ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 9, 1997

Dept. File No. AMH

C.C. File No. 5311

TO: Vancouver City Council

FROM: Director of Land Use and Development

SUBJECT: Strata Title Conversion - 1563 and 1585 Balfour Avenue

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the application to convert the previously-occupied buildings at 1563 and 1585 Balfour Avenue (Lot 7, Block 33, D.L. 526, Plan 4502) to strata title ownership be approved.

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 1563 and 1585 Balfour Avenue (Lot 7, Block 33, D.L. 526, Plan 4502) to strata title ownership.

BACKGROUND

The site is zoned FSD and is developed with a one-family principal dwelling and a one-family infill dwelling, which was constructed in 1990. The site is owned as a tenancy-in-common and both dwellings are owner-occupied. The owners propose to create two strata lots in total. Each owner will continue to occupy their dwelling if this strata title conversion application is approved.

The site location is shown below in Figure 1.

Figure 1

This strata title conversion application was received in 1993, approximately three years after the infill dwelling had been constructed and the principal building had been renovated to meet code standards of the day. Following inspection of the buildings in 1993 as part of the strata title conversion process, additional upgrading requirements were identified, much to the frustration of the applicants. The strata title conversion application was put on "hold", pending a resolution of this matter.

Several initiatives and alternatives were reviewed during the intervening time, including possible amendments to the Building By-law to exempt heritage buildings from sprinklering requirements in certain circumstances. That amendment was considered by Council in June 1995, but was not approved.

A historical review of the extent of the upgrading relative to the timing of new Building By-law requirements, combined with a detailed interpretation of the By-law itself and the obligations of the Condominium Act, has now been completed. Staff have concluded that the extent of upgrading required is much less than was originally thought. That reduced scope of work has, now been completed.

STAFF ANALYSIS

In addition to Planning Department staff, the City Engineer and the City Building Inspector have reviewed this application. As there are only two owner-occupied units involved, the Manager of the Housing Centre has not been asked to comment.

The City Engineer reports that there are no servicing or dedication requirements for this site.

The City Building Inspector reports that both of these buildings substantially comply with relevant City By-laws and therefore, no further upgrading is required in connection with this strata title conversion.

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.

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(c) 1997 City of Vancouver