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CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Date: |
October 07, 2004 | |
Author: |
Celine Mauboules | |
Phone No.: |
6198 | |
RTS No.: |
04583 | |
CC File No.: |
4657 | |
Meeting Date: |
November 2, 2004 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
Director of the Housing Centre in consultation with Directors of Current Planning and Legal Services |
SUBJECT: |
Single Room Accommodation By-law (8733): Application to Exempt all 34 Designated SRA rooms at 826/830 West Hastings Street (The Jolly Taxpayer Hotel) |
RECOMMENDATION
That Council grant an exemption from the Single Room Accommodation By-law of all 34 designated SRA rooms at 826/830 Hastings Street (The Jolly Taxpayer Hotel).
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The City Manager RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
The Single Room Accommodation By-law regulates the conversion or demolition of designated rooms. Owners of designated rooms may apply for an exemption from the By-law under the following exemption conditions:
(a) a permanent resident does not occupy or customarily occupy the room as living accommodation;
(b) the room is not in a building or portion of a building classified under the Assessment Act and its regulations as Class 1 - residential; and
(c) the room is in a building or portion of a building in respect of which the owner has an obligation to pay or remit hotel room tax under the Hotel Room Tax Act and its regulations.
Council must grant the exemption if it is satisfied that the designated rooms meet the exemption conditions.
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
This report recommends that Council approve an application for exemption with respect to all 34 designated rooms at 826/830 Hastings Street (The Jolly Taxpayer Hotel) as the evidence shows that these rooms meet the exemption conditions as set out in the Single Room Accommodation By-law.
BACKGROUND
On October 21, 2003, Council enacted the By-law to regulate the conversion or demolition of single room accommodation. The By-law provides for exemptions subject to the production of evidence, satisfactory to Council, that the designated rooms meet the exemption conditions.
DISCUSSION
The applicant has provided the necessary evidence to recommend the exemption of all rooms in the Jolly Taxpayer. (See Appendix A for evidence in support of the application for exemption.)
The owner has submitted to staff evidence that:
(a) the classification for the Jolly Taxpayer under the Assessment Act and its regulations is 100% Class 6 - commercial/retail;
(b) the Jolly Taxpayer is subject to and pays the hotel room tax under the Hotel Room Tax Act and its regulations; and
(c) on the By-law enactment date and since then, permanent residents, as defined in the By-law, have not occupied or customarily occupied rooms in the Jolly Taxpayer as living accommodation.
Staff met with the owner and his legal Council and have been informed that:
· The applicant purchased the Jolly Taxpayer in 1997. According to the applicant, at that time 9 occupants staying at the hotel were permanent residents (these residents either passed away or moved away as the renovations began in 1998).
· By February 2001 the Jolly Taxpayer had converted to a tourist hotel with 28 guest rooms and 2 self-contained apartments to provide accommodation to tourists (one of the self-contained units is occupied by a caretaker and the other is currently vacant).
· Rates for the hotel range from $69.95 per night for single occupancy to $89.95 per night for double occupancy; and $129.95 per night for a family.
CONCLUSION
Based on the evidence provided, staff recommend Council grant an exemption from the SRA By-law of all 34 designated rooms at the Jolly Taxpayer.
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