CITY OF VANCOUVER

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

MAY 20, 2004

A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, May 20, 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 Bylaw, to designate property as protected heritage property and to enter into a Heritage Revitalization Agreement.

PRESENT:

Mayor Larry Campbell
Councillor Fred Bass
Councillor David Cadman
Councillor Peter Ladner
Councillor Raymond Louie
Councillor Tim Louis
*Councillor Anne Roberts
Councillor Sam Sullivan

   

ABSENT:

Councillor Jim Green (Leave of Absence)
Councillor Tim Stevenson (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)
Councillor Ellen Woodsworth (Leave of Absence - Civic Business)

   

CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:

Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager

   

CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:

Diane Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

* Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Louie
SECONDED by Councillor Ladner

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Roberts not present for the vote)

1. HERITAGE DESIGNATION: 641 East Georgia Street

An application by Wadaco Development Corporation was considered as follows:

Summary:

An application to seek heritage designation of the existing house at 641 East Georgia Street and provision for infill dwelling in rear yard.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.

Staff Opening Comments

Hugh McLean, Planning Analyst, was present to respond to questions.

Applicant Comments

Vicki Lum, Wadaco Development Corporation, was present to respond to questions.

Summary of Correspondence

There was no correspondence received on this application.

Speakers

The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application and none were present.

Council Decision

MOVED by Councillor Louis

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Roberts not present for the vote)

2. HRA & HERITAGE DESIGNATION: 1226 Homer Street

An application by John Bingham was considered as follows:

Summary:

An application for Heritage Revitalization Agreement and designation for the building at 1226 HomerStreet for all residential floor area.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval.
Staff Opening Comments

Terry Brunette, Planning Analyst, was present to respond to questions.

Applicant Comments

John Bingham, Howard Bingham Hill Architects, was present to respond to questions.

Summary of Correspondence

There was no correspondence received on this application.

Speakers

The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application and none were present.

Council Decision

MOVED by Councillor Louis

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Roberts not present for the vote)

3. REZONING: 900 Pacific Boulevard

An application by James KM Cheng Architects was considered as follows:

Summary:

An application to rezone 900 Pacific Boulevard to permit 5 market residential buildings containing 613 dwelling units, a site for a future non-market housing project, an extension of Marinaside Crescent toward the False Creek Waterbody and an expansion of Coopers' Park. Consequential amendments to the False Creek North Official Development Plan are required, in addition to amendments to the Sign and Noise Control By-laws.

The Director of Current Planning recommended approval, subject to conditions as set out in the agenda of the Public Hearing.

Also before Council was the following:

i) a letter from the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, dated May 18, 2004 with the following recommendations:

ii) a memo dated May 20, 2004 from Phil Mondor, Rezoning Planner, reporting back to Council on the matter of a future park in Area 9 of False Creek North. The memo offered the following new recommendation:

Staff Opening Comments

Phil Mondor, Rezoning Planner, provided an overview of the application. Mr. Mondor, along with Tom Timm, Deputy City Engineer, Michael Desrochers, Planner, Vancouver Parks & Recreation, Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, and Brent MacGregor, Deputy City Manager, responded to questions relating to building height, previous history, land use, residential character and impact of the development, urban housing, vehicular access along with traffic and parking impacts, sustainability, density, shoreworks, park allocation and planning.

Staff also responded to questions relating to Creekside Park including timing of park development, soil contamination and remediation, cost of off-site removal, division of costs, use of consultants and technology.

Staff recommend approval of the application with the addition of the recommendations noted in the memo of May 20, 2004 and the letter of May 18, 2004.

Applicant Comments

James Cheng, Architect, representing the Applicant, reviewed the project and his letter dated May 20, 2004 (on file), requesting that Council amend the Draft By-law CD-1 (Building Height) as follows:

THAT Section 6 Building Height) be amended to replace "except that the height of the building in sub-area A may increase to 15 storeys in further design development approval by Council" by "except that the Development Permit Board may permit an increase in the number of storeys for any building within the total building height established for these buildings in the illustrative form of development approved at Public Hearing, notwithstanding the provisions of the applicable official development plan."

Summary of Correspondence

The following correspondence was received since the date the application was referred to Public Hearing:

· 1 letter from Vancouver Park Board;
· 4 e-mails/letters in support;
· 28 e-mails/letters opposed to delay of Creekside Park;
· 3 e-mails expressing concerns.

Speakers

The Mayor called for speakers for and against the application.

The following spoke in support of the application:

Janice Lovell
Daisen Gee-Wing, CMPC
Kaare Foy

Speakers' comments included:

· beneficial to the neighbourhood;
· in support, but expressed concerns regarding traffic on Marinaside Crescent.

The following spoke in opposition to the application:

John McMillan
Jack Becker
Chris Pallet
Donald Currie
Jonathan Jednar

Speakers' comments included:

The following spoke to the application expressing specific concerns relating to the delay in delivery of the Creekside Park extension:

Commissioner Anita Romaniuk, Chair, Vancouver Park Board
Commissioner Suzanne Anton, Vancouver Park Board
Rick Lam, Chair, Vancouver Chinatown Revitalization Committee
Jack Dunlop
Wendy Dunlop
Patsy McMillan
John Murray
Bev Behrman
Ted McGrath
Allan Adams
Christine Wallsworth
Jacquie Rauh
Tom Routledge
Ed Storm
Bill Stone
Donna-Marie McIntyre
Frank Kelly
David Boyd
Dick Bogue
Nancy Meek
Bohdan Zabolotniuk

Speakers' comments included:

Applicant Closing Comments

Mr. Cheng advised there are no shadows resulting from the project at any time of year and that the extension of Smithe Street as a two-way street going south will improve traffic flow.

Matt Meehan, representing Pacific Place Development Corp., advised that rezoning of 5B and 6C, as indicated in the ODP, will take place as soon as possible, that the corporation is very responsible when selecting short-term uses and events for the site and the applicant is working on subsidized housing with City staff. He also agreed with the recommendations made by the Vancouver Park Board.

Staff Closing Comments

Mr. Beasley reviewed the current status of non-market housing and progress being made to increase number of units. He noted that interim uses on Area 9 go through proper permitting process and that toxic soils are dealt with through Health and Safety Act, WCB, and City by-laws, if applicable.

Council Decision

MOVED by Councillor Sullivan

A. THAT the application by James KM Cheng Architects, to rezone 900 Pacific Boulevard (District Lot 2850 Group 1 NWD, except Portion on Plan 20421 & 21425, District Lot 4674, Plan 6107 except Portion on Plan 20421 and LMP 13010, and District Lot 5673, Group 1 NWD except Portion on Plans 21425 and LMP 13010) from BCPED to CD-1, to set maximum residential floor area at 70 558 m² (759,500 sq. ft.) and set the maximum number of dwelling units at 714, generally as outlined in Appendix A of the Policy report dated February 11, 2004 entitled "CD-1 Rezoning of 900 Pacific Boulevard (False Creek North Area 6A" be approved, subject to the following conditions:

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT - GENERAL

SUSTAINABILITY

ACOUSTICS

CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED)

AGREEMENTS

NON-MARKET HOUSING

ENGINEERING

Charge Summary

Subdivision/Road Dedication

Soils Remediation

Soils Remediation (Road)

Soils Indemnity

Soils Vancouver Charter

Occupancy

Services Agreement

Shoreline Works Agreement

Park Works

Floodplain Agreement

Bridge Proximity Agreement

Amend Covenants

B. THAT the application by the Director of Current Planning to amend False Creek North Official Development Plan, By-law No. 6650 generally in accordance with Appendix C of the above noted report be approved.

C. THAT the application by James JM Cheng Architects to amend the Sign By-law to establish regulations for the CD-1 site in accordance with Schedule E (assigned Schedule B(DD) be approved.

D. THAT, subject to approval of the rezoning at Public Hearing, the Noise Control By-law be amended at time of enactment to include this CD-1 in Schedule A.

E. THAT Recommendations A to D be adopted on the following conditions:

F. THAT prior to enactment of the CD-1 By-law, and at no cost to the City, the registered owner shall enter into an agreement, to be completed to the satisfaction of the City Manager and the General Manager of Parks and Recreation, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Director of Legal Services, for the provision of a preliminary conceptual design for the future park on Area 9, including base elevations and preliminary layout, details, anticipated uses and general grading for the park, and the preparation of this design to include public consultation.

G. THAT Section 6 (Building Height) of the CD-1 By-law be amended to replace "except that the height of the building in sub-area A may increase to 15 storeys in further design development approved by Council" by "except that the Development Permit Board may permit an increase in the number of storeys for any building within the total building height established for these buildings in the illustrative form of development approved at Public Hearing, notwithstanding the provisions of the applicable official development plan.

H. THAT, as requested by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, Council will explore mechanisms to deliver Creekside Park extension (Parcel 9 in False Creek North) as early as possible.

I. THAT, as requested by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, Council will consider, at the time when a rezoning application is received for Parcel 6C, a year by which Creekside Park extension must be delivered.

CARRIED
(Councillors Bass and Louis opposed)

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Cadman

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Councillor Cadman
SECONDED by Councillor Sullivan

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Special Council adjourned at 10:40 p.m.

* * * * *