Vancouver City Council

SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 1
P&E COMMITTEE AGENDA
March 3, 2005

SIGNIFICANT NEW REZONING APPLICATIONS

Address: 1133 West Georgia Street Present Zone: DD (Sub-area "A")

Application Date: January 06, 2005 Proposed Zone: CD-1

Applicant: Mark Whitehead (Musson Cattell MacKey) on behalf of the Holborne Group (Simon Lim)
Heritage Listing: n/a
Staff Contact: Phil Mondor, with Jonathan Barrett and Michael Gordon

Proposal:
· Rezoning is required for proposed residential use, height increase, and FSR increase in a mixed-use (hotel and residential) tower;
· Proposed height is 550 feet (52 storeys) on part of the site, respecting the Heather Bay view cone which bisects the site (maximum height in this district);
· Total floor area of 457,156 sq. ft. is proposed on this 26,136 sq. ft. site: 235,224 sq. ft. in hotel use (FSR 9.0) and 222,016 sq. ft. in residential use (FSR 8.5), a total FSR of 17.5, and an increase of 94.4 % (maximum FSR in this district is 9.0);
· Proposed community benefits include a rooftop public observation deck and associated open space at grade (which includes a through-site pedestrian link to CBD pedestrian network), heritage density transfer and response to other City needs; and
· LEED Silver status will be pursued; all major consultant groups on the applicant team are LEED accredited.

Applicable Policy:
· General Policy for Higher Buildings
· Downtown District Official Development Plan
· Central Business District Policies (Residential Rezoning)
· Downtown (Except Downtown South) Design Guidelines
· Downtown District Character Area Descriptions - Georgia Street
· Georgia Street Character Area Guidelines
· Central Area Pedestrian Weather Protection
· View Protection Guidelines
· Density Transfer Policy and Procedure
· Heritage Policies
· Financing Growth (Community Amenity Contribution) Policy

Issues and Questions:
· Land Use
· Density
· Building Height, Form of Development, Urban Design, Architectural Excellence
· Community Amenities / Public Benefits

Community Amenity Contribution Implications:
· Downtown rezonings are "Non-Standard" (CACs are to be negotiated, and noting that Public Art Budget, DCLs, street trees and other normal requirements continue to apply); and
· Applicant proposes public observation deck as on-site community amenity and public benefit, and is open to City recommendations for the balance.

Public Involvement:
· Usual public notification (information signs and letters), including notification of downtown business groups; and
· Applicant will arrange for Open House and related consultations, as and when appropriate.

Recommended Response:
· Undertake usual processing activities, but application will require Higher Building review by a special Urban Design Panel supplemented by two local architects and two international design experts (selected in discussion with AIBC and to be appointed by City Council).