CITY OF VANCOUVER
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JULY 14, 1997
A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held
on Monday, July 14, 1997, at 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, Third
Floor, City Hall, for the purpose of holding a Public Hearing to
consider proposed amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law.
PRESENT: Mayor Philip Owen
Councillor Don Bellamy
Councillor Jennifer Clarke
Councillor Alan Herbert
Councillor Daniel Lee
Councillor Don Lee
Councillor Gordon Price
Councillor George Puil
Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT: Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario (Leave of
Absence)
Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Sick Leave)
CLERK TO THE
COUNCIL: Nancy Largent
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy ,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor
Owen in the Chair, to consider proposed amendments to the Zoning and
Development By-law.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1(a).Area Rezoning: West Kerrisdale -
North Kerrisdale RS-1S Area
An application by the Director of Land Use and Development was
considered as follows:
Summary: The proposed rezoning of the North Kerrisdale RS-1S Area
to RS-5S would encourage the design of new houses to be compatible
with adjacent houses.
The Director of Community Planning recommended approval.
Staff Opening Comments
Bob McGilvray, Planner, briefly reviewed the history of the
rezoning process in West Kerrisdale. Statistics indicate roughly a
two-to-one margin in favour of the proposed rezoning.
Summary of Correspondence
Council received no correspondence on this application.
Speakers
Bill Farish, West Kerrisdale Residents' Association, expressed
support for the proposed rezoning. Although the rezoning process began
in Kerrisdale over two years ago, the entire area could not be done at
one time, and residents have been waiting for North and South Kerrisdale
to catch up with Central Kerrisdale, which has already been rezoned
RS-5. It would be inconsistent not to rezone the remainder of
Kerrisdale to RS-5 now. Issues are well understood in the
neighbourhood, and RS-5 will deal with many of residents' concerns about
RS-1.
The Mayor ascertained there were no further speakers on this item.
Staff Closing Comments
There were no staff closing comments.
Council Decision
Moved by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the application be approved, as set out in this minute of the
Public Hearing.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1(b).Area Rezoning: West Kerrisdale -
North Kerrisdale RS-1 Area
An application by the Director of Land Use and Development was
considered as follows:
Summary: The proposed rezoning of the North Kerrisdale RS-1 Area
to RS-5 would encourage the design of new houses to be compatible
with adjacent houses.
The Director of Community Planning recommended approval.
Staff Opening Comments
Bob McGilvray, Planner, briefly reviewed survey statistics
indicating majority support for the proposed rezoning.
Summary of Correspondence
Council received no correspondence on this application.
Speakers
Matthew Ma, 2900 Block West 35th Avenue, expressed concerns
regarding the design guidelines, which he felt are very subjective and,
therefore, would make staff vulnerable to corruption. It was Mr. Ma's
understanding that the guidelines are so constrained he would be forced
to redevelop identically with adjacent houses on both sides of his home.
Council was asked to allow for more flexibility in comparison to the
existing streetscape, for example, to permit designs similar to those
across the street rather than immediately adjacent.
The following speakers expressed support for the proposed rezoning:
Kim Richards, West Kerrisdale Residents' Association
Jane Grant, West Kerrisdale Residents' Association
Sandra Johnson, West Kerrisdale Residents' Association.
The foregoing supported rezoning to RS-5 for the following reasons:
zoning throughout Kerrisdale should be consistent with Central
Kerrisdale, which has already been rezoned to RS-5;
RS-5 zoning will deal with many of residents' concerns about
RS-1, which has permitted too much shoddily designed
replacement housing;
RS-5 will encourage better buildings and improve the quality
of the neighbourhood while still allowing flexibility of
design.
The Mayor ascertained there were no further speakers on this item.
Staff Closing Comments
Mr. McGilvray indicated the design review process does not require
a new building to be identical to adjacent buildings, but only to have
some transition between the houses. The guidelines are actually rather
flexible to be able to apply to a number of neighbourhoods. An
applicant willing to forego the density bonus also has the option to
avoid the design review process and redesign approximately to RS-1. Mr.
McGilvray offered to meet with Mr. Ma to discuss his options.
Council Decision
Moved by Cllr. Bellamy,
THAT the application be approved, as set out in this minute of the
Public Hearing.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1(c).Area Rezoning: West Kerrisdale -
South Kerrisdale RS-1 Area
An application by the Director of Land Use and Development was
considered as follows:
Summary: The proposed rezoning of the South Kerrisdale RS-1 Area
to RS-5 would encourage the design of new houses to be compatible
with adjacent houses.
The Director of Community Planning recommended approval.
Staff Opening Comments
Bob McGilvray, Planner, indicated this is the last area of
Kerrisdale awaiting rezoning. Mr. McGilvray briefly reviewed survey
statistics showing majority support for the proposed RS-5 zoning.
Summary of Correspondence
Council received no correspondence on this application.
Speakers
Irmela Topf, West Kerrisdale Residents' Association, expressed
support for the proposed rezoning. Kerrisdale residents are concerned
about the "catalogue kind" of alterations which are insensitive to their
neighbourhood. RS-5 will preserve the neighbourhood's heritage and keep
the streetscape compatible.
The Mayor ascertained there were no further speakers on this item.
Staff Closing Comments
Mr. McGilvray responded to a query regarding similar initiatives in
other cities, describing examples from Calgary, Alberta and Portland,
Oregon.
Council Decision
Council felt neighbourhood support had been clearly indicated, and
was satisfied that staff would exercise good judgement in using the
flexibility provided by RS-5.
Moved by Cllr. Clarke,
THAT the application be approved, as set out in this minute of the
Public Hearing.
- 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 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,
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 adjourned at 8:10 p.m.