A7

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: February 3, 1998

Author/Local: MCho/6496

CC File No. 2606

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of Community Planning, on behalf of Land Use and Development
SUBJECT:	Form of Development: 2901 East Hastings Street - Hastings Park/PNE DE402825 - CD-1 By-law Number 3656

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RECOMMENDATION

THAT the revised form of development for the CD-1 zoned site known as 2901 East Hastings Street (Hastings Parking/PNE) be approved generally as illustrated in the Development Application Number DE402825, submitted by Vancouver Park Board and stamped "Received, City Planning Department November 12, 1997".

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The development of the Hastings Park Plan involved extensive and lengthy public discussion. Council has deferred timing of the building demolition and park redevelopment to the Park Board. The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

On May 13, 1986, Council recommended that the Director of Planning be instructed to report any development permit application that involves any significant development on the site when considering a report on the PNE CD-1 Form of Development.

On July 10, 1997, City Council authorized the expenditure of up to $3.0 million on Phase One of the Hastings Park Restoration with specific contracts for design, building demolition, landscape construction and related project management and design to be approved by the Vancouver Park Board. This included funding for the demolition of the Pure Foods Building.

PURPOSE

In accordance with Council’s recommendation of May 13, 1986, the Director of Community Planning is reporting on the development permit application to demolish the Pure Foods Building and to construct a temporary outdoor exhibit and event area. This report also seeks Council’s approval for the revised form of development for the above-noted CD-1 zoned site.

SITE DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND

The site is bounded by Renfrew Street to the west, McGill Street/Wall Street to the north, Trans-Canada Highway to the east, and East Hastings Street to the south. The site and surrounding zoning are shown on the attached Appendix A.

On October 1, 1957, City Council approved a rezoning of this site known as Exhibition Park and Callister Park (at Cambridge and Renfrew) from RS-1 One Family Dwelling and C-1 Commercial Districts to CD-1 Comprehensive Development District. On May 13, 1986, Council approved an up-dated form of development for the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) site. The adoption of this form of development was intended as an interim measure for regulation of existing on-site development, pending Council’s adoption of an Area Concept Plan confirming the long-term use of the Exhibition Park site.

The long-term use of the whole site will be for park purposes, as the whole of the Hastings Park site will be restored, which was approved by Council on March 27, 1997. The Hastings Park Restoration Plan is a master plan for the "greening" of the 65-hectare site bounded by East Hastings, Renfrew, McGill/Wall Streets and the Trans-Canada Highway. Land to be restored to park will come from three sources: (a) buildings to be removed; (b) the Playland site to be relocated; and (c) parking lots to be removed. The subject area (land occupied by the Pure Foods Building) will eventually be converted to park use.

The City, the Park Board, the PNE and the Province have all agreed on a Transition Plan, which would see the PNE continuing to be a tenant at Hastings Park while the first phase of park restoration begins. This Transition Plan was approved by Council July 10, 1997, and covers the period until December 31, 1999. The plan identifies the removal of the following five PNE buildings in the 1997-98 period: the Display Barn; the Poultry Building; the B.C. Pavilion; the Showmart Building; and the Pure Foods Building.

Because the Transition Plan reduces the amount of indoor exhibit space for the PNE Fair, it was agreed to provide them with additional temporary outdoor exhibit and event space for the duration of the Transition Plan (1998 and conditionally in 1999). The subject area (land occupied by the Pure Foods Building) along Renfrew Street between Pandora and Triumph Streets was designated as one of these temporary exhibition spaces.

The Director of Planning has approved Development Application Number DE402825 subject to a number of conditions. One of these conditions is Council approval of the revised form of development.

The development permit application includes the demolition of the Pure Foods Building as required by Section 10.12.4 of the Zoning and Development By-law which requires that for buildings listed on the Heritage Register, a development permit for a new development be issued before the development permit for the demolition of the building can be issued.

The Hastings Park Restoration Plan has been presented to the Commission at various stages as the Plan was being developed. The Vancouver Heritage Commission has consistently opposed the demolition of any buildings in Hastings Park that are listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register and had hoped that all four buildings listed on the Register could be preserved.

On December 11, 1997, Council discussed the proposed demolition of the Pure Foods Building and concluded that it would be inappropriate for City Council to intervene at this stage. It was also suggested that any further enquiries on the pending demolition be referred to the Park Board.

On January 19, 1998, after extensive public input, the Park Board approved the demolition contract for the Pure Foods Building.

DISCUSSION

Consistent with the Transition Plan, Development Application DE402825 involves the demolition of the Pure Foods Building, located at the westerly portion of the site, and the provision of temporary outdoor exhibit and event space for the PNE for 1998 and 1999.

The Pure Foods Building is currently used for indoor exhibition space. The building will continue to be in use until mid-February 1998 and the demolition of the building would be completed by the end of April 1998. Regrading of the site and landscaping would occur during May and June 1998. The submitted plans show the retention of 11 trees and the replacement of four trees.

It is anticipated that during fall, winter and spring months, this portion of the site could be used for parking and/or events. The PNE requires the site to be available for preparation for the annual fair during the month of July 1998. The PNE Fair is scheduled for the last two weeks in August 1998.

The Hastings Park Restoration Plan, which includes the proposed demolition of the Pure Foods Building, was arrived at through a lengthy public consultation process. The heritage value of buildings on the site was thoroughly discussed and the park restoration plan includes many heritage references and the retention of three buildings on the Heritage Register.

Simplified plans, including a site and landscape plan of the proposal, have been included in Appendix B.

CONCLUSION

The Director of Planning has approved Development Application Number DE402825. However, prior to the issuance of the development permit, the revised form of development must first be approved by Council.

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(c) 1997 City of Vancouver