SUPPORTS ITEM NO. 7
CS&B AGENDA
FEBRUARY 20, 1997
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: February 14, 1997
Dept. File No.: PB
CC File No.: 1605-1
TO: Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM: Director of Community Planning
SUBJECT: 1997 Funding for On-going Interim Zoning Program
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council approve funding of $117,000 to cover general
program costs of the 1997 RS Interim Zoning Program for 10
neighbourhoods.
B. THAT Council approve funding of $70,000 to cover costs for
independent telephone surveys for 10 neighbourhood phone
surveys as part of the Phase II programs in 1997.
CONSIDERATION
C. THAT Council approve funding of $10,800 to cover costs
associated with conducting mail-back surveys as part of the
Phase II programs in 1997.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services notes that the benefits
of this program flow to specific neighbourhoods but that costs are
borne by the City as a whole through general revenue.
Unfortunately, at this time, there is no efficient mechanism
through which benefitting neighbourhoods can be directly billed for
planning services which they exclusively enjoy. As potential
zoning changes are contentious, the level of public consultation
associated with this program is also unavoidable, and it is
costly--particularly when the staff costs not detailed in this
report are factored in. The interim zoning is intended to get
better control of the external design of single-family homes. Many
would consider this to be a very high-level concern and an
expendable luxury given the City s present budget problems. For
these reasons, the General Manager of Community Services submits A,
B, and C for Council s CONSIDERATION.
COUNCIL POLICY
On May 3, 1996, Council approved the Interim Zoning program for RS-1 and
RS-1S areas in advance of CityPlan s Neighbourhood Visioning program.
This program provides interested neighbourhoods with the opportunity to
change their current RS-1/RS-1S zoning to either RS-5/RS-5S or
RS-6/RS-6S in response to concerns about the external design of new
houses and site landscaping.
PURPOSE
This report seeks Council approval for a budget of $117,000 to cover the
estimated costs associated with conducting the Interim Zoning program in
a further potential 10 areas in Vancouver. Additional funding of
$70,000 is requested for conducting independent telephone surveys in 10
neighbourhoods. Staff will report back for additional funding for
general program costs and telephone surveys in other neighbourhoods
should it be needed.
BACKGROUND
On May 3, 1996, Council approved the Interim Zoning program for RS-1 and
RS-1S areas in Vancouver in advance of CityPlan s Neighbourhood
Visioning program. This program provides interested neighbourhoods with
the opportunity to change their current RS-1/ RS-1S zoning to either
RS-5/RS-5S or RS-6/RS-6S in response to concerns about the external
design of new houses and site landscaping.
The program is carried out in two phases. In Phase I, staff distribute
information brochures/surveys to all residents and property owners. The
brochure outlines the program and the survey asks whether residents wish
to retain the current RS-1 zoning or seek an alternative zoning to deal
with concerns about the external design and site landscaping of new
houses. If sufficient support is demonstrated for a zoning change
(i.e., approximately one-quarter of households surveyed respond and a
clear majority of respondents are in favour of a zoning change), then
Phase II of the review is conducted. In Phase II, staff hold public
information meetings/open houses and distribute detailed information on
the RS-5/RS-5S and RS-6/RS-6S zoning alternatives. Following this, a
random sample telephone survey is conducted. If results indicate clear
support for a zoning change, it will be reported to City Council and,
with Council approval, referred to Public Hearing
To date, two neighbourhoods (Mackenzie Heights and West Kerrisdale
Central) have had the zoning review, and have been rezoned to RS-5. Six
neighbourhoods (Dunbar, Southlands, West Point Grey, Douglas Park, Glen
Park and Cedar Cottage) have completed Phase I of the review. Phase II
is currently being conducted in Dunbar, Southlands, West Point Grey and
Douglas Park as these neighbourhoods had shown clear support for seeking
a zoning change in the Phase I survey.
There may be as many as 15 neighbourhoods participating in the Interim
Zoning Program in the near future, given the expressions of interest we
have received from residents to date.
DISCUSSION
When Council adopted the Interim Zoning program, a total of $80,000 was
approved to cover general program costs plus the costs of conducting
independent random telephone surveys for the first 4 neighbourhoods.
Staff agreed to report back in early 1997 regarding additional funding
for the 1997 program.
In order to carry out the Interim Zoning program in a further 10
neighbourhoods (assuming a typical size of 2,000 dwelling units) in
1997, the following budget would need to be approved:
Each 1997 Operating Budget
N hood (x 10 neighbourhoods)
PHASE I
Advertising $ 250 $ 2,500
Printing (brochures/surveys/ 1,064 10,640
envelopes)
Stuffing and delivery 840 8,400
Postage (to mail surveys to 1,440 14,400
absentee property owners,
and for return envelopes)
$ 3,594 $ 35,940
PHASE II
Printing (brochures/surveys/ $ 1,784 $ 17,840
envelopes)
Stuffing and delivery 840 8,400
Postage (to mail surveys to 360 3,600
absentee property owners)
Public Hearing Advertising 1,000 10,000
Public Hearing Notification 1,200 12,000
(printing and postage)
Meeting Hall 600 6,000
Translator 800 8,000
Overtime for weekend meetings 1,500 15,000
$ 8,084 $ 80,840
GENERAL PROGRAM COSTS
OF PHASE I + PHASE II $11,678 $116,780
Further, in order to conduct random telephone surveys in Phase II of the
review, a budget of $7,000 per neighbourhood surveyed would need to be
approved. Staff suggest that funds be set aside for 10 neighbourhoods
at this time: it is uncertain whether all 10 neighbourhoods will proceed
into Phase II of the program, given the need to achieve a minimum
response rate and a clear majority in favour of a zoning change in Phase
I of the program in order to move on to Phase II. Any monies not
expended on Phase II work will be used for future RS-1/RS-1S areas; at
this time there is a possibility of conducting work in 6 additional
neighbourhoods. Staff will report back to Council if further funding is
needed to conduct this work.
The Phase II telephone survey is the single most expensive component of
the program. Given budget concerns, Council may wish to direct staff to
use a mail-back ballot in the Phase II portion of the program. However,
this method does not provide the accurate reading of neighbourhood
opinion that a telephone survey provides. Therefore, staff are
recommending that funding be allocated for independent telephone
surveys; the mail-back option is put forward for consideration.
PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS
Community Planning have assigned a Planner I, Planning Analyst, and a
Planning Assistant to this program from existing staff. The work is
overseen by a Planner II.
CONCLUSIONS
Staff request Council approval for a budget of $117,000 to cover the
costs associated with conducting the Interim Zoning program in a
further potential 10 areas in Vancouver in 1997. Additional funding of
$70,000 is requested for conducting independent telephone surveys in 10
neighbourhoods; staff will report back for additional funding for
conducting work in other neighbourhoods should it be needed.
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