ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 14, 1997

Dept. File No. GL

C.C. File No. 5311

TO: Vancouver City Council

FROM: Director of Land Use and Development

SUBJECT: Strata Title Conversion - 2836-2838 Birch Street

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the application to convert the previously-occupied building at 2836-2838 Birch Street (Parcel F, Block 413, D.L. 526, Plan LMP25466) to strata title ownership be approved 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 approval:

Completion of all work required by the City Building Inspector, under the required permits, at no cost to the City, and issuance of an Occupancy Permit, in order that this previously-occupied building 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 approval is required for an application to convert the previously-occupied building at 2836-2838 Birch Street (Parcel F, Block 413, D.L. 526, Plan LMP25466) to strata title ownership.

BACKGROUND

The site is zoned RM-3 and is developed with a three-storey multiple conversion dwelling (MCD) containing two residential units and a newly constructed ten-storey multiple dwelling building containing nine dwelling units. The MCD is a Municipally designated heritage building, built in 1910, which is listed as a category "B" building on the Vancouver Heritage Register. Construction on both buildings is nearing completion. The location of the site is shown in Figure 1, below.

Figure 1

The heritage building has been raised and relocated to the southern portion of this site, and has undergone extensive alterations to convert it from a personal care home to a 2-unit MCD. This work, and construction of the new ten-storey building, is being performed pursuant to Development Permit No. DE217803 and Building Permit Nos. BU402830 and BU402831. Council considered and approved the relaxations required (floor space ratio) to achieve this form of development in September, 1995, when designation of the heritage building was also considered.

The applicant proposes to create a total of 11 strata lots in the two buildings. Pursuant to Section 9 of the Condominium Act, Council approval is required as it relates to the 2 strata lots proposed in the "previously-occupied" heritage building only.

STAFF ANALYSIS

In addition to Planning Department staff, the City Engineer and the City Building Inspector have reviewed this application. Given that the heritage building has been most recently used as a personal care home and will only contain two dwelling units, the Manager of the Housing Centre has not been asked to comment.

The City Engineer has no dedication or servicing requirements.

The City Building Inspector reports that when all work has been completed in accordance with approved plans and permits, and an Occupancy Permit has been issued, the previously-occupied building 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.

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(c) 1997 City of Vancouver