CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

MARCH 12, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, March 12, 1998, at 4:20 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

PRESENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Sick Leave)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL:	Nancy Largent

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment

March 12, 1998

Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:

Cl.1: Significant Rezoning and Development Applications

Cl.2: Approval of Business Improvement Area (BIA) Budgets

Cl.3: Process for Considering a Development Proposal

for 1405 Anderson Street on Granville Island

("Under the Bridges" Theatre Complex Proposal)

Cl.4: Urban Safety Commission

Clauses 1 to 4

MOVED by Cllr. Sullivan,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1 to 4, inclusive, of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,

SECONDED by Cllr. Price,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ENQUIRIES AND OTHER MATTERS

1. Cost Recovery Program for the GVS&DD

Sewer Use By-Law No. 164 File: 3206

Councillor Chiavario advised that the March 13, 1998 Sewage & Drainage Committee would be reviewing the Cost Recovery Program relative to the GVS&DD Source Control Program. The Councillor expressed concern that regardless of a business' size or degree of non-compliance, the same fee(s) are proposed to be levied for sewer discharge.

Council indicated that it shared Councillor Chiavario's concerns on this matter.

The Council adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

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REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

MARCH 12, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, March 12, 1998, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Chair Councillor Sam Sullivan, Vice-Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil
ABSENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Sick Leave)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE:	Nancy Largent

RECOMMENDATION

1. Significant Rezoning and Development Applications File: 5302

The Committee had before it a list of significant rezoning and development applications, prepared by the Planning Department (on file).

Rob Whitlock, Planner, reviewed an application by Tim Ankenman to rezone 2300 Kingsway from C-2/RS-1 to CD-1 for a mixed commercial/residential development of the existing Eldorado Hotel site.

Cont’d

Clause No. 1 Cont’d

Ralph Segal, Planner, reviewed a development application by Busby & Associates, Architects, for a mixed use development at 900 Burrard Street, site of the old B.C Hydro parking lot. It was noted that the proposal incorporates heritage density from the Electra heritage building, and will come before Council to approve the form of development.

A presentation on a significant development application for 1405 Anderson Street was made concurrently with Item 3.

The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

THAT the Planning Department presentation be received for information.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. Approval of Business Improvement Area (BIA) Budgets File: 8000

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 23, 1998 (on file), in which the Director of City Plans requested that Council approve the 1998-1999 budgets for the five Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), and instruct staff to prepare appropriate rating by-laws. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval.

Ann McAfee, Director of City Plans, briefly reviewed the report and submitted revised recommendations reflected in the recommendations of this report. The intent of the amended recommendations was to separate out the budget for the Downtown Vancouver expansion area which had not yet been considered by Council. Dr. McAfee also reponed to questions regarding types of assistance provided to BIAs by City staff, and various projects undertaken by BIAs.

Cont'd

Clause No. 2 Cont'd

The following motion by Councillor Chiavario was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

A.THAT Council approve the BIA Business Promotion Schemes and Budgets for the 1998-1999 year listed below and instruct staff to bring forward the appropriate rating by-laws:

LEVY BIA

$500,000 Downtown

248,500 Robson

132,000 Kerrisdale

98,000 Mount Pleasant

199,000 Gastown.

B.THAT, following approval of the Designation and Allocation By-laws for the Downtown Vancouver (Expansion Area) BIA, Council approve the BIA Business Promotion Scheme and Budget for the 1998-1999 year listed below and instruct staff to bring forward the appropriate rating by-law:

LEVY BIA

$205,000 Downtown (Expansion Area).

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Vary Order of Agenda

The Committee agreed to vary the order of agenda to deal with item 4 immediately following item 2.

4. Urban Safety Commission File: 3144

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 24, 1998 (on file), in which the Deputy City Manager, on behalf of the Urban Safety Commission, provided an update on the Commission's activities including the launch of Vancouver's Coalition for Crime Prevention and Drug Treatment. Approval of a 1998 budget of $75,000 was recommended.

This matter was previously referred from the March 3, 1998 Council meeting to the March 5, 1998 Planning and Environment Committee in response to a delegation request.

However, the speakers were not heard due to time constraints. The Deputy City Manager provided a Report Reference at the Regular Council meeting of March 10, 1998, but no decision was made pending the hearing of speakers at this meeting.

The following speakers commented on the composition, administrative practices and activities of the Commission and the Coalition:

Jamie Lee Hamilton, City Hall Watch

"Val", PACE

Korky Day

Isabel Minty.

Following are some of the comments made by the foregoing:

-lack of or slow enforcement against offending business-licensed premises, such as convenience stores and fast food outlets which are actually fronts for drug sales, is a serious community concern which has not been adequately addressed;

-sex trade workers live with the constant threat of violence, and an association representing sex trade workers should be a member of the Urban Safety Commission;

-acts of violence against sex trade workers should be acknowledged by the Police, judicial system and the community with the same respect shown to any other victims;

-a variety of suggestions were made on how to reduce harm to sex trade workers and keep children out of the sex trade;

Cont'd

Clause No. 4 Cont'd

-the City should have a zero tolerance policy against biker gangs, and manpower and resources to deal with them should be put in place accordingly;

-the composition of the Commission and Coalition should be more inclusive and include opposing views, and should not include members in conflict of interest, such as members of the Vancouver Port Corporation Board of Directors or their family members;

-Urban Safety Commission members should not be paid to attend meetings;

-several suggestions were made for new members;

-it should be incumbent upon the Urban Safety Commission to produce minutes of its meetings, which are accessible to the public, in accordance with democratic principles;

-before additional funds are provided, it would be appropriate to evaluate whether those funds are being put to their best use in consultation with the community;

-Council should assign a high priority to crimes against the poor, crimes against the environment and crimes against democracy.

Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager, responded to questions concerning points raised by the delegations. Ms. Rogers described the resources required to enforce against improperly run premises, steps required to proceed to a Show Cause Hearing, and limitations imposed by senior government legislation. The discussions of the Urban Safety Commission are not formally minuted, but its initiatives are reflected in reports to Council such as that currently before the Committee. Members are not paid to attend meetings. Ms. Rogers was confident that the Commission would welcome input from community groups such as PACE.

The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

THAT Council approve the Urban Safety Commission/Coalition's request for funds of $75,000; source of funds to be the 1998 Operating Budget.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. Process for Considering a Development Proposal File: 8208

for 1405 Anderson Street on Granville Island

("Under the Bridges" Theatre Complex Proposal)

Councillor Clarke left the meeting midway through this item, and Councillor Sullivan assumed the Chair.

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated February 16, 1998 (on file), in which the Director of Central Area Planning, on behalf of Land Use and Development, advised Council of a theatre complex proposal for Granville Island which would require adjustments to the "Reference Document for Granville Island". Council's direction was sought on an appropriate process for handling the potential amendments and ultimately the specific development proposal. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval of a process reflected in the recommendations of this report.

Larry Beasley, Director of Central Area Planning, noted this is a controversial application, about which staff have not yet reached any conclusions. The point of this report is to ensure a fair and transparent review process. Should Council approve the proposed process, staff will come back with a further report on policy issues, in a process similar to that for an Official Development Plan amendment, and Council will hear from the public in a manner similar to a Public Hearing. Once Council has made decisions concerning the policy issues, staff can deal with the specifics of the application in the normal Development Permit Board process.

Rob Whitlock, Planner, reviewed the application by Norm Hotson, to develop six movie theatres plus a retail/restaurant complex at 1405 Anderson Street, under the Granville Street Bridge on Granville Island, immediately behind the Granville Island Brewery. Mr. Whitlock also briefly reviewed the application in the context of the Granville Island Reference Document, referencing changes to Granville Island since its adoption.

The following speakers supported a comprehensive public process:

Gordon Watson

Alan Clapp, Deluxe Productions Canada Ltd.

David McCann

Muriel Honey on behalf of Lee Clark, Save Granville Island Coalition

Abe Sachs, Sachs/Seelig Development

Tom Lightburn, representing theatre applicant.

Cont'd

Clause No. 3 Cont'd

Following are some of the points made with respect to the public process:

-it is extremely important that this process be as open and public as possible,;

-concern was expressed that this application will be considered under the "community recreation" component of the Reference Document;

-before Council makes its decision, there should be a public accounting by the Granville Island Trust concerning the extent to which Granville Island has already deviated from the original intent to provide arts and crafts rather than commercial souvenir shops;

-the process should be timely and proceed with dispatch, acknowledging that the applicant has already gone through a lengthy process with the Granville Island Trust;

-the entire Granville Island Reference Document should be reviewed, not just in the context of this proposal;

-Council should hear from the public at an evening meeting so interested speakers may conveniently attend.

Several of the speakers also wished to address particulars of the application. However, the Chair explained that the particulars of the application were not the subject of this meeting, and asked that the speakers limit their remarks to the proposed public process.

The Committee was amenable to the proposed public process. The Committee also considered whether Council should request that the Development Permit Board seek its advice before a final decision is reached on this proposal. However, it was decided that request could be made after Council hears from the public on the policy issues, if deemed necessary.

Cont'd

Clause No. 3 Cont'd

The following motion by Councillor Price was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,

RECOMMENDED

THAT the development proposal for 1405 Anderson Street ("Under the Bridges") and related amendments to the Granville Island Reference Document be dealt with as follows:

i)Reference Document amendments be processed similarly to an amendment to an official development plan whereby Council may consider such changes, along with the principles of the development, at a special meeting of Council, similar to a Public Hearing, following a report including staff analysis and recommendations; and

ii)should the necessary amendments to the Reference Document be approved, the detailed proposal be processed similarly to a development application by the Development Permit Board.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

(Councillor Clarke not present for the vote)

The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver