ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: March 6, 1997
Dept. File No. 4205
CC File No. 4205
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Modification to the Vancouver Indy Race Circuit
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council approve a modification to the Vancouver Indy race
circuit to include Quebec Street, First Avenue and the
necessary City lands on the south shore of False Creek as
generally shown in Figure 3; with details to be approved by
staff under the FEST Committee review process.
B. THAT Council direct staff to modify the Agreement with Grand
Prix Management Inc.("owners" of the Vancouver Indy race) to
facilitate the modified track as described in this report all
to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services and City
Manager.
COUNCIL POLICY
The Council policy when dealing with special events requires that the
FEST Committee obtain Council approval for the anticipated Special
Events for the coming year. However, for major events such as the
Symphony of Fire and the Vancouver Indy, Council recognizes the
financial, and other commitments the event organizers are required to
make, and so have approved these events for longer periods than one
year.
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PURPOSE
This report recommends approval of modifications to the Vancouver Indy
race circuit and the use of some City lands for the event.
BACKGROUND
The Vancouver Indy Race occurs on the September Labour Day weekend and
has been located on the north side of False Creek since 1990. During
this time, only minor track modifications have been necessary.
The Vancouver Indy race generates about $18.6 million in economic
spinoff in the lower mainland, based on a 1994 survey. The Vancouver
race ranks 4th out of 17 races in attendance behind Long Beach, the
Michigan 500, which replaces the Indianapolis 500 and Rio de Janeiro.
The redevelopment plans for Concord Pacific will result in the eventual
loss of all the grandstands at the hairpin turn at the west end of the
race circuit. The existing circuit and road closures are shown in
Figure 1.
This report discusses a proposed modification to the existing race
circuit to facilitate the race staying in the False Creek area. The
modification involves the use of Quebec Street, First Avenue and a
portion of the City and BC Transit lands on the south shore of False
Creek.
Council has previously approved an Indy car race circuit on the north
shore of False Creek up to and including the year 2001. This term and
other conditions under which the race can operate on City streets is
covered by an Agreement between the City of Vancouver and Grand Prix
Management Inc. This agreement also requires the Indy organizer to
provide written consent from major, adjacent property owners, where
access is cut-off, including Concord Pacific, Canadian Metropolitan
Properties, and B.C. Pavilion Corp. Further, the race organizer must
also provide written consent of the Ministry of Environment confirming
the race will not interfere with any soil remediation work to be carried
out to those lands affected by the race.
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An extension of the time period and/or a requirement to use City streets
not previously approved, requires the approval of Council.
The 1997 race will operate on the existing race circuit shown in Figure
1. The 1998 race may also operate on this existing race circuit.
However, this depends on whether a sufficient number of grandstands at
the hairpin can be reconfigured around the anticipated Concord Pacific
construction. If this
is not possible or if the planned demolition of the Canron building on
the south shore of False Creek is not completed in time, then an
interim race circuit (Figure 2) may be necessary for 1998. Subsequent
races, 1999 and later, would use the modified course also shown in
Figure 3. It would benefit the Indy race organizers to change the race
circuit for the 1998 race to help amortize their capital costs.
DISCUSSION
Use of City Lands
Any change to the existing race circuit requires the use of the City
lands on the south shore of False Creek including the Canron site. The
modified circuit shown in Figure 3 also includes the Canron building
which is scheduled for demolition in the next year.
The planning process, including rezoning, of the South shore of False
Creek will take place over the next couple of years. By the end of this
process, the City will know the form of development acceptable to the
public and whether market and other conditions are suitable to proceed
to the development stage. The present anticipated earliest start of
construction will not be before 2000 and possibly as late as 2002.
Staff recommend the Vancouver Indy be allowed to use the City land up to
and including the 2001 race as this fits the City s development
timetable.
Molson Indy has requested permission to use the City land until 2003.
This is two years longer than what Council has previously approved.
Staff cannot reasonably predict at this time the City s development
plans beyond 2001, and recommend this request be revisited at a later
date, once plans are better developed.
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There are presently a number of tenants on short term leases on the
affected City property. Some leases may have to be cancelled or revised
to allow the Indy use of the City land. Every effort will be made to
work around and/or accommodate these existing tenants. It is recommended
any cost associated in amending leases to accommodate the race be paid
by the Indy organizers.
Lands Owned by BC Transit
BC Transit owns the property on the NW corner of Quebec and 1st Avenue.
Arrangements satisfactory to BC Transit for the use of their land have
been worked out with Vancouver Indy.
Ministry of Environment
The Ministry of Environment has been involved in discussions on the
proposed use of the City land by the Vancouver Indy.
The Ministry has already approved the event on the north side of False
Creek on lands that have some contamination. This approval is on the
basis that only disturbance to the surface area is involved and no deep
excavations are required.
The work required on the south shore of False Creek would be the same as
what was done on the north shore and includes filling low points,
grading of the ground to level it, paving and generally "capping" the
site to make it suitable for pedestrians and to create the necessary
venue to hold the race.
The Ministry of Environment does not anticipate a problem with the
proposed use and work that has to be done, but may require a site
assessment and management consistent with the proposed use.
Science World
Science World will become landlocked during the race weekend but will
remain open and free to the expected 180,000 race spectators.
Acceptable arrangements have been worked out between Molson Indy and
Science World and a letter of support has been received from Science
World.
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City Gate
This residential project was developed after the first Indy race and
will continue to be developed over the next few years.
Molson Indy has met with the City Gate Strata Council representing 173
residential units (two of the three towers) of the approximate 600
units. A further meeting is planned with the third tower and the
results of that meeting will be verbally reported to Council.
The Strata Council had three concerns; noise, access and security.
Access and security arrangements have been worked out. However, the
Strata Council has indicated that noise will remain an issue for some
residents.
The strata council has chosen to not take a position either way on this
matter noting there are noise concerns but also noting for many
residents, the race is a major event which they watch from their
balconies.
Other Businesses on Quebec Street
The businesses between Terminal Avenue and First Avenue that back onto
Quebec also front onto Main Street and so access, while somewhat
disrupted, can be worked out. The Vancouver Indy organizers are
contacting these businesses now to work out satisfactory arrangements.
This is not anticipated to be a significant problem.
Traffic Impacts
Presently, during race weekend, the northbound lanes of the Cambie
bridge are closed from the Friday morning to Sunday evening. During
race hours a bus shuttles pedestrians and cyclists across the bridge.
In the evenings, cyclists and pedestrians are allowed to use the west
sidewalk.
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The shift of the race circuit to the east will mean the Cambie Bridge
will remain open and the various detours to transit and other vehicles
and the inconveniences to pedestrians and cyclists crossing False Creek
will no longer be necessary. Transit will now be largely unaffected by
the modified race circuit.
Congestion on Broadway, Granville and Main Street at various times is
largely from traffic relocated because of the closure of the Cambie
Bridge. As a result, congestion on Broadway and Granville will be
reduced to more normal levels.
The connection between the Off Broadway and the Seaside bike routes will
be disrupted. However, detours will be worked out to maintain a
temporary connection between the two routes.
Overall, traffic impacts should be somewhat reduced with the proposed
circuit modification.
The site will continue to be well served by the ALRT with stops at Main
Street and Stadium Stations.
Noise
The relocation of the existing race circuit about 800 metres east to
Abbott Street and about 600 metres south to First Avenue and Quebec will
mean lower noise levels for the more directly impacted Yaletown
residential units along Pacific Boulevard and along the south shore of
False Creek west of the Cambie Bridge. However, there will be an
increase in noise levels south of First and Quebec.
The immediate area around First and Quebec is industrial development.
The residential area of Mt. Pleasant is further to the south of this
industrial area but with the race 600 metres closer, there will be some
increase in noise levels relative to the current race event.
There are many details which will need to be addressed through the FEST
Committee process. These include such issues as access, duration of
construction, modifications to permanent road or park works, location of
grand stands and temporary strucutres, etc.
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The recommendations give approval to Grand Prix Management Inc., subect
to FEST Committee review of more detailed plans.
In terms of regulation, the event has been exempted from a development
permit in the past under section 5.3 of the Zoning and Development
By-law. This would continue, but the event will still require building
permits for structures on site. In addition, a public market license
and a special event permit will be required from the Permits and
Licenses Department.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the proposed modification to the Vancouver Indy race
circuit can be physically accommodated. Staff believe the details on
issues surrounding the use of the City lands including lease and
environmental matters can be resolved. Noise impacts on the existing
residential community are greater in some areas, notably to City Gate,
but less in Yaletown and on the south shore of False Creek.
The economic benefits for the City in terms of direct and spin off
benefits is over $18.6 million per year.
Transit impacts, as well as pedestrian, bike and other vehicle traffic,
will be significantly reduced, with the modified and interim tracks.
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