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CITY OF VANCOUVER
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
JULY 23, 1998 A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, July 23, 1998, at 4:50 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.
Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
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
July 23, 1998
Council considered the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in the following clauses of the attached report:
Cl.1: Draft Airport Noise Management Plan and Other Related Matters
Cl.2: Accommodating High Technology Uses in Industrial Areas
Cl.3: Planning of the Finning Site - Schedule and Resources
Cl.4: CD-1 Rezoning - 2703-35 West 10th Avenue (at Stephens Street)
Clauses 1-4, inclusive
MOVED by Cllr. Clarke,
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. 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. Puil,
THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY The Council adjourned at 4:52 p.m.
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REPORT TO COUNCIL
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
JULY 23, 1998
A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, July 23, 1998, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room No. 1, Third Floor, City Hall.
Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager
Nancy Largent
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment of June 25, 1998, were adopted.
VARY ORDER OF AGENDA
The Committee agreed to vary the order of agenda to deal with Item 4 first.
RECOMMENDATION
4. CD-1 Rezoning: 2705-35 West 10th Avenue (at Stevens Street) File: 5308
The Committee was advised the applicant had requested that this item be deferred.
The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and carried. Therefore, the Committee
RECOMMENDED
That consideration of this item be postponed until a future meeting.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
1. Draft Airport Noise Management Plan File: 8025
and Other Related Matters
The following representatives of Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Authority gave a presentation on the draft YVR Noise Management Plan dated April 1998 (on file) and other related matters:
Jane Fleming, Vancouver Appointee, Board of Directors, advised presentations are being made in a number of communities. Once consultation is complete, the Noise Management Plan will be brought back to the YVR Board of Directors for a decision.
Larry Berg, President and CEO, gave a slide show including an overview of the Airport Authority, economic impacts of YVR, results of surveys conducted by YVR and the YVR website, and discussed various environmental issues. Mr. Berg also presented Council members with binders (on file) containing a variety of information on the Airport Authority, the Airport Connector, environmental and noise management, and other matters.
Ann Murray, YVR Environment Manager, reviewed particulars of the Noise Management Plan. The objective of the program is to minimize disruptions while recognizing that the airport must continue to operate. The role, diverse composition and contributions of the YVR Noise Management Committee, which attempts to balance competing interests and needs to achieve consensus, were described.
cont'd
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
Nick Losito, Director of Environmental Health (July 9, 1998 memorandum on file), updated the Committee on the status if items raised at its March 18, 1998 meeting: engine run-up noise; reverse thrust; night-time operations; night-time departures; tailwind criteria; long-term protection of the noise environment; land use planning; definition of capacity and use of the north runway for take-offs; and ground-based noises. While a number of issues have been resolved, some require further work, including the issue of capacity and how it impacts on use of the north runway, and long-term protection of the noise environment. Mr. Losito felt it would be worth considering a "noise budget" or financial incentives/disincentives to manage overall noise impacts in the longer term.
The Committee also heard from the following speakers:
Meg Brown, Vancouver appointee, YVR Noise Management Committee
Jonathan Parker, South Slope Residents for Responsible Airport Operations, and Vancouver appointee, YVR Noise Management Committee (July 6, 1998 brief filed)
Hans, Schmidt, Right to Quiet Society
Following are some of the comments made by the foregoing:
·all of the speakers agreed with the issues raised by the Director of Environmental Health at this meeting, and in his previous Policy Report dated February 16, 1998 (considered by the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment, March 26, 1998);
·the Airport Authority has come a long way in recognizing that noise is a serious environmental issue, and its Noise Management Committee provides an important forum for discussion of these issues;
·the factors which result in the most complaints by affected residents are engine run-ups, nighttime departures, and nighttime landings involving the use of reverse thrust;
·lower priority problems include use of auxiliary power sources and use of cannon for wildlife dispersal;
·the Airport Authority has agreed to discuss the issue of nighttime activity with the YVR Noise Management Committee;
·the Airport Authority needs to do a better job with its required monitoring of the use of reverse thrust;
·there are studies to back up claims about the negative effects of aircraft noise, as well as studies which show how detrimental noise can be in many areas of life;
cont'd
Clause No. 1 (cont'd)
·Council was asked to continue supporting the comments of its representatives on the YVR Noise Management Committee and the ongoing work of the Committee.
Ms. Murray responded to queries on reverse thrust guidelines, training of pilots in noise abatement procedures, monitoring of noise complaints, the public process, land use planning, and the potential for active noise control measures (still highly experimental) and "noise budgets" (should be evaluated together with other balancing techniques).
The following motion by Councillor Herbert was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A.THAT the presentation by representatives of the Vancouver International Airport Authority regarding the draft Airport Noise Management Plan and other related matters be received for information.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The following motion by Councillor Bellamy was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
B.THAT Council support the comments of its representatives on the YVR Noise Management Committee and the ongoing work of the Committee.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The following motion by Councillor Price was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
C.THAT the YVR Noise Management Committee be asked to explore the possibility of a noise budget, and report back to Council at its next presentation.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Accommodating High Technology Uses in Industrial Areas File: 5317
The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated July 7, 1998 (on file), in which the Director of City Plans, in consultation with the Director of Central Area Planning, responded to a May 12, 1998 Council request that staff report back on ways to accommodate more high technological uses, such as computer programming and software development, in the city's industrial areas. Three options were discussed:
·maintaining the existing zoning schedules;
·amending the existing I-2 District Schedule to include the new definition for high technology uses;
·creating a new I-3 Industrial District Schedule in several locations with good access to rapid transit services, to include the new definition for high technology uses in addition to all other uses permitted in I-2..
The General Manager of Community Services and the Director of City Plans recommended approval of the option to create a new I-3 Industrial District Schedule, as reflected in the recommendation of this report.
Ann McAfee, Director of City Plans, reviewed the report and rationale for creating a new I-3 District Schedule. Areas of the City which might be suitable for the new district were discussed. Steps to be taken and questions to be investigated before reporting back to Council with a range of options for referral to Public Hearing were reviewed. Dr. McAfee also responded to queries regarding access to transit, and clarified the difference between the proposed I-3 and other industrial schedules.
Christina DeMarco, Industrial Planner, provided information on industrial taxes in other municipalities, transit locations and the potential for new rail track in some areas.
Peter Jones, the McLean Group, read a July 23, 1998 letter from David G. McLean (on file), opposing new I-3 zoning because the existing I-2 zoning already contains sufficient flexibility. If a new high tech industrial zone is brought forward, it should provide opportunities for people to live and work in the same precinct.
The following speakers supported the proposed I-3 zoning:
Rob Gritten, CB Commercial Real Estate Group
John Cordonier, Bentall Development
Dr. Don Rix, Southlands Equities
cont'd
Clause No. 2 (cont'd)
Following are some of the comments made by the foregoing speakers:
·270·industrial areas in Vancouver have gone from relatively busy to relatively dormant, including the False Creek Flats and the downtown core;·270
·270·many companies would prefer to stay in Vancouver rather than move to the suburbs if the opportunity exists to do so;·270
·270·increased opportunities should be provided for high technology industries because they will provide infrastructure, new jobs including jobs for young people, and spin-off benefits;·270
·270·the creation of a new zone in only some industrial areas will protect existing, more traditional industrial uses;·270
·270·transit is an important consideration, but will not prevent use of the car;·270
·270·high technology is very competitive, and firms need to attract the best employees; desirable factors will include being close to residential, adjacent to the urban core, with good landscaping, exposure, amenities and flexibility to expand;·270
·270·many companies are interested in an office park, and consider affordability, first-class space, the latest technology, and an upscale environment to be important factors;·270
·270·crime rates and personal safety are a concern, especially since 60-70% of workers in these companies are female;·270
·270·high technology companies often expand very quickly, so I-3 areas should be as large as possible to allow opportunities for growth, and should have well-defined, unambiguous regulations;·270
·270·matters such as taxation rates and development cost levies need to be considered carefully, to be sure long-term value is not being sacrificed to short-term gains;·270
·270·City staff need to address the needs of the health and biotechnology industries, one of the few growth sectors, and a workshop would be helpful to more fully define the needs;·270
·270·it is extremely important to provide good "incubator" spaces, close to areas such as hospitals where many high technology ideas are born;·270
·270·high technology companies depend on ancillary facilities such as libraries and medical schools and patients.·270
Dr. McAfee confirmed that all issues raised by the foregoing would be considered before staff report back.
cont'd
Clause No. 2 (cont'd)
The following motion by Councillor Puil was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
THAT the Director of City Plans prepare a Public Hearing Referral Report proposing a new I-3 District Schedule which includes a new definition for high technology uses, which does not require the need for on-site manufacturing or distribution of products; permits these uses to a full 3 FSR; identifies areas well served by rapid transit for rezoning; and includes conditions for redevelopment such as development cost levies .
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY (Councillor Price not present for the vote)
3. Planning of the Finning Site File: 8203
The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated July 7, 1998 (on file), in which the Director of Central Area Planning, in consultation with the General Manager of Engineering Services and Director of Legal Services, sought Council approval of a planning process and resources to develop a concept plan for the Finning site in False Creek Flats. The General Manager of Community Services recommended approval, as reflected in the recommendations of this report.
Ian Smith, Planner, reviewed the report and recommendations, with reference to the history of the Finning site, the growing interest shown in the False Creek Flats area by high technology industries, and funding arrangements. Mr. Smith clarified that development of a concept plan is recommended, rather than just going with the proposed I-3 District Schedule ((Clause 2 of this report refers), because of particulars of the site, rights-of-way, and other factors. It will be necessary to ascertain the most appropriate combination of uses for the site, and to manage development carefully to benefit both the site and the surrounding neighbourhood.
The following speakers supported the recommendations:
Jim Moodie, Moodie Consultants (representing the applicant)
Bob Laurie, Finning International Ltd.
cont'd
Clause No. 3 (cont'd)
Following are some of the comments made by the foregoing:
·after seven years of collaborative effort with the City, Finning now has a better understanding of what a high technology, high amenity industrial park is about, and is convinced such a development would be beneficial;
·the I-3 initiative offers opportunities for the Finning site, and if it is recognized that it would work, Finning wishes to have the opportunity to opt in at a later date;
·funds provided up front by Finning will be taken off eventual rezoning fees, but if the entire site is done as CD-1, it will be far more costly, and fees may have to be discussed further;
·issues such as income tax, property tax and transportation will affect the success of such developments; a tax structure is needed which does not penalize achievement.
The following motion by Mayor Owen was put and carried. The Committee, therefore,
RECOMMENDED
A.THAT the planning process outlined in Appendix A of the Administrative Report dated July 7, 1998, to develop a concept plan and zoning for the Finning site, be endorsed.
B.THAT the resources identified in Appendix B of the Administrative Report dated July 7, 1998 to undertake this work be approved at a total cost of $198,684. on a cost-recovery basis, to be contributed up front by Finning International Ltd. for the City to plan and develop a zoning for their site; ultimately to be applied against their required rezoning fees.
- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.
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