ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: February 26, 1999
Author/Local: B.Boons/7678
RTS No.00530
CC File No. 2606

Council: 23 March 1999

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of Community Planning, on behalf of Land Use & Development
SUBJECT:	Form of Development: 1001 Hornby Street DE403708 - CD-1 By-law Number 7971 Owner of Development: Wall Financial Corporation

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the form of development for this portion (Site 2) of the CD-1 zoned site known as 1001 Hornby Street, 1050 and 1088 Burrard Street, (1001 Hornby Street being the application address) be approved generally as illustrated in Development Application Number DE403708, prepared by Busby and Associates Architects and stamped “Received, City Planning Department” October 21, 1998, provided that the Director of Planning may approve design changes which would not adversely affect either the development character of this site or adjacent properties.

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

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

COUNCIL POLICY

There is no applicable Council policy except that Council did approve the existing form of development for the Site 1 portion and approved in principle the form of development for the Site 2 portion of these lands when the rezoning was approved, following a Public Hearing.

PURPOSE

In accordance with Charter requirements, this report seeks Council’s approval for the final form of development for the Site 2 portion of the above-noted CD-1 zoned site.

SITE DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND

Previous to the applicant submitting this rezoning application, a Development Permit had been issued under DD zoning for a 317 metres (450 ft.) high Hotel tower, the height of which had been reviewed and supported by City Council.

At a Public Hearing on September 15, 1998, Council approved the rezoning of this site from DD Downtown District to CD-1 Comprehensive Development District. Council also approved in principle the form of development for Site 2 of these lands. CD-1 By-law Number 7971 was enacted on January 26, 1999.

The site and surrounding zoning are shown on the attached Appendix A.

Subsequent to Council’s approval of the CD-1 rezoning, the Director of Planning approved Development Application Number DE403708. This approval was subject to various conditions, including Council’s approval of the form of development. The latter condition is one of the few outstanding prior to permit issuance.

DISCUSSION

This CD-1 site is divided into two portions. Site 1 being the Wall Centre-Phase One, which contains an existing Hotel tower and a Residential tower, and Site 2 being the Wall Centre-Phase Two, currently under construction.

This proposal involves additional floor area for Wall Centre-Phase Two. The Phase Two portion of the site has previously received Development Permit approval for Hotel use. The rezoning allows for a mixed-use Hotel and Residential development, and expansion of the Hotel’s conference facilities.

The expansion is achieved by the transfer of approximately 17,000 square metres (183,000 sq. ft.) of heritage density from two other downtown sites. The additional areas consist of ballroom and other hotel-related areas located below grade, a four-storey podium providing conference meeting rooms and increased public function areas, and includes the lowering of the typical floor-to-ceiling heights in the tower from 3.1 metres (10.0 ft.) to 2.6 metres (8.5 ft.). This results in an increase in the number of storeys in the tower from 35 to 41, but it’s overall height remains the same as previously approved.

The unique shape of the tower with it’s high energy performance and transparency remain intact substantially as approved in the previous Development Permit, as do the open spaces on Burrard Street, including “Volunteer Square”.

Simplified plans, including a site plan and elevations of the proposal, have been included in Appendix B.

CONCLUSION

The Director of Planning has approved Development Application Number DE403708, subject to various conditions to be met prior to the issuance of the development permit. One of these conditions is that the form of development first be approved by Council.

LINK TO APPENDIX A & B

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver