ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 14, 1995
Dept. File No. WB
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: Associate Director of Planning - Land Use & Development
SUBJECT: Form of Development: 750 Burrard Street
D.A. 217660 - CD-1 By-law Number 7246
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the approved form of development for the CD-1 zoned site known
as 750 Burrard Street be generally approved as illustrated in
Development Application Number 217660, prepared by James Cheng
Architects Inc. and stamped "Received, City Planning Department May
24, 1995", provided that the Director of Planning may approve
design changes which would not adversely affect either the
development character of this site or adjacent properties.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of
the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
At a Public Hearing on November 9, 1993, City Council approved a
rezoning of this site from DD (Downtown District) to CD-1. Council also
approved in principle the form of development for these lands. CD-1 By-
law Number 7246 was enacted on November 30, 1993.
PURPOSE
In accordance with Charter requirements, this report seeks Council's
approval for the form of development for the above-noted CD-1 zoned
site.
SITE DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND
The site is located at the northeast corner of Burrard and Robson
Streets. The site and surrounding zoning are shown on the attached
Appendix 'A'.
Subsequent to Council's approval of the CD-1 rezoning, the Director of
Planning approved Development Application Number 217660. This approval
was subject to various conditions, including Council's approval of the
form of development. The latter condition is one of the few outstanding
prior to permit issuance.
DISCUSSION
The proposal involves additions and alterations to this existing
Municipal Heritage building (former Main Branch Library) by adding to
the upper storey and converting the building to retail/restaurant use.
The proposal has been reviewed by the Vancouver Heritage Commission on
two occasions who have expressed a number of concerns including:
- the loss of the majority of the black granite base on Burrard Street;
- the loss of the louvres on the Robson Street facade;
- the appearance of the fire-fighting elevator on the Burrard Street
penthouse addition; and
the lack of signage guidelines.
A number, but not all of these concerns are addressed in conditions of
development application approval, including the addition of a low sill
element to the partially retained granite base and refinements to the
appearance of the fire-fighting elevator. The proposal does not pursue
retention of the louvres nor the interior mosaic tile mural. The
exterior Lionel Thomas sculpture and the flagpole on Burrard Street will
be retained. A Heritage Alteration Permit will be issued along with the
Development Permit.
Signage will be reviewed in accordance with the Sign By-law at the time
of sign application, noting that given the building's heritage
designation any sign proposed to be applied to the building would be
subject to approval by the Director of Planning through a further
Heritage Alteration Permit.
Simplified plans, including a site plan and elevations of the proposal,
have been included in Appendix 'B'.
CONCLUSION
The Director of Planning has approved Development Application Number
217660, subject to various conditions to be met prior to the issuance of
the development permit. One of these conditions is that the form of
development first be approved by Council.
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