3
CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Thursday, May 16, 1996, at approximately 5:00 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, Clarke, Hemer, Ip,
Kwan, Price, Puil and
Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Chiavario (Civic Business)
Councillor Kennedy (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
CLERK: Lawrence Cantrell
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Hemer,
SECONDED by Cllr. Ip,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole,
Mayor Owen in the Chair.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report of the Standing Committee
of Council on Planning & Environment
May 16, 1996
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee as
contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl. 1 Central Area Bridgeheads - Consultant Study
Cl. 2 Downtown Vancouver Skyline - Consultant Study
Cl. 3 Interim Zoning for RS-1 and RS-1S Areas
Cl. 4 801 West Georgia Street - (Hotel Georgia)
'A' Lounge - Increase in Seating Capacity
Cl. 5 Proposed CD-1 Text Amendment - 3250 Commercial
Drive - East Vancouver Farmers' Market
COMMITTEE REPORTS (CONTINUED)
Central Area Bridgeheads - Consultant Study
Clause No. 1
MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as set out in Clause 1
of the attached report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Downtown Vancouver Skyline - Consultant Study
Clause No. 2
MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as set out in Clause 2
of the attached report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Interim Zoning for RS-1 and RS-1S Areas
Clause No. 3
MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as set out in Clause 3
of the attached report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED by Councillor Kwan,
G. THAT staff identify and report back within six months on what
measures and resources are required to assist neighbourhoods
with minimal or no organizational tools to engage in this
process to ensure equitable application of staff resources
with respect to interim zoning measures.
- LOST
(Councillors Bellamy, Clarke, Hemer, Ip, Price,
Puil, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
COMMITTEE REPORTS (CONTINUED)
801 West Georgia Street - (Hotel Georgia)
'A' Lounge - Increase in Seating Capacity
Clause No. 4
MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendation of the Committee, as set out in Clause 4
of the attached report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Proposed CD-1 Text Amendment - 3250 Commercial Drive
- East Vancouver Farmers' Market
Clause No. 5
MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as set out in Clause 5
of the attached report, be approved.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RISE FROM THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Hemer,
SECONDED 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. Hemer,
SECONDED by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
* * * * *
Council adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
* * * * *
REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
May 16, 1996
A meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and
Environment was held on Thursday, May 16, 1996, at 2:00 p.m. in
Committee Room No. 1, third floor, City Hall.
PRESENT: Councillor Price, Chair
Mayor Owen
Councillor Bellamy
Councillor Clarke
Councillor Hemer
Councillor Ip
Councillor Kwan
Councillor Puil
Councillor Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Chiavario (Civic Business)
Councillor Kennedy (Leave of Absence)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE: Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
CLERK: Lawrence Cantrell
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning
and Environment on April 25, 1996 were adopted as circulated.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Central Area Bridgeheads
- Consultant Study File: 5751-3/8007-3
The Standing Committee had before it a Policy Report dated April
30, 1996 (on file), in which the Director of Central Area Planning
recommended approval in principle of draft terms of reference for a
consultant study of the Central Area Bridgeheads, subject to
refinements made during the consultant selection process and that
funding up to $12,000 from the Contingency Reserve be approved for the
study.
The General Manager of Community Services also recommended
approval of the consultant study and the proposed funding.
Clause No. 1 Continued
Larry Beasley, Director of Central Area Planning, requested that
Items 1 and 2 on the agenda, the two proposed consultant studies be
addressed simultaneously. The Chair allowed the two agenda items to be
presented together.
Mr. Beasley briefly reviewed the origins of the two requests for
consultant studies, the contents of the two Policy Reports and changes
which have taken place in the Central Area of the City since 1989.
Mike Kemble, Planner, reported on starting dates and scheduled
completion times of the two reports and of project management to be
carried out by City staff. He pointed out that computer models arising
from the studies will be valuable in themselves and of use in meeting
future city needs.
Alan Herbert, a Vancouver resident, quoted an article in the
National Geographic Magazine which said, if effect, that Vancouver is
the city where the skyscrapers do not soar. Height restrictions
currently in place can be quite severe, leading to an undramatic
skyline. Mr. Herbert advocated a skyline for Vancouver that would
provide drama and inspiration. Should Council decide to modify the
skyline, such changes should be as a reward for design excellence.
The following motions by Councillor Sullivan were put and CARRIED.
Therefore, the Standing Committee
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT the draft terms of reference for a consultant study of
the Central Area Bridgeheads (Appendix 'A' of the Policy
Report dated April 30, 1996) be approved in principle,
subject to refinements made during the consultant selection
process.
B. THAT funding up to an amount of $12,000 be approved for the
consultant study and public consultation expenses, including
staff overtime, as outlined in the Policy Report of April 30,
1996, with the source of funds to be Contingency Reserve.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Downtown Vancouver Skyline
- Consultant Study File: 5751-3/8007-3
The Standing Committee considered a Policy Report dated April 30,
1996, from the Director of Central Area Planning recommending approval
in principle of draft terms of reference for a consultant study of the
Downtown Vancouver Skyline, subject to refinements made during the
consultant selection process, and that funding up to $65,000 from the
Contingency Reserve be approved for the consultant study, public
consultation, staff overtime and computer resources.
The General Manager of Community Services accepted that there is
some public purpose in regulating heights and placement of buildings in
order to protect significant views, but he was not convinced of the
desirability or feasibility of sculpting the city's skyline. He
submitted the recommendations of the Director of Cental Planning to the
Standing Committee for consideration.
Staff and public comments relating to this agenda item were
combined with those for Clause No. 1 of this meeting's agenda (see
above.)
The following motions by Councillor Sullivan were put and CARRIED.
Therefore, the Standing Committee
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT the draft terms of reference for a consultant study of
the Downtown Vancouver Skyline (Appendix 'A' of the Policy
Report dated April 30, 1996), be approved in principle,
subject to refinements made during the consultant selection
process.
B. THAT funding up to an amount of $65,000 be approved for the
consultant study, polling, public consultation expenses
including staff overtime, and computer resources as outlined
in the Policy Report of April 30, 1996, with source of funds
to be Contingency Reserve.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. Interim Zoning for RS-1 and RS-1S Areas File: 5301-3
The Standing Committee had before it a Policy Report dated May 3,
1996 (on file),in which the Director of Community Planning, in
consultation with the Director of Land Use & Development, the General
Manager of Engineering Services, the Director of Permits & Licenses,
the Director of Financial Services and the Director of Legal Services,
recommended approval of various measures for interim zoning in
single-family areas in advance of CityPlan's neighbourhood visioning
program, with $52,000 to be provided from Contingency Reserve to cover
1996 costs.
The Director of Community Planning also offered for consideration
that $28,000 be provided from Contingency Reserve for telephone surveys
as part of Phase II programs in 1996.
The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of
the proposed zoning measures, provided that they lead to interim zoning
only. He also recommended approval of funding for the Phase II
telephone survey.
Jacquie Forbes-Roberts, Director of Community Planning, offered
introductory remarks on the Policy Report and an overview of its
contents.
Bob McGilvray, Planner, described the two-phase form of the survey
of neighbourhood residents. Phase I is intended to determine if there
is sufficient support among neighbourhood residents and property owners
for some type of new zoning and to justify commencing Phase II. The
second phase of the program would be a more intensive survey of
neighbourhood desires regarding various rezoning options. Mr.
McGilvray also commented on the eight neighbourhoods whose residents
have already contacted the Planning Department to express interest in
revising their zoning. Craig Rowland, West Kerrisdale Residents Association, advised the
Standing Committee that his organization has been active for about a
year and is composed of approximately 300 members. The Association has
carried out lot-by-lot neighbourhood mapping and public opinion polls.
West Kerrisdale is perceived by its residents as having character, but
they also note that many dwellings are old and relatively small in
relation to lot size. In the course of its door-to-door survey, the
Association found that 90% favoured new zoning addressing design
changes. Mr. Rowland supported the staff recommendations in the
Policy Report of May 3, 1996.
Clause No. 3 Continued
Bill Farish, West Kerrisdale Residents Association, emphasized two
themes: listen to the neighbourhoods and keep the process as simple as
possible. He suggested that the ballot shown in Appendix A to the
Policy Report is really quite complicated. He asked that it be revised
and simplified. While he had some doubts about the proposed telephone
survey, he thought it worth trying. Above all, he wanted to tell the
members of his Association that the City Council has provided
neighbourhoods with a tool to address the problems of the RS-1 zoning.
Richard Nantel, describing himself as the only speaker present
from the east side of the city, expressed strong disapproval for both
present and past residential zoning policies. He characterized the
current proposal as special zoning for politically correct
neighbourhoods. He disapproved of expenditures in past years for study
of RS-1 issues. He took the current proposals as proof that the
problems of residential neighbourhoods have gone unsolved for more than
twenty years. Mr. Nantel declared that the real issue is building
size. By approving higher FSRs, he said, Council has effectively made
the city's smaller, affordable houses obsolete.
Michael Paris, MacKenzie Heights Advocacy Group, told the Standing
Committee that his Group was set up to address the demolition of
existing homes and the building of poorly done spec' houses. Mr.
Paris supported the proposals in the Policy Report.
The following motions by Councillor Clarke were put and CARRIED.
Therefore, the Standing Committee
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT Council instruct staff to proceed, in co-operation with
neighbourhood groups, with a consultation process as outlined
in the Policy Report of May 3,1996, to determine
neighbourhood support for an interim zoning in single-family
areas in advance of CityPlan's neighbourhood visioning
program.
B. THAT Council direct staff to proceed with RS-6 as an interim
zone available to RS-1 and RS-1S single-family
neighbourhoods.
C. THAT, where there is demonstrated community support, Council
instruct staff to include RS-5 as a possible interim zone for
single-family neighbourhoods.
Clause No. 3 Continued
D. THAT Council direct staff to amend the RS-5 zone to control
the maximum area of impermeable materials on site, should any
neighbourhood be rezoned to RS-5 as part of this interim
zoning program.
E. THAT $52,000 be provided from Contingency Reserve to cover
program costs in 1996 as described in Appendix C of the
Policy Report of May 3, 1996.
F. THAT $28,000 be provided from Contingency Reserve for
independent telephone surveys for four neighbourhood phone
surveys as part Phase II of the program in 1996.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
MOVED by Councillor Kwan,
G. THAT staff identify and report back within six months on what
measures and resources are required to assist neighbourhoods
with minimal or no organizational tools to engage in this
process to ensure equitable application of staff resources
with respect to interim zoning measures.
- LOST
(Councillors Bellamy, Clarke, Hemer, Ip, Price,
Puil, Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
4. 801 West Georgia Street - (Hotel Georgia)
'A' Lounge - Increase in Seating Capacity File: 2611-32
The Standing Committee considered a Policy Report dated May 7,
1996 (on file), from the Deputy Chief License Inspector, recommending
that Council endorse an application by Georgia Place Ltd to increase
seating capacity in an A' lounge at the Georgia Hotel by 19 seats.
The General Manager of Community Services also recommended
approval.
The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and CARRIED.
The Standing Committee
RECOMMENDED
THAT Council endorse the application by Georgia Place Ltd to
increase seating capacity by 19 seats in an 'A' lounge at 801 West
Georgia Street, having considered the support of residents and
business operators of the community, as determined by
neighbourhood notification.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5. Proposed CD-1 Text Amendment
3250 Commercial Drive:
East Vancouver Farmers' Market File: 2501-3/5303-3
Before the Standing Committee was a Policy Report originally
addressed to Council, dated April 30, 1996, from the Director of Land
Use & Development, in consultation with the Director of Permits &
Licenses, the Director of Environmental Health and the General Manager
of Engineering Services, which offered for consideration that CD-1
By-Law No. 5411 pertaining to the Croatian Cultural Centre be amended
in order to permit a farmers' market, and further, that the Director of
legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary by-law and that
the application and by-law be referred to a public hearing. Finally,
if the by-law is so amended, consideration be given to endorsing the
guidelines established by the Director of Environment Health in
determining which foods can be safely sold at the farmers' market.
The General Manager of Community Services put forward all items
for consideration by Council.
During a meeting on May 14, 1996, Council referred the Policy
Report to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment for
consideration.
Rick Scobie, Director of Land Use & Development, provided a short
overview of the Policy Report. He advised the Standing Committee that
parking is not an issue, so long as market activities are kept to
weekends. Mr. Scobie expressed some concern about the precedent being
set, given that similar proposals may be submitted by other groups.
Nick Losito, Director of Environmental Health, advised that the
guidelines for food which may be safely sold at the market have been
adhered to satisfactorily and that his concerns were minimal.
Franco Ferrari, Vancouver East Farmers' Market Society, told the
Standing Committee that the 1995 Market was a success. 60% of
attendance at the Market was from the local catchment area. The event
fulfilled all the Society's requirements. The community wants and
likes the Market. Mr. Ferrari said that he would prefer not to see
mobile vending enshrined in a by-law, He and the East Vancouver
Farmers' Market Society would prefer that the Market eventually be
moved to public land so that the city could exercise greater control.
He requested that the city establish a definition for a farmers'
markets and specify where they may be set up. On being advised that
there is a definition of "Farmers' Market" on page 9 of the Policy
Report, Mr. Ferrari suggested that it be extended to include a
definition of "farmer operators".
Clause No. 5 Continued
Devorah Kahn, East Vancouver Farmers' Market Society, offered
thanks to Council and to city staff for the help her organization has
received. The process of preparing the Policy Report now under
consideration has been a positive learning experience for the Society.
While the Society wants to stay at its present site at the Croatian
Centre this year, it intends to take a pro-active part in seeking a new
site for 1997.
In the course of discussion, the question of establishing a
precedent arose. It was suggested that a precedent had already been
set in 1995 with Council's decision to withhold enforcement on the
farmers' market in that year. It was noted that the only city land for
public use is controlled by the Parks Board. The Society was advised
to establish communication with the Parks Board.
The following motions by Councillor Kwan were put and CARRIED.
Therefore, the Standing Committee
RECOMMENDED
A. THAT staff be instructed to withhold enforcement of CDŸ1
By-Law No. 5411 with regard to the East Vancouver Farmers'
Market at the Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial
Drive, until after Thanksgiving.
B. THAT staff be instructed to explore additional sites for
permanent farmers' market operation.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
* * * * *
The Standing Committee adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
* * * * *