ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: July 17, 1998
Author/Local: M.Cho/6496
CC File No. 2609

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of Community Planning on behalf of Land Use and Development
SUBJECT:	899 West 12th Avenue DE403265 - CD-1 By-law Number 4472 Owner of Development: Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council approve, by resolution, an increase in the floor space ratio (FSR) from 2.389 to 2.40, for a temporary period of time, to allow minor additions where significant public open space would not be affected and existing parking would not be reduced.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council, in 1993, approved by resolution for the VGH site that the floor space ratio increase to 2.38 and site coverage to 55.48 percent for a temporary period of time to allow minor alterations to a maximum floor area of 3 027 m² (32,580 square feet) be approved by the Development Permit Board where public open space would not be affected and parking would not be reduced.

On April 23, 1998, Council approved by resolution that the FSR be increased to 2.389 to accommodate an underground power plant.

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council’s approval, by resolution, for a minor increase in the FSR applicable to CD-1 By-law Number 4472, to enable approval of Development Permit Number DE403265 which applies to completion of internal spaces and minor additions to the lower levels of the new tower of the Laurel Street Project Phase 2A (LSP-2A).

DISCUSSION

Since 1993, when Council established the permitted interim floor area, several development permits have been issued within Council’s parameters. The proposed alterations and minor additions at the basement and ground floor levels of the new tower are mainly for the provision of generators, corridors and service rooms for the Site Works and Radiology Project. The proposed work is within the perimeter of the existing building; however, the floor area is greater than the anticipated permitted interim floor area established in 1993. In order to accommodate this additional floor area, the interim floor area for the VGH site must be increased from 2.389 to 2.40.

CONCLUSION

The Director of Planning concludes that it would be consistent with the intent of the 1993 Council resolution to accommodate minor additions for which this latitude was created by Council, by increasing the temporary floor area limit to reflect the additional floor area of 9,497.5 square feet.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver