager of Community Services and the Director of Legal Services be instructed to report back within 180 days from the enactment of the Single Room Accommodation By-law with a draft amendment to the Single Room Accommodation By-law to revise the list of rooms designated as Single Room Accommodation.

C. THAT the Director of Current Planning be instructed to make application to amend Sections 3 and 6 of the Zoning and Development By-law to provide that failure to obtain a permit required under the proposed Single Room Accommodation By-law is a basis for refusing to issue a development permit in relation to the same property, and that this application be referred to a Public Hearing.

FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary By-law generally in accordance with Appendix B to the Policy Report "Regulation of Single Room Accommodation" dated September 9, 2003, for consideration at the public hearing.

D. THAT the General Manager of Community Services be instructed to report back within 18 months of enactment of the Single Room Accommodation By-law regarding:

· the number of applications to convert or demolish Single Room Accommodation including the number of buildings, rooms and tenants affected, the location of affected buildings, and the outcome of the applications, and of the conversion and demolitions approved if any,
· the stock of low-income housing in the downtown, including replacement housing, if any, and vacancy rates, rents and closures in the Single Room Accommodation,
· the actual costs of administering the Single Room Accommodation By-law, and,
· any recommended amendments to the Single Room Accommodation By-law and its administration (e.g., delegation of approval authority).

E. THAT Council approve the creation of two temporary positions, subject to classification by the General Manager of Human Resources, (Planner I and a Clerk V position) for a period of 18 months at an estimated cost of $168,000, plus estimated start up costs of $15,000. Funding for fiscal 2003 of $43,000 to be from Contingency Reserve. Funding of $112,000 for fiscal 2004 and funding of $28,000 for fiscal 2005 to be added to the Community Services operating budget without offset.

CARRIED
(Councillors Ladner and Sullivan opposed)