LATE DISTRIBUTION
FOR COUNCIL DECEMBER 10, 1996
3
CITY OF VANCOUVER
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
November 26, 1996
A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Tuesday, November 26, 1996, at 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber,
third floor, Vancouver City Hall, for the purpose of holding a Public
Hearing to consider proposed amendments to the Sign By-law.
PRESENT: Mayor Owen
Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario, Clarke,
Hemer, Ip, Kennedy, Price,
and Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Kwan (Leave of Absence)
Councillor Puil
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL: Tarja Tuominen
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Hemer,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the Chair, to consider proposed amendments to the Sign By-law.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1. Sign By-law Amendment: Billboards
The Director of Land Use and Development put forward two
alternatives for consideration:
- Option A would amend the Sign By-law to no longer allow new
billboards in the City of Vancouver.
- Option B would amend the Sign By-law to continue to allow new
billboards in specified zoning districts of the City of Vancouver
under revised and generally simplified regulations. The revised
regulations would be more permissive than existing regulations in
some instances, and more restrictive in other instances.
cont'd....
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
The Director of Land Use and Development recommended approval of
Option A.
Also before Council was a memorandum dated November 26, 1996 from
the Director of Land Use and Development, introducing a further
amendment to the Sign By-law to add the following four sites to the
eight CD-1 sites already included in "Option B" where billboards would
not be permitted:
- CD-1 (363) - 201 Burrard Street;
- CD-1 (364) - 501 Bute Street;
- CD-1 (365) - 301 Jervis Street;
- CD-1 (366) - 500 Pacific Street.
The memorandum advised representatives of the billboard industry
are aware the amendment is being introduced, and staff understand they
are not opposed to it.
Staff Opening Comments
Pat Johnston, Planner, advised staff recommend Option A, to no
longer allow new billboards in the City of Vancouver. Billboards have
no design controls, have a significant impact on the streetscape, and
detract from the pedestrian environment. Staff are concerned there will
be considerable pressure on Vancouver to allow new billboards since no
other Greater Vancouver municipality no longer allows billboards. In
addition, allowing new billboards may adversely affect new development.
Option B contains revised regulations which try to clarify and
simplify the billboard regulations as much as possible, and try to
minimize the visual impacts of billboards. The billboard industry agrees
with most of Option B.
With Option A, the numbers of billboards would not increase and
would gradually decrease over time. With Option B, the number of
billboards would likely increase, but it is difficult to say by how
much. There are currently about 500 new billboard locations.
Rick Scobie, Director of Land Use and Development, noted with
Option B the regulations will be more permissive in some respects, more
easily administered, and less contentious. In the short-term, there
could be a significant increase in billboards; in the long-term, the
numbers will diminish.
cont'd....
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
Summary of Correspondence
The following correspondence was received regarding this
application:
- Three letters opposing the proposed ban on billboards in the City
of Vancouver;
- One letter opposing any further restrictions to billboards.
- Two letters opposing proposed ban or restriction of billboards.
Speakers
Mayor Owen called for speakers for and against the application.
The following spoke in support of Option B, with the exception of
B(iii), which would not allow billboards near residential premises in
Downtown South and Burrard Slopes and would provide for removal of
billboards as residential redevelopment occurs in these areas:
. John Moonen, Seaboard Advertising Company (brief filed)
. John Sawyer, Seaboard Advertising Company
. Joan McIntyre, McIntyre & Mustel (brief filed)
. Annelies Reardon, Seaboard Advertising Company
. Bill Schapiro, Urban Outdoor Trans Ad
. Peter Watson, Gallop & Gallop.
The foregoing speakers supported Option B, excluding B(iii), on one
or more of the following grounds:
. No longer allowing new billboards in the City of Vancouver will
affect 75 direct union and non-union jobs; more than 100 indirect
jobs; $1 million in annual revenues for 250 property owners,
including $125,000 for the City; $250,000 in donated advertising
and cash each year; and income tax, property tax, GST and
Provincial sales tax from $10 million in annual economic activity;
. If the amendments under Option B are passed, it is estimated that
billboards will be confined to little more than five percent of the
City's area;
. On most properties billboards occupy less than one percent of the
area of the lot;
cont'd....
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
. Public opinion surveys conducted by McIntyre & Mustel in September
1996 indicated billboards were not mentioned as an issue of concern
by 400 Vancouver residents: 61% were in favour of the existing
City policy; 15% opposed the existing policy; 24% had no opinion.
In addition, 51% supported Option B and only 21% supported Option
A;
. The industry has received a very small number of complaints about
billboard structures in Vancouver. In 1995, it received only six
complaints about hundreds of structures.
. The future of billboards is vital; billboards are utilized by a
wide variety of businesses.
The following spoke in support of the general thrust of Option B:
. Jack White, Painters Union
. Wendy Campbell, Lions Society of B.C.
. Walter Hardwick (brief filed)
. Greg Waring, McDonald's Restaurants
. Jim Fraser, BCADA
. Kirk Miller
. Jons Edstrand, Imperial Parking, Seaboard
. Troy Van Bostelen, Peter Kiewit Sons
. Michelle Gurney, Media Services Co.
. Jane MacDonald, Vancouver Film Festival
. John Hansen, Vancouver Board of Trade
. Paul LaBranche, BOMA
. Andrew Pottinger, Downtown Vancouver Association
. Terry Sam, Dairy Queen.
The foregoing supported Option B on many of the grounds already
stated by the previous speakers, as well as on one or more of the
following grounds:
. In many cases, billboards obscure unsightly sides and backs of
buildings and lanes;
. The current by-law permitting billboards has, in the process,
upgraded derelict properties, in turn increased the assessment of
these properties, and indirectly city tax revenues;
. Billboards are an affordable means of communicating products;
. Billboards have contributed to the survival and growth of
non-profit organizations by enabling them to increase advertising
of their organization;
cont'd....
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
. Billboards are a vibrant form of advertising and are a part of
Vancouver's cityscape;
. Option B is a good example of how industry can work with City staff
to come up with workable solutions;
. Billboards provide lighting and safety to business' parking lots.
Neil Zimmerman, Corad & Direct Line, stated he was very unclear why
the regulations are different between billboards and murals as far as
third party advertising. Murals are a good form of third party
advertising, and allowing murals would culturally benefit the city.
Brian Bell, Bell Holdings, was not opposed to billboards in
general, but advised of a problem with a billboard which needs to be
addressed. The billboard was conforming to the bylaw at the time, but
now obstructs the view for a second storey tenant. Seaboard has agreed
to move the billboard if new billboards will be permitted in the city.
Mr. Bell urged Council to consider some mechanism to deal with similar
problems which may occur because of billboards permitted on a site in
perpetuity.
Javan Khazali, Moustache Cafe Restaurants, advised he is the
business owner referred to by the previous speaker. The billboard in
front of his restaurant does affect his business.
Staff Closing Comments
Mr. Rick Scobie advised although Option B is an improvement to the
existing Sign By-law, it is not discretionary. If an application for a
billboard meets the regulations, a permit will be issued. Staff still
support Option A, to no longer permit new billboards in the City. The
Planning Department took on the challenge to consider issues of urban
environment, public realm and quality of life, and asked whether it was
in the best interests of Vancouver to continue to accommodate
billboards.
Council Discussion
During discussion, Council members noted billboards provide very
important public benefits. However, it was pointed out Downtown South
and Burrard Slopes are undergoing a tremendous amount of residential
development and if billboards were allowed in those areas, Council and
staff would have complaints.
cont'd....
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
One member of Council expressed a concern that approving Option B
will result in a significant increase in billboards, more than what the
public may anticipate. It would be reasonable to limit the number of
billboards allowed.
Other members felt setting a limit would be difficult for staff to
monitor. However, a report back would provide information on the impact
of Option B, number of new billboards, and any identified problems.
MOVED by Cllr. Price,
THAT there be an upper limit of 600 billboards in the City of
Vancouver.
- LOST
(Councillors Bellamy, Chiavario, Clarke, Hemer, Ip, Kennedy
Sullivan and the Mayor opposed)
MOVED by Cllr. Hemer,
THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare an
amendment to the Sign By-law generally in accordance with Appendix A of
the June 28, 1996 Policy Report:
i) to simplify and clarify the regulations which permit
billboards in the City;
ii) to not allow billboards on eight CD-1 zoned sites near False
Creek and Coal Harbour;
iii) to not allow billboards near residential premises in Downtown
South and Burrard Slopes, and to provide for removal of
billboards as residential redevelopment occurs in these areas;
iv) to not allow billboards on Robson Street east of Jervis
Street; and
v) to not allow billboards on the following CD-1 zoned sites:
CD-1 (363) - 201 Burrard Street
CD-1 (364) - 501 Bute Street
CD-1 (365) - 301 Jervis Street
CD-1 (366) - 500 Pacific Street.
- CARRIED
(Councillor Price opposed)
cont'd....
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT staff provide a report back in 18 months on the impacts of the
by-law, in particular noting any problems and whether there has been a
marked increase in billboards.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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. Hemer,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted, and the
Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare and bring forward
the necessary by-law amendments.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
* * *
The Special Council meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.