Vancouver City Council

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
(PUBLIC HEARING)

DECISIONS

DATE: January 20 & 21, 2004

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

PLACE: Council Chamber
Third Floor, City Hall

For information, please contact Laura Kazakoff at 604.871.6353
or e-mail laura_kazakoff@city.vancouver.bc.ca

1. Text Amendment: 750 Pacific Boulevard (Plaza of Nations - Casino)

A. THAT the application by Patrick Cotter Architect Inc. to amend CD-1 By-law No. 7592 for 750 Pacific Boulevard (Plaza of Nations) to permit Casino-Class 2, this being a casino that includes slot machines, generally as set out in Appendix A of the Policy report dated November 17, 2003 entitled "CD-1 Text Amendment -750 Pacific Boulevard (Plaza of Nations)", be approved, subject to the following conditions:

(a) That, prior to the enactment of the CD-1 amending by-law, the proponents shall make arrangements to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and the Director of Legal Services to ensure that the Casino - Class 2 at the Plaza of Nations complex will only operate at this location for up to four years after the issuance of the initial occupancy permit for this use.

(b) That, prior to approval by Council of an amended form of development for the Plaza of Nations complex to accommodate a temporary Casino - Class 2, the applicant shall obtain approval of a development application by the Development Permit Board which shall have particular regard to the following:

(i) Casino - Class 2 use to be limited to a period of no greater than four years from initial occupancy.

(ii) Approval of an accompanying development application by the Development Permit Board for off-site parking facilities for the required ancillary parking to service the Casino development with due regard to the location which may not extend past a line extending the east side of Carrall Street from Pacific Boulevard to the shoreline. As well, due regard for size, number of vehicles to be accommodated including bus parking and landscape treatment, entries/exits and pedestrian accommodation along the waterfront, if a waterfront site is chosen, and within and through the site as deemed appropriate. Casino parking, including circulation and access aisles, located to the east of a line projected south along the easterly alignment of Carrall Street is not supported.

(iii) Arrangements to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning in Consultation with the General Manager of Engineering Services for:

(1) The provision of improvements to Pacific Boulevard adjacent or in proximity to the site, and new or modified signalization, as required;

(2) The location and design of access to/from, and circulation routes within, the site;

(3) The design of all parking areas, and passenger and goods loading facilities;

(4) Improvements to support pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders, in particular, but not limited to, modifications to the False Creek Seawall in or surrounding the site, and adjacent to any parking areas developed in association with this application, and interim development of the Carrall Street Greenway from Pacific Boulevard to the Seawall;

(5) Operation of the Plaza of Nations site once the proposed casino is operational with respect to the entire calendar of special events anticipated;

(6) An access and event operations plan to address vehicular access and parking when there are events at major venues within the area that would affect the availability of parking for the casino;

(7) Appropriate traffic and noise mitigation measures if determined to be needed and funding by the applicant for these measures to be agreed to;

(8) Architectural treatment, finishes, signage and lighting to be of high standard without being unduly over illuminated;

(9) Retention of the transparency of the building from inside and outside by keeping slot machines and furniture away from the windows and keeping the windows uncovered;

(10) Design development to locate a standard dimensioned seawalk and bicycle route through the Plaza of Nations complex by either reducing the size or relocating the guest drop-off in a northerly direction or constructing a new seawalk and bicycle route around the southerly point of the proposed casino, and ensure the route is fully accommodated to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning and the General Manager of Engineering Services;

(11) Design development to locate the guest drop-off outside the central plaza area to maintain the character, function and integrity of that space;

(12) Design development of a landscape plan for the whole site area of the casino proposal that includes, among other things, the site edges along Pacific Boulevard South, and along the seawalk and bicycle route, and including these elements for the parking lot to the east of the site, if pursued by the proponents;

(13) Should the proponents pursue a parking lot to the east of the site, design development of a walkway forming an extension from Carrall Street to the shoreline which may travel along the east side of a line extended from the east side of Carrall Street from Pacific Boulevard South to the shoreline; and

(14) Public benefits to the satisfaction of City Council.

(iv) Arrangements to the satisfaction of the Director of Social Planning and Director of Legal Services to prepare a casino operations job creation program targeted to qualified unemployed and underemployed downtown residents.

(v) Arrangements be made to the satisfaction of the Director of Cultural Affairs and the Director of Legal Services to provide community access to the theatre in Building "C" in the Plaza of Nations, capital expenditures and operating expenses as feasible.

B. THAT consequential amendments initiated by the Director of Planning to amend the definition of Casino - Class 2 in Section 2 and amend Section 10.31.2 to permit Casino - Class 2 only where expressly permitted be approved; and

FURTHER THAT the amendment to the draft by-law as set out in the memorandum dated January 19, 2004, from the Director of Current Planning to correct references in the definitions of Casino to reflect the language used in the Gaming Control Act, be approved as follows:

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".

C. THAT, if the rezoning is approved, at the time of enactment the by-law be accompanied by amendments to the License By-law to delete the Casino definition and define Casino - Class 1 and Casino - Class 2 in Schedule A with a corresponding per annum fee of $195 for Casino - Class 1 and $8,792 for Casino - Class 2.

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