A10 ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Date: March 10, 1997 Dept. File No. GL C.C. File: 5311-1 TO: Vancouver City Council FROM: Director of Land Use and Development SUBJECT: Strata Title Conversion: 1203 and 1209-1211 East 15th Avenue RECOMMENDATION THAT pursuant to Section 9(1) of the Condominium Act, the application to convert the previously-occupied buildings at 1203 and 1209-1211 East 15th Avenue (Lot J, Block 172, D.L. 264A, Plan LMP31445) to strata title ownership be approved in the following manner: 1. as relating to 1203 East 15th Avenue: that approval in principle be granted, subject to completion of the following conditions, within one year of the date of this approval: (a) issuance of the permit under Building Application No. BU405533, thereby permitting alterations to the existing one-family dwelling to convert it to two dwelling units; and (b) completion of all work approved and required under DE401615 and BU405533, once issued, in accordance with the approved plans and permits, and issuance of an Occupancy Permit, in order for this building to substantially comply with all relevant City by-laws; and 2. as relating to 1209-1211 East 15th Avenue: that approval be granted without conditions. GENERAL MANAGER S COMMENTS The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing. COUNCIL POLICY Council Policy is reflected in the City s Strata Title and Cooperative Conversion Guidelines, which outline factors which Council will consider in reviewing applications for converting previously-occupied buildings to strata title or cooperative ownership. PURPOSE Council approval is required for an application to convert the previously-occupied buildings at 1203 and 1209-1211 East 15th Avenue (Lot J, Block 172, D.L. 264A, Plan LMP31445) to strata title ownership. BACKGROUND The site is zoned RT-5 and is 27.430 m (90.00 ft.) wide, as a result of two adjacent parcels having been recently consolidated. As shown on Appendix A , the site is currently developed with a two-family dwelling (1209-1211), constructed in 1993 under combined Development and Building Permit No. DB205380. The site also contains a one-family dwelling (1203) which is proposed to be converted to a two-unit multiple conversion dwelling pursuant to Development Permit No. DE401615. Both of the existing dwellings are located on the front (south) portion of the site and are tenant-occupied at this time. The three existing tenants have indicated their support in writing for this application. The site location is shown below in Figure 1. Figure 1 DE401615 also provides for the construction of an infill two-family dwelling and an infill one-family dwelling in the rear yard of the site, also shown on Appendix A . Since the existing two-family dwelling (1209-1211) is essentially new development, and is proposed to be modified only in exterior appearance under DE401615, the applicant is proposing to register a Phased strata plan, rather than a "conventional" strata plan, which would require that the new infill dwellings be constructed before the strata plan could be registered. This will enable him to use the funds generated by the sale of the units in the first phase, to complete construction of the remainder of the development on the site. Pursuant to Section 9 of the Condominium Act, Council s approval is required only as it relates to the four strata lots proposed in the previously-occupied buildings on this site. Details of the Phased strata need not be shared with Council, as they are irrelevant to Council s consideration of the strata title conversion. Phased strata applications are dealt with by the Approving Officer, in a similar manner to the processing of a conventional subdivision proposal. STAFF ANALYSIS In addition to Planning Department staff, the City Engineer and the City Building Inspector have reviewed this application. As the two previously-occupied buildings on site will contain only four dwelling units, the Manager of the Housing Centre has not been asked to comment. The City Engineer has no dedication or servicing requirements for this site. The City Building Inspector reports that the existing two-family dwelling at 1209-1211 East 15th Avenue substantially complies with all relevant City by-laws. Further, when all proposed work on the dwelling at 1203 East 15th Avenue has been completed in accordance with the approved plans and permits, and an Occupancy Permit has been issued, this dwelling will substantially comply with all relevant City by-laws. CONCLUSION Based on the foregoing, and on the applicant s compliance with the City s Strata Title and Cooperative Conversion Guidelines, the Director of Land Use and Development supports this application. * * * * *