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CITY OF VANCOUVER SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 1 and 2, 2004 |
A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Monday, March 1, 2004, 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. Subsequently, the meeting was recessed, and reconvened in the Council Chamber at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, 2004. The Minutes have been consolidated for ease of reference.
PRESENT: |
Mayor Larry Campbell
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ABSENT: |
Councillor Jim Green (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)
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CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Denise Salmon, Meeting Coordinator |
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Louis
SECONDED by Councillor Louie
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.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1. TEXT AMENDMENT AND REZONING: Secondary Suites
An application by the Director of City Plans was considered as follows:
Summary: |
The proposed amendments would allow for secondary suites in RS, RT and RM zoning districts and limit the number of suites to one in each one-family dwelling. The RS-1S and RS-5S District Schedules would be repealed. At time of enactment, amendments to the Parking, License, Building, Subdivision and Official Development Plan By-laws, and other guideline documents will be required. |
The Director of the Housing Centre, in consultation with the Director of City Plans, Chief Building Official, Chief License Inspector and Director of Legal Services recommended approval.
Staff Comments
Rob Whitlock, Senior Housing Officer, with the aid of overheads, described the application, and noted the proposed text amendment and rezoning would extend the possibility of a second suite to all one-family dwellings, reduce barriers for owners seeking to legalize their secondary suites, and clarify the City's policy regarding secondary suites. Council also had before it a memorandum dated March 1, 2004, from Mr. Whitlock, which noted a Vancouver Courier display ad inadvertently did not include areas zoned RS-3, RS-3A and RS-6, and therefore staff recommended:
1. Section 8 of the draft by-law be amended to delete references to the RS-3 and RS-3A Districts Schedule and the RS-6 District Schedule, and be reworded to read:
`From section 3.2.1 DW of the RS-7S District Schedule, Council repeals as a permitted use "Phase-Out Suite" along with the provisos and conditions qualifying that use';
2. Section 9 of the draft by-law be amended to delete references to the RS-3 and RS-3A Districts Schedule and the RS-6 District Schedule; and
3. Amendments pertaining to the RS-3 and RS-3A Districts Schedule and the RS-6 District Schedule be referred to a new Public Hearing.
Summary of Correspondence
Council received the following correspondence since the date the application was referred to Public Hearing:
· 2 letters in opposition; and
· 4 other letters.
Speakers
The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application.
The following delegations spoke in general support of the application; however several speakers expressed specific concerns which are included in the points noted below:
Bruce Gilmour, Special Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (material filed)
Linda Mix, Tenants Rights Action Coalition
Shane Simpson, Smart Growth BC
Thomas Winkler (brief filed)
Edith Lear
Nick Lum
Melissa Okumus
Frank D'Agostino
Ned Jacobs (brief filed)
Comments provided by the foregoing speakers included the following:
· excited about the possibilities that can come from this work;
· will help address the issues of supply and affordability - the city needs these secondary suites,
· could increase availability of mid-range rentals, but reduce supply of low-cost units for students and others;
· zoning apartheid should not exist, tenants should be allowed to live everywhere;
· staff should have the flexibility when addressing the proposed internal access requirements - there is no reason for this and impacts on the privacy of tenants;
· inspections need to be flexible, as long as health and safety requirements are met;
· pleased with staff's recommendations and wholly support them;
· there is a serious need for affordable rental housing across this city;
· the important issue is how growth is managed, while protecting the character and integrity of neighbourhoods;
· in reference to the yellow memo - either rezone the whole city or not - do not exclude neighborhoods, even for a short period of time;
· full support for the city allowing additional suites - this should be expanded to include duplexes;
· proposed ceiling heights are reasonable and sprinkler requirements good;
· not against suites, but all must pay their fair share of utility costs, etc.; and
· concern with serious parking problems, and questioned if renters will be obligated to use the on-site parking for the unit.
The following delegations expressed concerns and/or spoke in opposition to the application:
· Richard Nantel
· Andrew Roberts (brief filed)
· Ron
· Edwin Aedila
Comments provided by the foregoing speakers included the following:
· no information meetings have been held on this matter - the vast majority of residents are not aware of what is happening here this evening;
· a decision to rezone single family neighbourhoods to defacto duplex zoning will affect half the city;
· rezoning will result in reconstruction of neighbourhoods, bulldozing down perfectly good single family homes for replacement with duplexes at best, and three, four and five `plexes';
· the proposed rezoning will not result in single family homes with secondary suites, but duplexes;
· a lot of secondary suites currently in use do not meet by-laws standards - many owners would not seek to legalize these suites;
· if this rezoning is approved, the unintended consequences will be accelerated destruction of single family housing in this city - and replacement housing will never be affordable or character houses;
· costs of enforcement will never be acceptable nor will the proposed penalties for non-compliance be enforceable; and
· poverty, crime, etc. are due to over crowding - Vancouver is the most desirable city in the world to live in - let's keep it this way.
During the hearing of the public, Mr. Whitlock, Cameron Gray, Housing Planner, and Dave Jackson, Director of Inspections and Deputy City Building Official, responded to questions concerning legal parking requirements, necessity for an annual license, costs to the City of uncollected fees, allowable size of the dwelling, the rationale for requiring retention of internal access between the two suites and how the City will ensure occupancy of new one family dwellings will comply with City by-laws. In reference to the yellow memorandum distributed at the meeting, Mr. Whitlock advised the intent is to have the proposed RS-3, RS-3A and RS-6 rezoning and text amendments before Public Hearing in March.
Council Decision
MOVED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the Public Hearing be concluded, and discussion and decision on the application be referred to the Regular Council meeting on March 9, 2004.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Ladner
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Councillor Louie
SECONDED by Councillor Cadman
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Special Council recessed at 9:35 p.m. on March 1, and
adjourned at 7:32 p.m. on March 2, 2004.
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