CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Thursday, September 14, 1995, at 4:05 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1,
Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Planning and
Environment meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.
PRESENT: Mayor Owen
Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario, Hemer, Ip,
Kennedy, Kwan, Puil and Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Clark
Councillor Price
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:
Ken Dobell, City Manager
Judy Rogers, Assistant City Manager
CLERK: Jean Sharpe
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the Chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of the Standing Committee
on Planning and Environment
September 14, 1995
The Council considered the recommendations of the Committee as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl.1 Significant Rezoning Application
Cl.2 Rezoning Inquiry - Grandview Highway
and Boundary Road
Cl.3 Proposed Amendment to Subdivision
By-Law No. 5208 - Site Reclassification
at 2868 and 2880 West 39th Avenue
COMMITTEE REPORT (CONT'D)
Report of the Standing Committee
on Planning and Environment
September 14, 1995 Continued
Significant Rezoning Application
Clause 1
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 1
of the attached report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Rezoning Inquiry - Grandview Highway
and Boundary Road
(Clause 2)
MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 2
of this report and quoted below, be approved.
A. THAT Council advise the McLean Group that it would consider an
application to rezone a portion of the 10.93 ha (27 ac.) at
Grandview Highway and Boundary Road for industrial and
highway-oriented retail uses, with consideration given to
issues raised in this report, and with any temporary staff or
consultant funding requirements to be reported back to Council
at the appropriate time;
B. THAT Council advise the McLean Group that it would consider a
rezoning application with a live/work component, to be
processed concurrently with the policy analysis of live/work
that will be undertaken in the context of the False Creek
Flats overview planning.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Kwan opposed to Recommendation B)
Report of the Standing Committee
on Planning and Environment
September 14, 1995 Continued
Proposed Amendment to Subdivision
By-Law No. 5208 - Site Reclassification
at 2868 and 2880 West 39th Avenue
(Clause 3)
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 3
of this report and quoted below, be approved.
THAT Council refuse the application to reclassify the
properties at 2868 and 2880 West 39th Avenue from Category 'B'
to Category 'A' of Schedule A, Table 1, of Subdivision By-law
No. 5208.
- CARRIED
(Councillors Kwan and Sullivan opposed)
RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy
THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
ADOPT REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy
SECONDED by Cllr. Chiavario
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORT CONT'D
ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS
1. Dates of Council - Standing Committee Meetings
MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario
SECONDED by Cllr. Kennedy
THAT the 1995 Schedule of meetings be amended by cancelling the
Council meetings scheduled for the week of November 20th and scheduling
Council meetings for the week of November 13th, to accommodate the
proposed visit of Guangzhou by members of Council, accompanied by a
business mission.
* * * * * * * * *
The Council adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
* * * * * * * * * REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
SEPTEMBER 14, 1995
A meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and
Environment was held on Thursday, September 14, 1995, at 2:00 p.m., in
Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor Price, Chair
Mayor Owen
Councillor Bellamy
Councillor Chiavario
Councillor Clarke
Councillor Hemer
Councillor Kennedy
Councillor Kwan
Councillor Puil
Councillor Sullivan
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:
Ken Dobell, City Manager
Judy Rogers, Assistant City Manager
CLERK: Jean Sharpe
Recorded Vote
Unless otherwise indicated, votes of the Committee on all items are
unanimous.
Adoption of Minutes
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
meetings of July 20 and July 27, 1995, were adopted as circulated.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Significant Rezoning Application
File: 5302-1
The Committee had before it a significant rezoning application
prepared by the Planning Department (on file).
Mr. Dave Thomsett, Planner, reviewed an application by James
Hancock, to rezone 4255 Arbutus Street (Arbutus Village) from CD-1 to
CD-1 Amend. The intent of the application is to construct 181 strata
units in two seven-storey buildings with replacement commercial parking
and residential parking underground. Mr. Thomsett noted the issues and
advised a public information meeting will be held in the near future.
The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and CARRIED.
Therefore the Committee
RECOMMENDED
THAT the Planning Department presentation on the Significant
rezoning application be received for information.
2. Rezoning Inquiry - Grandview Highway
and Boundary Road File: 5303-2
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated July 12, 1995 (on
file) from the Associate Directors of Planning in consultation with the
General Managers of Engineering Services, Corporate Services, Human
Resource Services, Parks & Recreation, Director of Legal Services and
Manager of the Housing Centre, in response to a major rezoning inquiry
from the McLean group to rezone a 10.93 ha (27 ac.) at Grandview Highway
and Boundary road, to industrial, retail, residential, and live/work
uses.
Mrs. Jacqui Forbes-Roberts, Director of Community Planning,
advised the applicant had withdrawn the residential component of the
application and, therefore, Recommendations B and B1 of the Policy
Report were no longer relevant. To reflect the applicant's recent
submission, Recommendation A should also be amended to show that only a
portion of the 10.93 ha (27 ac.) site be considered in the rezoning
application.
Clause No. 2 Continued
Ms. Trish French, Planner, reviewed the report noting the land use
would focus on high-tech and knowledge based industries and services,
including film studios, post-production facilities and software
manufacturers. With regard to the live/work portion of the site, staff
are undertaking a policy analysis and a discussion paper on this issue
will be available in November. Ms. French advised any rezoning would
have to be closely coordinated to the City's transportation plan.
Mr. David McLean, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, McLean
Group, spoke to the vision for the land at Grandview and Boundary, which
would create jobs and enhance community life. He noted the shift to
cleaner mixed-use and industrial uses and the need in Vancouver for a
location for these emerging industries. An important feature of the
proposal is the creation of a linear park along Still Creek. Mr. McLean
reiterated the intent to delete the residential component at this time
and asked Council's endorsation of Recommendations A and C1 of the
Policy Report.
The following delegations spoke in support of the application:
Winston Elton
Dick Hardt
Richard Davis
Sandra Walker
Phil Regen
Herb Lippsman
Gary Dobbin
The following are some of the comments made by the foregoing
speakers:
- changing land use patterns - moving from smoke-stack
industry;
- new emerging trends with new technology;
- creative vision for site;
- proposal will revitalize area and encourage job creation;
- current M-2 zoning does not allow proposed vision for site;
- live/work proposal - new working environment;
- proposal creates potential for a neighbourhood centre, per
CityPlan;
- live-work community, with supporting retail and commercial
land uses, will result in a more efficient land-use and
infrastructure network;
Clause No. 2 Continued
- film industry supportive as the vision would interface well
with the other proposed high technology industries;
- proposal is good for the community and would create
additional jobs;
- an opportunity to establish a model urban community where
people live and work;
- support proposal with input from the community - high-tech
knowledge based industries make good neighbours.
Staff responded to questions on the timing of the rezoning process,
the live/work policy analysis, and the transportation plan.
The following motions by Councillor Clarke were put and CARRIED.
Therefore, the Committee
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council advise the McLean Group that it would consider an
application to rezone a portion of the 10.93 ha (27 ac.) at
Grandview Highway and Boundary Road for industrial and
highway-oriented retail uses, with consideration given to
issues raised in this report, and with any temporary staff or
consultant funding requirements to be reported back to Council
at the appropriate time;
B. THAT Council advise the McLean Group that it would consider a
rezoning application with a live/work component, to be
processed concurrently with the policy analysis of live/work
that will be undertaken in the context of the False Creek
Flats overview planning.
(Councillor Kwan opposed to Recommendation B)
3. Proposed Amendment to Subdivision
By-Law No. 5208 - Site Reclassification
at 2868 and 2880 West 39th Avenue File:5308
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated August
25, 1995 (on file), from the Associate Director of Planning, Land Use
and Development, that addressed a proposal to reclassify the properties
at 2868 and 2880 West 39th Avenue from Category 'B' to Category 'A' of
Schedule A, Table 1 of Subdivision By-law no. 5208.
Clause No. 3 Continued
Mr. John Coates, Senior Planner, reviewed the report noting the
proposal to combine the two lots and resubdivide into four parcels
having a width of approximately 33 feet, which does not meet the minimum
standard of 40 feet under Category 'B'. The owners have the opportunity
to subdivide the two combined parcels under the present Category 'B'
standard to create three parcels more consistent in size with the
predominant pattern in this block. Staff do not support this
application as there are no extenuating circumstances and approval may
establish an undesirable precedent.
Mr. Jerry Bailey, applicant and resident of 2880 West 39th Avenue,
advised that Category 'B' was assigned to the property in 1988. He felt
the size of the frontage should not be the main criteria for refusal as
the lot is deep and there are other lots on the block with 30-foot
frontage. Mr. Bailey pointed out subdividing into three lots would
create an odd-shaped lot and would entail the removal of a utility pole
and trees. He noted the support of the majority of property owners
polled.
Mr. Joseph Macht, area resident, presented a petition from seven
neighbours supporting the recommendation to refuse the application to
reclassify. He cited problems that would occur with frontal access,
such as increased on-street parking, noise, congestion and pollution.
He noted a large amount of traffic already uses 39th Avenue as an
alternate route to 41st Avenue. In conclusion, Mr. Macht would like to
see the block remain user friendly and felt subdividing the properties
into three lots, rather than four, would contribute to this ideal.
Mr. Ray Hunter, applicant and resident of 2868 West 39th Avenue,
circulated a drawing (on file) that indicated the size and width of the
street and location of the trees and utility pole. Also circulated were
photographs (on file) showing on-street parking. Mr. Hunter felt the
traffic concerns of the previous speaker were exaggerated. He noted the
majority of the neighbours were in favour of the application. In
conclusion, Mr. Hunter asked the Committee to grant the
reclassification.
Clause No. 3 Continued
In discussion, it was noted the Category 'B' classification was
assigned to the subject block in 1988 so that requests to subdivide
would remain consistent with the surrounding blocks. Some members
indicated the proposal to create additional housing was consistent with
the Liveable Region Strategy for ground-oriented housing stock.
The following motion by Councillor Puil was put and CARRIED.
Therefore, the Committee
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council refuse the application to reclassify the
properties at 2868 and 2880 West 39th Avenue from Category 'B'
to Category 'A' of Schedule A, Table 1, of Subdivision By-law
No. 5208.
(Cllrs. Kwan and Sullivan opposed)
* * * * * *
The Committee adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
* * * * * *