ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: February 26, 1998

Author/Local:M.G. Thomson/7329

CC File. 5753

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Proposed Closure of a Portion of the Lane East of Granville Street, South from 5th Avenue - Pacific Press Redevelopment

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council close, stop-up and convey to the abutting owner, all that portion of the lane east of Granville Street, south from 5th Avenue, shown hatched on the plan attached as Appendix "A", subject to the following conditions:

1)The conveyance to occur for a nominal fee of $10.00 plus G.S.T. if applicable, for the (48.3 square metre) 520 square foot portion of lane to be closed;

2)The closed lane to be subdivided with the abutting lands, to create a single parcel, the same as generally shown within the heavy outline on Appendix "A", dedicating for road:

a.A 1.6 metre wide strip for widening of Granville Street from:

i)Lot 4, except Part in Plan 14045, Block 271, District Lot 526, Plan 590; and

ii)Lot 17, Block 271, District Lot 526, Plan 14045;

b.A further 2.0 metre by 2.0 metre corner-cut from the northwest corner of said Lot 4;

c.A 1.0 metre by 1.0 metre corner-cut from the northeast corner of said Lot 17; and

d.That portion of said Lot 17 required to create a new 20.0 metre wide 5th Avenue;

each dedication as generally shown on the plan attached as Appendix "A" and all to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services and the Approving Officer;

3)The statutory right-of-way registered on the title to said Lot 17 as 526063M and depicted on Explanatory Plan 10881, be extended over the portion of closed lane to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services;

4)Conveyance of City-owned Lot 4, except Part in Plan 14045, Block 271, D.L. 526, Plan 590, to the abutting owner;

5)The abutting owner to be responsible for any necessary plans, documents and Land Title Office fees;

6)Any agreements are to be to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services;

7)No legal right or obligation shall be created and none shall arise hereafter, until the documents are executed.

COUNCIL POLICY

The authority for closing and disposing of streets and lanes is set out in the Vancouver Charter.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to seek Council authority to close, stop-up and convey a portion of the lane east of Granville Street, south from 5th Avenue.

BACKGROUND

On July 29, 1997, Council, In Camera, authorized the Deputy City Engineer to negotiate with Bosa Development Corporation, to achieve certain public objectives identified in the accompanying report. That report introduced the concept of City-owned Lot 4, except Part in Plan 14045, Block 271, District Lot 526, Plan 590 and a portion of the lane east of Granville Street, south from 5th Avenue, being included in the development site.

On January 26, 1998, the Development Permit Board approved, under DE 402272, subject to satisfaction of a number of conditions, the development proposed to be constructed on the lands contained within the heavy outline on Appendix "A". The development contemplates a mixed-use residential/retail complex comprising two buildings ranging from two to twelve storeys, with a total of 211 dwelling units.

On January 29, 1998, Bosa Development Corporation completed the purchase of the lands within Block 271, formerly owned by Southam Inc. (Pacific Press).

On February 4, 1998, the Approving Officer issued a preliminary letter of approval, for the subdivision required to complete the land assembly. The approval is subject to a number of conditions.

Today, Council will consider the conveyance of the said City-owned Lot 4 to Bosa Development Corporation.

DISCUSSION

The subject lane to be closed was dedicated by the deposit of Plan 590, in August of 1891. The subject lane contains utilities, including an electrical duct and a 14 inch sewer line.

In 1971, a portion of the original lane in this block, and being that portion south of the subject lane to 6th Avenue, was conveyed to "Pacific Press Limited", as part of their redevelopment of the site. At that time, the City acquired a right-of-way to contain the existing utilities. That right-of-way was registered on March 29, 1971, as 526063M and is depicted on Explanatory Plan 10881. One of the prior-to conditions of the Development Permit is the relocation and/or abandonment of all utilities within the existing right-of-way. As the transfer of the lane must occur prior to subdivision registration (which is itself a condition of the Development Permit), it will be necessary to extend the existing right-of-way over the subject lane to be closed.

As long as City-owned Lot 4 is included in the development site, there is no need for a lane at this location. Therefore, the area of lane to be closed is no longer required for lane purposes.

As a condition of the subject closure, the applicant will be required to provide significant lands for road dedication, including a 1.6 metre widening strip for Granville Street, two corner-cuts and a 20.0 metre wide dedication for the new 5th Avenue. As the "value" of the lands to be dedicated to the City is far greater than the "value" of the lane to be closed, it is proposed that the conveyance be made for a nominal fee, recommended to be $10.00.

CONCLUSION

This report seeks the formal authorities required to close, stop-up and convey to Bosa Development Corporation, a 520 square foot portion of lane, for inclusion in the redevelopment of the Pacific Press site. This represents a single, small, yet not insignificant step in the process required to achieve not only the development as proposed, but the associated public benefits.

We recommend that all that portion of the lane east of Granville Street, south from 5th Avenue, as shown hatched on Appendix "A", be closed, stopped-up and conveyed to the abutting owner, subject to the conditions set out in this report.

APPENDIX A (map) ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver