CITY OF VANCOUVER
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Planning Department
Current Planning
M E M O R A N D U M January 19, 2004 | |
TO: |
Mayor Campbell & City Councillors (at Public Hearing) |
COPY TO: |
J. Rogers, City Manager
|
FROM: |
L. Beasley, Director of Current Planning |
SUBJECT: |
Text Amendment: 750 Pacific Boulevard - Casino |
The purpose of this memorandum is to advise Council of the results of public consultation process events and other information that has come forward subsequent to December 2, 2003 when the rezoning application for a Casino - Class 2 was referred to a Public Hearing.
Public Open House
The staff report dated November 17, 2003 advised that staff would organize an Open House to explain the casino proposal to the public prior to the Public Hearing.
The Open House was held on the evening of January 12, 2004 at the Roundhouse Community Centre. Staff notified approximately 2,500 property owners within approximately two blocks of the perimeter of the Plaza of Nations site, and placed advertisements in The Courier, Ming Pao and Sing Tao newspapers. A news release was sent to media outlets, community centres and libraries prior to the evening. On the City's website, the event was highlighted with a link to more detailed information for one week prior to the event. Acting on the City's instruction, the applicant erected two yellow rezoning signs - one on the proposed casino building and one on Pacific Boulevard.
The open house format consisted of panels with information provided by staff on the rezoning proposal, the City's gaming policies and the expected financial benefits. Additional panels with information provided by the proponents of the Casino and the B.C. Lottery Corporation were also on display. Several staff, the applicant and representatives from the B.C. Lottery Corporation were available to answer questions.
Approximately 75 people attended the Open House, of which 28 advised staff they live or work in the surrounding area. The questions raised and the comments made suggest that some are in favour and some are opposed while others gave no evidence of an opinion. Comments sheets were filled in by 15 people. Two were generally in favour of the casino, 10 were generallyopposed to the casino and three gave no opinion on the casino. In summary, the written comments were:
In Favour:
The four-year time limit seems reasonable 2 persons
Will provide a good source of revenue 1
Will be good for tourism 1
Will avoid having to travel to Burnaby or Coquitlam to play slots 1
Opposed:
Various social costs of gambling addiction and impacts 10
Will attract a criminal element 2
Will result in more traffic congestion and noise pollution 1
Prefer to pay higher taxes rather than depend on gambling revenue 1
Has no place in this residential community 1
The Open House presentation materials seem biassed towards support 1
Too close to the Downtown Eastside 1
People should enjoy nature, not sit in a casino gambling 1
Other Comments:
The Seawall walkway should continue on the water side of the development 3
Outdoor Plaza events are too loud and go too late into the evening 2
This approval should not impact the development of the future park 2
Should re-establish pedestrian access through the Plaza of Nations site 1
Should be no idling buses 1
Should be no excessive lighting 1
Should be no loud entertainment noise 1
Significant revenue should be directed to the needs of the Downtown Eastside 1
Provision of additional parking is essential 1
Should be a definite time limit on the use 1
Should consider the Hastings Community Forum's proposal for slot machines 1
Will result in a re-allocation of disposable income to "no-product" gambling 1
Public Opinion Poll
The November 17, 2003 staff report also advised that staff would commission a public opinion poll.
Staff commissioned the Ipsos-Reid Corporation to conduct a telephone survey on "Attitudes Toward Gaming in the City of Vancouver" The survey was conducted between December 8th and December 15th, 2003 with a randomly selected sample of 700 adult residents. The interviews were screened to represent residents from all four quadrants of the city, with over-sampling in the downtown area and in the Hastings-Sunrise area.
Copies of the recently-submitted report by Ipsos-Reid is available from the City Clerks Office, and is also posted in full on the City's website at <www.city.vancouver.bc.ca>, under "What's New". Printed copies will also be available for the public on the evening of the Public Hearing. Staff have reviewed the report and some of the survey's highlights are as follows:
· When asked to comment on top-of the mind issues in Vancouver, Vancouverites first mention Crime/Safety (18%), Poverty/Homelessness (16%), and Transportation (15%) as the most important issues facing the community. Issues related to Gambling/Casinos are lower in the list with 2% first mentions. When adding the total mentions, Gambling/Casinos issues are at 4%.
· Only 1% of residents of the downtown area mention Gambling/Casino as top-of mind issue.
· Casino gaming is opposed by the majority of Vancouverites. When asked for their opinion on the concept of reducing the overall number of casinos but building a few larger casinos instead, 50% were opposed, compared to 39% in support.
· Concern with gambling addiction is mentioned as the top issue behind the opposition to the casino proposal, while ability of the City to receive additional revenue is mentioned as the main reason to support the proposal.
· Only 26% of Vancouverites were aware of the temporary casino proposal for Plaza of Nations, while 79% were aware of the Hastings racetrack proposal.
· 65% of respondents believe that slot machines are already available in the City of Vancouver.
· When initially asked, the total support for the Plaza of Nations casino proposal was at 35% (42% in the downtown area) while 60% opposed (57% in the downtown). The post-survey support to the Plaza of Nations casino increased 3 points to 38%, while the opposition decreased 1 point to 59%. In comparison, 46% support the Hastings Racetrack proposal, while 49% are opposed.
These findings are not a surprise to City staff. Ever since the discussions surrounding the casino at the waterfront proposal in 1994, and the legal confrontations with the provincial government (on issues related to gambling expansion) in 1997 and 1998, Vancouverites have maintained a significant level of reluctance to accept casinos with slot machines.
Parking and Traffic Study
It was hoped the required parking and traffic study would have been submitted by the applicant prior to the open house, but this was delayed until its submission in draft format on January 14th. A preliminary review of the draft report by Engineering Services staff indicates that there are no insurmountable traffic problems, even during pre- or post- game conditions at one of the nearby arenas.
The study will be fully assessed by Engineering Services at the development application stage. All traffic, access and parking related issues will be dealt with at that stage, after which Council will consider approval of an amended form of development for the Plaza of Nations site.
The applicant is not contesting the minimum and maximum parking standards for Casino - Class 2 recommended by Engineering Services and reflected in the draft CD-1 By-law.
Next Steps
If Council approves the rezoning following the Public Hearing, the applicant is then free to submit a development application for Casino - Class 2 for four years. All the Council-adopted development permit conditions would have to be addressed, and the application would be evaluated against these conditions.
The same approximately 2,500 surrounding property owners would be notified of the development application as were notified of the rezoning Public Hearing, and would be invited to view the plans and provide comments.
Following a full staff assessment, a decision on the development application would be made by the Development Permit Board. Delegations from the public are welcome at these meetings. If the development application is approved, staff would report to Council with a recommendation that Council approve an amended form of development for the site. This approval must be achieved prior to the issuance of the development permit.
Policing Issues
At the time of the referral of this matter to a Public Hearing, it was stated that an analysis of Policing issues will be carried out during the development application stage. This statement is still valid.
Any further commentary available on this subject will be reported at the Public Hearing.
Existing Casinos in Vancouver
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has confirmed that their regional plan for casino activities in the Greater Vancouver area calls for a reduction in the total number of casinos in the region. This reflects the trend in Vancouver.
If the Casino at Plaza of Nations is approved, the future of the existing five casinos in Vancouver would be as follows:
· The existing Grand and Royal Diamond casinos will close permanently since they will be amalgamating and moving to the Plaza of Nations site.
· The Great Canadian casino at the Renaissance Hotel will close as soon as the Richmond casino at Bridgepoint opens in May 2004.
· The Gateway casino on Main Street will likely close due to local market considerations and regional plans involving the BCLC and the Gateway Casinos Corporation.
· The Great Canadian casino at the Holiday Inn on West Broadway would remain with tables only.
If the casino with slots at Plaza of Nations is not approved, some casinos with only gaming tables would remain in the City. The two casinos that have provincial authorization to relocate and to have slot machines (Grand and Royal Diamond) may try to relocate to another municipality.
Other Municipal Developments - Slot Machines
Since the referral of the application to Public Hearing, there have been two important developments that relate to gaming expansion in the region.
On December 16, 2003 Surrey City Council voted in favour of a unique electronic gaming facility at Fraser Downs racetrack. The facility, which is scheduled to open in April 2005, will include 300 slot machines, a renovated clubhouse and grandstand, as well as a refurbished exterior and parking lot.
On January 8, 2004 Gateway Casinos presented an application to the City of Burnaby to relocate its casino, presently located at 4320 Dominion Street to the Still Creek industrial area. The proposal is for a larger facility that may include as many as 600 slot machines. The existing casino has 300 slot machines. This application will require a public hearing.
The distribution of slot machines in the region stands as follows:
Burnaby: 300 slot machines (plans to increase to 600 machines)
Coquitlam: 450 slot machines
New Westminster: 300 slot machines at Royal City Star Riverboat
New Westminster: 169 slot machines at Royal Towers (moving to Langley in 2005)
Richmond: 650 slot machines (May 2004)
Langley: 300 slot machines (January 2005)
Surrey: 300 slot machines (April 2005)
The BCLC would like to place 600 slot machines at the Plaza of Nations casino, and 600-900 slot machines at the Hastings Racecourse. The allocations of slot machines in the region may change if slots are not approved in Vancouver.
Casino Definitions In Section 2 of the Zoning and Development By-law
There is an error in the draft by-law to correct references in the definitions of Casino to reflect the language used in the Gaming Control Act. Under the definitions of both Casino - Class 1 and Casino - Class 2, the words "a license has been issued under the authority of" should be replaced with "authority has been given under". I recommend the draft by-law be amended accordingly.
Larry Beasley
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