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CITY OF VANCOUVER
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 20, 2003
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A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, November 20, 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 Zoning and Development By-law, Official Development Plans, Sign By-law and to designate property as protected heritage property and to enter into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement.
PRESENT:
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Mayor Larry Campbell
Councillor David Cadman
Councillor Peter Ladner
Councillor Raymond Louie
Councillor Tim Louis
Councillor Anne Roberts
Councillor Tim Stevenson
*Councillor Sam Sullivan
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth
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ABSENT:
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Councillor Fred Bass (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)
Councillor Jim Green (Civic Business)
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CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:
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Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator
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*Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Campbell in the Chair, to consider proposed amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law, Official Development Plans, Sign By-law, to designate property as protected heritage property and to enter into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1. Text Amendment: Zoning and Development By-law, CD-1s, and Official Development Plans
An application by the Director of Current Planning was considered as follows:
Summary:
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Housekeeping amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law, including CD-1s and Official Development Plans.
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The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.
Staff Comments
Dave Thomsett, Senior Planner, Rezoning Centre, was present to respond to 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 were present.
Council Decision
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the application by the Director of Current Planning to amend the Zoning & Development By-law, CD-1 By-laws and Official Development Plans generally as set out in Appendices A & B of the Policy Report
"Miscellaneous Text Amendments: Zoning and Development By-law, CD-1 By-laws, and Official Development Plans, Zoning and Development Fee By-law and Policies and Guidelines" dated September 23, 2003, be approved.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote)
2. Heritage Designation: 2627 Dundas Street (True Colours)
An application by Arnold Walters was considered as follows:
Summary:
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The proposed Heritage Designation would designate the exterior of 2627 Dundas Street which participated in the Vancouver Heritage Foundation's True Colours program.
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The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.
Staff Comments
Yardley McNeill, Heritage Planner, was present to respond to questions.
Summary of Correspondence
No correspondence was received on this matter.
Speakers
The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application and none were present.
Council Decision
MOVED by Councillor Louis
A. THAT Council approve the designation of 2627 Dundas Street, listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register in the
"B" category, as a protected heritage property.
B. THAT Council commend the building owners for designating their property on a voluntary basis and for participating in the Vancouver Heritage Foundation's True Colours program.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote)
3. Heritage Designation: 2647-2655 Manitoba Street
An application by Phillip Ling Man Chan was considered as follows:
Summary:
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The proposed Heritage Designation would allow the designation of the exterior of 2647-2655 Manitoba Street which participated in Vancouver Heritage Foundation's Restore It program.
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The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.
Staff Comments
Yardley McNeill, Heritage Planner, was present to answer questions.
Summary of Correspondence
No correspondence was received on this matter.
Speakers
The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application, and none were present.
Council Decision
MOVED by Councillor Louis
A. THAT Council approve the designation of 2647-2655 Manitoba Street, listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register in the
"B" category, as a protected heritage property.
B. THAT Council commend the building owners for designating their property on a voluntary basis and for participating in the Vancouver Heritage Foundation's Restore It program.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote)
4. Heritage Designation/HRA: 5872 Wales Street
An application by Harald Underdahl was considered as follows:
Summary:
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The proposed Heritage Designation/HRA would allow the retention and protection of the "A" listed heritage house on this site and three large trees in exchange for permitting subdivision of the lands into 6 lots and provision to construct two-family dwellings architecturally.
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The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.
Staff Comments
Yardley McNeill, Heritage Planner, responded to questions concerning other trees which may be affected by this application.
Applicant Comments
Harald Underdahl, representing the applicant, spoke in support of his application, noting this has been a family-owned property for the past 62 years.
Summary of Correspondence
No correspondence was received on this matter.
Speakers
The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application and none were present.
Council Decision
MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
A. THAT Council authorize the Director of Legal Services to enter into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement for the property at 5872 Wales Street to:
a) Vary the RS-1 District Schedule to allow Two-Family Dwellings on the subdivided lots, at a density up to 0.75 FSR and height up to 35 ft. (10.7 m) and other variances described within the HRA to enable the density to be pursued and to enable siting of the buildings to maximize retention of existing trees; and
b) Apply the current RT 7/8 Design Guidelines to the lots containing Two-Family Dwellings to achieve architecturally compatible buildings with the heritage house and the surrounding neighbourhood.
B. THAT Council authorize the Director of Legal Services to enter into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement for the
"A" listed heritage house at 5872 Wales Street to:
a) Secure the protection and ongoing maintenance of this "A" category Vancouver Heritage Register house; and
b) Vary the provisions of the RS-1 District Schedule of the Zoning and Development By-law, as described within Development Permit DE407830, so the zoning non-conformities of the heritage house on Lot 4 are made lawful in perpetuity.
C. THAT Council by By-law designate the heritage house on Lot 4 at 5872 Wales Street and the specimen trees named within Appendix C of the Administrative Report dated October 22, 2003, entitled "Heritage Revitalization Agreements and Designation for 5872 Wales Street", as municipally protected heritage property.
D. THAT Council require that an agreement be registered to secure the timely restoration to the heritage house, to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and Director of Legal Services.
E. THAT the agreements be given priority over all other charges on title, except those already held by the City, to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services.
F. THAT the Director of Legal Services bring forth the By-laws to authorize the Heritage Revitalization Agreements and to designate the heritage house and specimen trees.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5. Text Amendment: 555 Great Northern Way
An application by Moodie Consultants Ltd. was considered as follows:
Summary:
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The proposed amendment would add School-University or College as a permitted use to this CD-1 zoned site.
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The Director of Current Planning recommended approval, subject to conditions set out in the agenda of the Public Hearing.
Staff Comments
Dale Mikkelsen, Central Area Major Developments Group, was present to answer questions.
Applicant Comments
Dwight Eklund, Moodie Consultants, representing the applicant, was present to answer 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 were present.
Council Decision
MOVED by Councillor Louie
THAT the application by Moodie Consultants Ltd. to amend CD-1 By-law No. 8131 for 555 Great Northern Way to add
"School-University or College" as a permitted use generally as set out in Appendix A to the Policy Report
"Text Amendment to CD-1 By-law - 555 Great Northern Way" dated October 3, 2003, be approved, subject to the following conditions:
- That, prior to the enactment of the CD-1 By-law Amendment, the registered owner shall, at no cost to the City:
Execute an agreement, drawn and registered in the New Westminster/Vancouver Land Title Office to the satisfaction of the City's Director of Legal Services, that prohibits development of
"School - University or College" uses in the CD-1 8131 zoned area until such time as the registered owner has, at no cost to the City, modified any existing infrastructure or other contractual arrangements that are, in the opinion of the Director of Legal Services (in consultation with the General Manager of Engineering Services and the Managers of any other affected City Departments) necessitated by changes in the proposed development of the site as a result of the rezoning, it being understood that:
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
6. Sign By-law Text Amendment: 798 Granville Street
An application by Bonnis Properties (Robson) Inc. was considered as follows:
Summary:
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The proposed amendment to the Sign By-law would permit two large video screens to be placed on the site.
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The Director of Current Planning recommended approval, subject to conditions set out in the agenda of the Public Hearing.
Staff Comments
Michael Gordon, Senior Planner, Central Area Major Developments Group, provided background information with regard to the Sign By-law, with specific reference to sign regulations for Granville Street. Mr. Gordon reviewed the application before Council this evening, noting the proposed amendments are site specific and would not open up opportunities for other third party signs on other sites, as any such applications would be considered on a case by case basis.
Sue Harvey, Senior Social and Cultural Planner, provided an overview of the proposed public amenity package, and highlighted the enhancements to that package which have been negotiated with the Applicant since this item was referred to Public Hearing, as set out in the Memorandum from the Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs, dated November 18, 2003.
Mr. Gordon and Ms. Harvey, along with Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, responded to questions concerning the pending comprehensive review of the Sign By-law, the precedent setting nature of this application, the ways in which the content of the video signs will be controlled, impacts on adjacent workers and residents, and the use of the signs' sound capabilities.
Applicant Comments
Kerry Bonnis, Bonnis Properties (Robson) Inc., representing the applicant, spoke in favour of the proposed video signs, noting they would provide an unsurpassed opportunity for arts and cultural displays and also showcase major events occurring in the city. Mr. Bonnis acknowledged the work which has been carried out by City staff and Granville Street retailers in revitalizing this area. He noted the signs will help to further draw people back to Granville Street and will also accent the building's modern design and enhance the neon signage already installed. Mr. Bonnis advised that the applicants share the City's concerns about the content of materials projected on the screens, noting they are a family organization whose lenders' standards are far higher than that of the CRTC.
James MacDonald, Neon Products, also representing the applicant, noted the proposed video signs will be part of the whole atmosphere that is being created with this building and will represent the marriage of the shopping district and the entertainment district. He advised the Bonnis family have been a driving force behind the revitalization of the area and will be the perfect caretakers for a project such as this.
Summary of Correspondence
Council received the following correspondence since the date the application was referred to Public Hearing:
· Two (2) letters in support
· One (1) letter in support with concerns
· One (1) letter in opposition.
Speakers
The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application.
The following speakers expressed support for the application:
· Karen Ivanick, Downtown Vancouver BIA
· Roger Bayley, Downtown Vancouver Association
· Lorenzo Cocco
Comments provided by the foregoing speakers included:
· support expressed for enlivening the street with graphics and colour;
· support expressed for the monthly concerts and arts events and other amenity provisions put forward;
· it is often little things such as this which encourage some people to get out of their cars and/or houses;
· the signs represent a symbol of the types of initiatives which will bring life and vitality back to the street;
· the signs will attract the type of consumer which needs to be brought back to the downtown core and help make Vancouver a world class and modern city.
Council Decision
MOVED by Councillor Woodsworth
THAT the application by Bonnis Properties (Robson) Inc. to amend the Sign By-law for 798 Granville Street to permit two oversized automatic changeable copy (video) signs at the corner of Granville and Robson Streets, including third party advertising generally as set out in Appendix A of the Policy Report dated September 23, 2003, entitled"AProposed Video Signs - 798 Granville Street" be approved, subject to the following conditions:
a) THAT prior to enactment of the text amendment to the Sign By-law the registered owner of 798 Granville Street shall make arrangements to the satisfaction of the Director of Cultural Affairs and the Director of Legal Services for the execution of a legal agreement by the owner and the City setting out:
1) the terms and conditions of the use and operation of the video signs by the owner; and
2) securing, without limitation, the amount and timing of City of Vancouver
'air time' on the video signs and the payment of monies by the owner on an annual basis to cover the City's cost of managing the City's
'air time' and the commissioning of video work and curating of video content generally on the terms set out in Appendix
"C" of the Policy Report dated September 23, 2003, entitled "Proposed Video Signs - 798 Granville Street" and in the Memorandum dated November 18, 2003, from the Director of the Office of Cultural Affairs.
b) THAT prior to enactment of the text amendment to the Sign By-law the registered owner of 798 Granville Street shall make arrangements to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services for the execution of a legal agreement by the owner and the City setting out:
1) The terms and conditions for control of inappropriate content which is not acceptable to the community to be displayed in a public place on the private advertising on the video signs.
The legal agreements shall be drawn, not only as a personal covenant of the owner, but also as a covenant pursuant to Section 219 of the Land Title Act and shall be registered against title to the lands, to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services.
carried
AMENDMENT MOVED by Councillor Ladner
THAT the following words be deleted from the motion:
"b) THAT prior to enactment of the text amendment to the Sign By-law the registered owner of 798 Granville Street shall make arrangements to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services for the execution of a legal agreement by the owner and the City setting out:
1) The terms and conditions for control of inappropriate content which is not acceptable to the community to be displayed in a public place on the private advertising on the video signs."
LOST
(Councillors Cadman, Louie, Louis, Roberts, Stevenson, Woodsworth and the Mayor opposed)
The amendment having lost, Councillor Woodsworth's motion was put and CARRIED with Councillors Cadman, Louis and Roberts opposed.
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Louis
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
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 9:30 p.m.
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