ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 29, 1998
Author/Local: Guy Gusdal/6461

CC File No. 2601
RTS No. 00238

TO:	Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
FROM:	Chief License Inspector, in consultation with Community Planning and the Director of Community Services - Social Planning
SUBJECT:	Relocation of Casino-Class 1 - 26 S.W. Marine Drive Grand Casino Equipment & Management Ltd.

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council endorse the request by Grand Casino Equipment & Management Ltd. to relocate their Casino-Class 1 to the rear portion of 26 S.W. Marine Drive, recognizing that the casino will be temporarily located in the existing front portion of the building for a period of up to two years, subject to the following condition:

i) a legal agreement to ensure the permanent closure of the casino previously approved at 725 S.E. Marine Drive.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENT

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

COUNCIL POLICY

On October 7, 1997, Council adopted amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law, DD, ODD and Parking By-laws to permit Casino-Class 1 (without slot machines) in several districts C-3A, FC-1, IC-3, I-2, HA-1 or HA-1A of the Zoning and Development By-law, the Downtown Official Development Plan or CD-1 By-laws 21, 349 and 358. Parking standards and guidelines for application approval were also adopted. The latter restrict the number of casinos in the city to five, limit the size to 1,500 square metres (16,150 sq. ft.) and established a pre-site clearance requirement from the City before a development application is filed.

PURPOSE

Grand Casino Equipment & Management Ltd. is requesting Council approval to relocate their Casino-Class 1 to 26 S.W. Marine Drive from 725 S.E. Marine Drive. The casino would be temporarily housed in the north portion (front) of 26 S.W. Marine Drive for a period of up to two years to allow for renovation of a permanent site in the south portion (rear), of the building.

BACKGROUND

Grand Casino Equipment & Management Ltd. has been operating a charity casino facility from the mezzanine level of the Quality Inn Hotel, 725 S.E. Marine Drive since January 1986. The applicant plans to acquire a 7.33 acre site at 26 S.W. Marine Drive with an 86,000 sq.ft. building and provide up to 519 on-site parking spaces.

At the existing location, parking space must be shared with patrons of the Quality Inn Hotel using the pub, beer and wine store, lounge, bowling alley and restaurant. As a result many of the casino patrons park on residential streets within a three-block radius of the hotel which has an adverse impact on the community.

Should Council endorse this application, the casino will be temporarily relocated to a 12,120 sq.ft. former office area in the north portion (front) of 26 S.W. Marine Drive. The location will be on an interim basis of up to two years during the construction and renovation of approximate1y 16,150 sq.ft. in the south portion of the building. The temporary location will include new paved parking areas in front and along a portion of the building facing Ontario Street, with the existing landscape setback to remain.

Grand Casino Equipment & Management Ltd. plans to lease the surplus space in the building to other businesses permitted under the Zoning and Development By-law.

The subject premises are located in I-2 (Industrial Lands) Zoning District. The surrounding area is a mixture of industrial, warehouse, motor vehicle repairs, restaurant and residential uses. The closest residential, primarily one and two family dwellings, are located north of S.W. Marine Drive.

The B.C. Lottery Corporation has viewed the proposed site and advised the applicant it is willing to consider the relocation upon municipal approval. It should be noted that the Corporation has recently approved hour changes for casinos to allow closing at 3:00 a.m.

DISCUSSION

The existing casino at 725 S.E. Marine Drive, in conjunction with the Quality Inn Hotel and its associated liquor licensed premises and the bowling alley, has a negative impact on the residential neighbourhood. The lack of on-site parking results in patrons using surrounding neighbourhood streets. We have not received any complaints related to the casino operation but parking has always been a concern. The proposed site at 26 S.W. Marine Drive will provide ample on-site parking for the casino and other uses of the building. The permanent site at the rear of the building will further separate the casino from the residential area.

The results of the neighbourhood notification process will be provided to the Commission at the meeting.

COMMENTS

The Police Department’s District 4 officers have no concerns with this application.

The Vice/Gaming Unit feels this relocation would be an improvement as the current facilities in the Quality Inn are poorly designed from a security perspective and monitoring the activities of the patrons. This combined with the lack of adequate parking creates complaints about traffic congestion, noise and patrons taking all available on-street parking. Police have responded to a number of calls related to theft from autos and patrons being robbed as they walk to their cars parked in the hotel lot or adjacent streets. These problems are in a large part due to the physical setup of the present facilities and not having a stand alone building which was designed to house a casino.

An inspection of the new location was made and it is considered that the casino would not negatively impact on the area or surrounding businesses. At certain times of the day, Marine Drive has extreme traffic levels that may have some impact on accessing or exiting the facility, but there are enough other routes that can be taken from the casino to Marine Drive, including traffic signals at Manitoba to the west and Main to the east via East 69th. The size of the property allows for ample ground-level parking that can be easily monitored by security cameras, fencing and lighting.

The Crime Analysis Unit has researched the calls for service in a four-block radius of 26 S. W. Marine Drive from January 1 to October 26, 1998. Most of the calls relate to audible alarms, break & enters and theft from autos. Given the area and types of businesses, this is not uncommon or excessive in numbers. The location of a casino at this site might have a positive impact on reducing these calls for service through the increase of vehicle and pedestrian traffic at hours when the other businesses are closed.

It is recommended that with the relocation of casinos, the developers work closely with the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Unit (CPTED Unit).

The Planning Department has reviewed the application and notes the site is located in the I-2 Industrial Zoning District. The subject premises are currently approved as warehouse and offices. There is a 12.1m landscape setback along the front of the site, within which no buildings or parking can be located.

Casino Class-1 is a conditional use in the I-2 zoning district. Any proposal for such a use in this district would require a development permit application and assessment against the Council approved Casino Class -1 Guidelines and the applicable provisions of the I-2 District Schedule and Parking By-law. This location does adhere to the restrictions contained in the Casino Class-1 Guidelines.

It would be helpful for Council to endorse the casino relocation and future expansion (up to a maximum of 16,150 sq.ft.) for this site now, so there is no need to come back in two years when the casino is moved to the rear of the building and enlarged.

The Environmental Health Division of the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board has no objection subject to further review at the development permit application stage.

The Social Planning Department does not object to the relocation of the casino if the size and scope of gaming activity remains the same as that at the existing facility. The new location in an industrial zone would have less impact in the immediate neighbourhood.

Social Planning has always been concerned about mixing alcohol and gaming on one site, which is the case at the existing location, and the proposed site places the casino a distance away from liquor serving establishments.

The Housing Centre has no comments.

The City Engineer advises that the applicant will have to provide a traffic consultant’s study for trips to the site when it is busiest and, if at a different time, when Marine Drive is at its busiest. The study should also provide documentation of traffic volumes at the intersection, turning movements, etc., and make recommendations for any needed measures such as traffic signals, left-turn bay, etc.

CONCLUSION

Staff supports the relocation of the Casino-Class 1, operated by Grand Casino Equipment & Management Ltd., to 26 S.W. Marine Drive. Staff feels that relocating the casino from 725 S.E. Marine Drive will reduce impacts on the surrounding community. The proposed casino location should have minimal impact on residential properties north of Marine Drive, given the building setback and buffer provided by S.W. Marine Drive.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver