CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

MAY 28, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on May 28, 1998, at 12:25 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:	Deputy Mayor Sam Sullivan Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil
ABSENT:	Mayor Philip Owen (Civic Business) Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Civic Business) Councillor Don Lee (Civic Business)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL:	Nancy Largent

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Daniel Lee.

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS

1. Vancouver Public Library Staffing -

New Positions/Consolidation of Hours

March 25, 1998 File: 1380

This item was dealt with by the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment. Clause 2 of the attached report refers.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

1. Report of Standing Committee

on Planning and Environment

May 28, 1998

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

Cl.1: C-2 Zoning

Cl.2: Vancouver Public Library Staffing -

New Positions/Consolidation of Hours

Clauses 1 and 2

MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 1 and 2 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Bellamy,

SECONDED by Cllr. Clarke,

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

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Council adjourned at 12:27 p.m.

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REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

MAY 28, 1998

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on May 28, 1998, at 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Jennifer Clarke, Chair Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario (Clause 1) Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Ken Dobell, City Manager
CLERK TO THE COMMITTEE:	Nancy Largent

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting of May 14, 1998, were adopted.

VARY ORDER OF AGENDA

The Committee agreed to vary the agenda to bring forward City Manager's Report 1 from the agenda of the Regular Council meeting immediately following this meeting, and to deal with it first. Item 2 refers.

RECOMMENDATION

2. Vancouver Public Library Staffing -

New Positions/Consolidation of Hours

March 25, 1998 File: 1380

On May 26, 1998, Vancouver City Council approved Recommendations A, B and D of an Administrative Report dated March 25, 1998 (on file), but referred consideration of Recommendation C, recommending establishment of a full-time position of Marketing and Development Director, to this meeting. The referral was requested in order for staff to provide an information memo responding to enquiries raised by Council members: The Committee now had before it the requested memo dated May 27, 1998 (on file).

Judy Taylor, Chair, Vancouver Public Library Board, explained:

·that the Board is recommending a regular full time Marketing, Development and Communications Director, rather than continuing with a contract position, because of the growing importance of raising new revenues and the addition of communications to the position's functions;

·that a discrepancy in titles between the text of the report and the recommendation was the result of a clerical error (Recommendation C following has been corrected accordingly); and

·the meaning of various branch staffing levels.

Madge Aalto, Director, Vancouver Public Library, responded to questions regarding sources of funds within the Library's existing budget.

The following motion by Councillor Don Lee was put and carried. Therefore, the Committee

RECOMMENDED

C.THAT Council approve the establishment of a new position of Marketing, Development and Communications Director for the Vancouver Public Library. The estimated annual cost of this position (midrange including fringe benefits) is $68,800.00 with funding provided from the current, approved Vancouver Public Library budget.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

* italics denote correction

1. C-2 Zoning File: 5302

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated May 8, 1998 (on file), in which the Director of Community Planning responded to Council motions of April 8 and April 21, 1998, requesting staff to report on C-2 zoning. The report described C-2 zoning and how it works, with reference to the Council motions, and also outlined issues which have arisen and noted the need for a full zoning review. The General Manager of Community Services submitted the report for information.

Jacquie Forbes-Roberts, Director of Community Planning, reviewed the history of C-2 zoning. The zone occurs throughout the city with about 1500 parcels involved, and provides much of the capacity to meet Vancouver's commitment to the Region. Locations and adjacent zoning were described.

Trish French, Planner, reviewed the provisions of C-2 zoning, which permits commercial and mixed residential-commercial uses. Commercial development is largely outright, and is regulated according to the C-2 District Schedule. Mixed use residential development is conditional, and the C-2 Residential Guidelines apply to it. The Guidelines are more restrictive than the District Schedule, generally resulting in lower density and bigger setbacks. Ms. French reviewed provisions regarding uses, density, height, rear and side setbacks, and explained the circumstances under which the Director of Planning may approve height relaxation. A number of issues have been raised by residents of neighbourhoods adjacent to C-2 arterial strips, including massing, bulk and scale, height, traffic and parking, and quality of design, materials and construction. Issues identified by staff include possible excess commercial potential, lack of planning for needs of new residents, and duplication in hybrid zones.

Ms. Forbes-Roberts believed a comprehensive zoning review is required, including full consultation with all stakeholders. Community Planning could report on a work program, outlining parameters and resources required, before the summer break. In response to questions, Ms. Forbes-Roberts confirmed that changes affecting the District Schedule must be referred to Public Hearing, but Council has the power to alter the Guidelines without going to Public Hearing. For example, Council could instruct the Director of Planning to adhere to the Guidelines wherever they conflict with the District Schedule. Ms. Forbes-Roberts did not recommend that Council instruct the Director of Planning not to allow height relaxations, because this could be appealed to the Board of Variance.

Council heard from the following residents of the Dunbar, Kensington-Cedar Cottage and Kitsilano neighbourhoods regarding their concerns with C-2 zoning:

Peggy Scofield, Dunbar Residents Association

Don Marquardt, Concerned Neighbours of South Dunbar

Peter Wright

Steve Lee

Peter Kendall

Susan Mueller

Godfrey Miller (filed letter from Brenda Miller)

Ewald Wuschke Jr. (brief filed)

Jane Maddaugh

Tim Ames, Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood Association

Hana Carbert, Concerned Neighbours of South Dunbar (brief filed)

Jan Pierce, West Kitsilano Residents Association

Terry Moran (filed architect's rendition, 40th and Dunbar)

Barbara Dill

Jonathan Baker, Dunbar Residents Association

Jon Ellis, Dunbar Residents Association

Following are some of the concerns raised by the foregoing:

·recent mixed use developments under C-2 threaten to destroy the village and semi-rural character of Dunbar because of their height and bulk;

·height relaxations may be appropriate in some areas, but should not be permitted where they abut single-family and duplex homes;

·the requirement for ground-floor residential is resulting in empty storefronts, which create safety concerns;

·valid concerns of the neighbours should be recognized in the planning process;

·the notification process is flawed;

·there should be advisory panels made up of area residents;

·Council should mandate community organizations to participate in the process of negotiating with developers;

·too many so-called benefits by which height relaxations are rationalized are not real benefits to the neighbours;

·because there is so much flexibility in the Guidelines, neighbours often do not know what will result from Planning staff negotiations with developers until it is too late;

·the Guidelines lack clarity, and neither residents nor developers know what to expect;

·decisions with potentially so much impact on neighbourhoods should not be made by staff, but should require rezoning, follow due process and remain in the domain of Council;

·property values are being downgraded;

·three storey, all-residential buildings should be permitted as an outright use;

·Vancouver is already becoming too dense, and the City should not invite further densification by creating excess residential capacity;

·C-2 zoning has led to speculative owners, who will only offer short-term leases,which are not conducive to a healthy commercial district;

·some types of businesses which may produce noise or odours are discouraged from locating in C-2 zones, because of the possibility of residential development;

·reducing FSR would lead to more creative designs;

·setbacks are not helpful when they are occupied by decks - the space is still in use and intrusive;

·Council should pass a moratorium on development in the C-2 zones until Neighbourhood Visioning processes in Dunbar and Kensington-Cedar Cottage are completed;

·C-2 zones are located all over the city, and treated the same regardless of context; zoning should be more area-specific;

·residential is a conditional use in C-2, and the City has the power to say "no" to any conditional use;

·West Kitsilano has accepted the additional density in its C-2 zones along Broadway and 4th Avenue, but this is intended to remain in those strips and prevent up-zoning of the adjacent R zones;

·Kitsilano does have concerns with design of buildings, especially safety concerns at the rear and lack of greenery,

·preservation of heritage and historic buildings is a concern which needs to be addressed;

·the Guidelines should address design, materials and quality of construction;

·Engineering should be required to do a traffic and parking study for all C-2 development;

·the City's housing commitment to the Region can be met in other ways, and alternatives explored.

Robert Turecki, Vancouver Planning Coalition, felt C-2 zoning has served the city well in creating needed housing, with almost all new rental housing located in C-2. It serves goals such as living closer to work, accommodates managed growth without rezoning R zones, and supports neighbourhood commercial areas. Mr. Turecki supported the need for a city-wide review consulting all stakeholders, and development of comprehensive Guidelines focussing on context issues.

Ms. Forbes-Roberts and Ms. French commented on various issues raised by the delegations, and responded to further queries.

Having completed hearing the speakers, the Committee decided that, because of time constraints, a decision on these significant issues should be referred to the next City Council meeting.

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

RECOMMENDED

THAT a decision on C-2 zoning be referred to the City Council meeting on June 2, 1998.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver