ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Date: June 13, 1997 Dept. File No. JF CC File: 5311 TO: Vancouver City Council FROM: Director of Land Use and Development SUBJECT: Re-approval of Strata Conversion: 2025 and 2027 East Kent Avenue North RECOMMENDATION THAT the application to convert the previously-occupied buildings at 2025 and 2027 East Kent Avenue North (Lot E, Block O, D.L. 328, Plan 8555) to strata title ownership be reapproved in principle, but that pursuant to Section 9(1) of the Condominium Act, the Certificate of Approval (Form 10) shall not be issued unless the following condition has been met within one year of the date of this re-approval: Completion of all work required by the City Building Inspector, under the required permits, at no cost to the City, in order that the previously-occupied principal building on this site substantially complies with all relevant by-laws. 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 re-approval is requested for the application to convert the previously-occupied buildings at 2025 and 2027 East Kent Avenue North (Lot E, Block O, D.L. 328, Plan 8555) to strata title ownership. BACKGROUND The site is zoned RS-1B and is developed with a principal one-family dwelling built circa 1957, and an infill one-family dwelling, completed in 1987 in accordance with City permits. The location of the site is illustrated in Figure 1 below. Figure 1 On May 28, 1996, Council granted approval in principle to an application to convert these buildings to strata title ownership subject to completion of one condition, which required that building(including sprinklering), plumbing and electrical upgrading be completed in both buildings, in order to bring them into substantial compliance with all relevant City by-laws. Required upgrading work on the infill building has been completed. The work on the principal building has been delayed because the owners are waiting for financing commitments. The owners expect to be able to complete the work within the next year. Pursuant to Council's policy, the approval in principle lapsed on May 28, 1997. The owners have applied for Council's re-approval in principle, which would be valid for a further year. STAFF ANALYSIS The intent in establishing the one-year limit for completion of Council-imposed conditions was not to necessarily expect that all conditions of approval could be completed within a year, in every instance. Rather, the intent was to terminate approvals in principle where applicants clearly had no plans to proceed toward final approval by completing the required work. Staff were concerned that either revisions to relevant City by-laws or the possible introduction of new tenants who were not aware of the strata title approval in principle, predominantly of concern in residential buildings, could make the approval in principle passe. In the case of 2025 East Kent Avenue North, the owners intend to obtain the necessary permits and complete the required work, to the satisfaction of the City Building Inspector. The Manager of the Building Inspection Branch has confirmed it is reasonable to expect the required work can be completed within twelve months, and on this basis, supports the recommendation that this re-approval be valid for a further one-year period. CONCLUSION Based on the foregoing, the Director of Land Use and Development supports this application for re-approval in principle and recommends that a further one-year limit be imposed. * * * * *