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REPORT TO COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
OCTOBER 21, 2004 |
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, October 21, 2004, at 2:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: |
Councillor Anne Roberts, Chair
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ABSENT: |
Councillor Fred Bass (Sick Leave)
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CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: |
Judy Rogers, City Manager |
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE: |
Laura Kazakoff, Meeting Coordinator |
*Denotes absence for a portion of the meeting.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of
September 30, 2004, were adopted.
RECOMMENDATION
1. 614 East 19th Avenue - Warning to Prospective Purchasers (File 2701)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated September 30, 2004, in which the City Building Inspector recommended Council direct a 336D Notice be filed against the title to the property at 614 East 19th Avenue in order to warn prospective purchasers there are by-law violations and to authorize the Director of Legal Services to seek injunctive relief at her discretion. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval.
Peter Sweeney, Manager, Building Inspection, with the aid of photographs, provided an overview of the Administrative Report and responded to a question regarding secondary suites.
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT the City Clerk be directed to file a 336D Notice against the title to 614 East 19th Avenue (Lot 2 E Hlf, Block 53, District Lot 301, Plan 187) in order to warn prospective purchasers that there are contraventions of the Zoning and Development and Vancouver Building By-laws related to this building.
B. THAT the Director of Legal Services is hereby authorized, in her discretion, to commence a legal action or proceeding in relation to the premises located at 614 East 19th Avenue and may, in her discretion, seek injunctive relief in that action or proceeding, in order to bring this building into compliance with City By-laws.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Councillor Sullivan absent for the vote)
2. Non-conforming Sign and Structure - 151-177 East Broadway (File 2851)
This item was withdrawn from this agenda and will be rescheduled to a future meeting.
3. 1500 Homer Mews, Development Application DE408703 (File 2606)
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated October 1, 2004, in which the Director of Current Planning recommended Council endorse consideration of an additional two storeys above the Guideline height of 16 storeys which is proposed in a development application at 1500 Homer Mews, on the basis that the additional height will not be higher than the maximum height of 53 m as specified in the CD-1 By-law. The General Manager of Community Services and the City Manager recommended approval, with note the option of not considering approval of a revised form of development was also put forward for consideration.
Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, provided an overview of the Policy Report and the rationale for staff's recommendation. Mr. Beasley also responded to questions concerning the implications of the proposed revised form of development in regard to affordability and size of units.
Peter Webb, Concord Pacific Group, clarified the proposed ceiling heights under the revised application would still be one foot over the standard height.
Joe Schuler expressed concern in regard to the possibility of an increase in building height over the 53 metres mentioned in the report, noting it was his understanding that the allowable height for this site is actually 110 metres. He further noted that while he does not have a problem with the addition of two stories to the form of development, his concern is
that the developer will then come back with a revised application to increase the height to 110 metres. Mr. Schuler also questioned the City's process in regard to notification of area residents, noting he lives diagonally opposite to this site, and he did not receive a letter advising when this site was the subject of a Public Hearing in May of 2003.
Mr. Beasley responded to concerns expressed by the foregoing speaker, and clarified that this site is identified on guidelines at 53 metres, and the current application is consistent with that height. If, for any reason, the developer came back with an application for a higher building, that revised form of development would be brought back before Council.
MOVED by Councillor Green
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
THAT Council advise the Director of Planning that it is prepared to consider approval of a final form of development at 1500 Homer Mews, (Development Application DE408703) which includes an additional two storeys (within the already permitted height) on the residential tower, subject to the application being referred to the Development Permit Board for decision after staff review is completed, and the application receiving Development Permit Board approval.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
(Mayor Campbell absent for the vote)
4. Oakridge Centre Policy Planning Program (File 8017)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated October 4, 2004, in which the Director of Current Planning, in consultation with the Director of the Housing Centre and General Manager of Engineering Services, recommended a program, based on development aspirations expressed by the Oakridge Centre owners, to develop land use and urban design options based on development of schematic concepts which respect sustainable City planning objectives to achieve a vital neighbourhood centre, balance neighbourhood and district serving commercial activities and integrate with and reinforce the surrounding urban structure. This program would determine new policies needed to achieve a more complete re-planning of the Oakridge Centre and respond to the introduction of the RAV Line. A second phase of the program would assess potential rezoning applications in the context of the new policy framework. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval.
Tom Phipps, Planner, Major Projects Group, provided an overview of the report and highlighted the changes in this current proposal over past proposals for this site.
Gordon Wylie, Ivanhoe Cambridge, noted that as project manager he has worked extensively with City staff on this matter. He advised the project team had come to the City with the desire to develop a cooperative project for Oakridge Centre which would look at it as an urban mixed use property rather than just retail, and they look forward to engaging the community and the City in that process.
Mr. Phipps responded to a question concerning the proposed public process.
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council endorse a planning program for Oakridge Centre and the adjoining station district, outlined in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated October 4, 2004, entitled "Oakridge Centre Policy Planning Program", to undertake a public policy review process to consider and bring forward for Council adoption policies giving guidance to a more complete re-planning of the Oakridge Centre site than was addressed by the Oakridge Langara Policy Statement, and providing a basis for assessing future rezoning and development proposals.
B. THAT staff resources contained in Appendix B of the Administrative Report dated October 4, 2004, entitled "Oakridge Centre Policy Planning Program" and estimated associated cost recovered budget of $1,107,000 contained in Appendix C of that report be approved to complete policy planning and a potential rezoning application review for Oakridge Centre; and
FURTHER THAT, consistent with City cost recovery policy, Council accept a policy phase contribution of $717,000 to begin the program and a rezoning phase contribution of $390,000 upon submission of a rezoning application from owners of Oakridge Centre to fully cover these costs;
AND FURTHER THAT these contributions be applied to rezoning fees.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5. 2004 Additional Special Events (File 4201)
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated October 2, 2004, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services recommended approval of a number of significant event applications that have been received since the Annual Special Events report was presented to Council in April and that need to be dealt with before the 2005 report.
Muriel Honey, Manager, Film and Special Events Office, provided an overview of the report and responded to questions concerning financial implications, which events qualify for City grants, and impacts to downtown churches of Sunday street closures.
Daniel Langevin, Vice-President of Marketing and Merchandising, Rogers Video, spoke in support of Council approval for the Santa Claus Parade and introduced "Santa Claus" who was also in attendance. Mr. Langevin noted that with the collaboration of several organizations the parade will represent a very unique gift to the people of Vancouver.
MOVED by Councillor Louis
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council approve the Burrard Street Route for the Santa Claus Parade on Sunday, November 21st 2004, subject to FEST and the organizers working out acceptable detailed arrangements.
B. THAT Council approve the closure of streets around Library Square to facilitate a First Night event on Friday, December 31st 2004, subject to FEST and the organizers working out acceptable detailed arrangements.
C. THAT Council approve the closure of portions of Granville Mall on Sunday, March 13th, 2005 for the second annual CelticFest Vancouver Society's St. Patrick's Day Parade, subject to FEST and the organizers working out acceptable detailed arrangements.
D. THAT Council approve the closure of portions of Granville Mall on Saturday and Sunday, March 12th and 13th 2005, to enable the CelticFest Society to present a street fair; subject to FEST and the organizers working out acceptable detailed arrangements.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The Committee adjourned at 2:56 p.m.
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