CITY OF VANCOUVER

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

FEBRUARY 17, 2000

A Regular Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, February 17, 2000, at 4:50 p.m., in Committee Room Number 1, Third Floor, City Hall, following the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting, to consider the recommendations of the Committee.

PRESENT:	Deputy Mayor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Fred Bass Councillor Lynne Kennedy Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Tim Louis Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Sandy McCormick (Leave of Absence) Councillor Gordon Price (Civic Business)
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Judy Rogers, City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
SECONDED by Cllr. Puil,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Deputy Mayor Clarke in the Chair.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Report of Standing Committee on Planning and Environment
February 17, 2000

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

C1.1: Significant Rezoning Application: 450 Denman Street/1673 Bayshore Drive
C1.2: Significant Rezoning Application: 800 Griffiths Way
C1.3: Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Principal and Infill Buildings at 539 East 7th Avenue
C1.4: Blueways--1999 Update and On-going Work Program
C1.5: Administration of False Creek Waterbody
C1.6: Heritage Revitalization Agreement and the Provision of Parking for 65 Water Street
C1.7: Chinatown BIA Court of Revision and Fraser BIA

Clauses 1, 2 and 7
MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT Clauses 1, 2 and 7 of the Committee's report be received for information.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Clauses 3, 4 and 5

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clauses 3, 4 and 5 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED

(Clause 3- Councillor Sullivan opposed)
(Clause 4 - Councillor Puil opposed)
(Clause 5 - Councillors Clarke, Price and Puil opposed)

Clause 6

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT the recommendations of the Committee, as contained in Clause 6 of this report, be approved.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Kennedy,
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.
- - - - -

REPORT TO COUNCIL

STANDING COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
ON PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

FEBRUARY 17, 2000

A Regular Meeting of the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment was held on Thursday, February 17, 2000, at 2:00 p.m., in Committee Room Number 1, Third Floor, City Hall.

PRESENT:	Councillor Lynne Kennedy, Chair Councillor Fred Bass Councillor Jennifer Clarke Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Tim Louis Councillor Gordon Price* Councillor George Puil Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT: CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Sandy McCormick (Leave of Absence) Judy Rogers, City Manager
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE:	Diane M. Clairmont, Meeting Coordinator

* Denotes presence during part of the meeting

INFORMATION

1. Significant Rezoning Application- 450 Denman Street/ File: 5304-1

1673 Bayshore Drive

The Committee had before it a description of a Significant Rezoning Application, prepared by the Planning Department (on file).

Mark Holland, Planning, reviewed the application and responded to questions. Councillor Price gave a slide presentation relating to this issue.

2. Significant Rezoning Application- 800 Griffiths Way File: 5304-1

The Committee had before it a description of a Significant Rezoning Application, prepared by the Planning Department (on file).

Mark Holland, Planning, reviewed the application and responded to questions.

RECOMMENDATION

3. Demolition of Nuisance/Dangerous Principal and Infill File: 2701-1

Buildings at 539 East 7th Avenue

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated January 12, 2000, in which the City Building Inspector recommended that Council declare the principal and infill dwellings at 539 East 7th Avenue a nuisance and dangerous to public safety and order the owner to demolish the buildings and remove all demolition debris from the site and also that a 336D notice be filed against the Certificate of Title to the property in order to warn any prospective purchasers of Council's resolution.

Carlene Robbins, Manager, By-law Administration, and Peter Sweeney, Manager, Building Inspection, with the aid of overheads, reported on the condition of the buildings at 539 East 7th Avenue and the rationale for recommending demolition.   Ms. Robbins and Mr. Sweeny, along with Catherine Kinahan, Legal Services, and Frank Durante, Building Inspector, responded to questions. Documentation was distributed (on file).

Responding to questions, staff advised they have been unable to verify transfer of ownership from Karen Ann Ryan to John Morrisonn. Mr. Morrisonn has not registered ownership and has made no effort to bring the building up to an acceptable condition.

John Morrisonn, Owner, (letters submitted and on file) detailed the situation with Ms. Ryan and the process he has undertaken to adhere to City and legal requirements.

Jonathan Ehling, Architect, responded to questions regarding his letter dated February 15, 2000 (on file) requesting that this building not be demolished.

Clause No. 3 (cont'd)

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

RECOMMENDED

THAT the decision on recommendations regarding 539 East 7th Avenue be postponed for thirty calendar days.

- CARRIED

(Councillor Sullivan opposed)

4. Blueways--1999 Update and On-going Work Program File: 3138

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated October 29, 1999, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the Director of Current Planning, reviewed the results of the Blueways Program for 1999, recommended that the Program be extended one year, and outlined a proposed Blueways work program for 2000.

Don Brynildsen and Peter Bremner, Engineering Services, and Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services, reviewed the report and responded to questions. It was noted that the proposed work program includes determining the future sustainability of the Boater Information Centre without the benefit of grants; the Reception Centre is working towards relocation on a permanent basis with increased visibility.

The following spoke in favour of the recommendations:
Suzanne Thomson (Community Fisheries Development Centre)
David Leith (BC Marine Trades Association)
Norton Youngs
Merv Cariou (False Creek South Association)

Speakers comments included:
· the Program has enhanced the reputation of Vancouver as it demonstrates fiscal responsibility, stewardship and responsibility for the environment.
· 18 jurisdictions in False Creek have sufficient funds to maintain the area
· endorsement of improvement in False Creek; concern that the reception area is only seasonal at this time.

Clause No. 4 (cont'd)

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

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT Council approve funding of $55,220, to be included in the Engineering Department budget, as outlined in Appendix E of the Policy Report dated October 29, 1999, to continue the Blueways work program for one year; the source of funds to be 2000 operating budget without offset.

B. THAT staff report back in one year on the status and future inclusion of a Blueways Program in the regular work programs of the involved departments.

- CARRIED

(Councillor Puil opposed)

The following motion by Councillor Puil was put and lost.

Referral Moved by Cllr. Puil

THAT Recommendation A of the Policy Report dated October 29, 1999, be referred for consideration by the Operating Budget Review Committee

- LOST

(Councillors Bass, Clarke, Kennedy, Daniel Lee, Don Lee, Louis, Price, Sullivan and Mayor Owen opposed)

The referral motion having lost, the motion put forward by Councillor Louis was CARRIED.

5. Administration of False Creek Waterbody File: 3138/8200

The Committee had before it an Administrative Report dated February 1, 2000, in which the General Manager of Engineering Services, in consultation with the Director of Current Planning, sought approval of recommendations relating to the administration of False Creek Waterbody.

Clause No. 5 (cont'd)

Peter Bremner and Don Brynildsen, Engineering Services, reviewed the report which outlined a proposed course of action for options relating to administration of the False Creek Waterbody and responded to questions.

Judy Rogers, City Manager, commented that should the City take over administration of the False Creek Waterbody, downloading of Federal and Provincial costs could occur.

Norton Youngs spoke in favour of the recommendations.

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

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT staff report back on viable options for the future administration of False Creek following discussions with the appropriate Provincial and Federal Agencies.

B. THAT Council approve funding of $25,000 to be included in the 2000 Operating Budget for consultant services that may be required by the City Engineer to assist in the review and development of False Creek Administration options, and for outside legal services that may be required by the Director of Legal Services.

- CARRIED

(Councillors Clarke, Price and Puil opposed)

6. Heritage Revitalization Agreement and the Provision File: 5051

of Parking for 65 Water Street\

The Committee had before it a Policy Report dated January 21, 2000, in which the Director of Current Planning, sought Council's endorsement to use a Heritage Revitalization Agreement to assist in the restoration and reuse of 65 Water Street.

Larry Beasley, Director of Current Planning, Michael Gordon, Planning, and Bruce Maitland, Real Estate, reviewed the report and responded to questions.

Clause No. 6 (cont'd)

Grant Longhurst, Gastown Business Improvement Society, spoke in favour of the recommendations. His comments included:
· this property is a symbol in Gastown and historically important
· this action provides the only opportunity to date to actually see revitalization take place on the ground
· the offsetting of revitalization costs should be developed through incentives and this method is one of the options to consider
· the neighbourhood needs balance including people with disposable income.

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

RECOMMENDED

A. THAT Council endorse in principle the use of a Heritage Revitalization Agreement to assist in the restoration and reuse of 65 Water Street, with the following terms:

- the relaxation of the uses permitted under the Gastown District Schedule (HA-2) to allow for "live-work" dwellings, permitting a variety of uses such as home-based offices and other uses which are compatible with residential use; and

- a transfer of density in two phases, the first phase in the amount of 2 731 m² (29,400 sq. ft.), plus an amount of floor space equivalent to that approved by the Development Permit Board (D.P. 403392) and the Director of Planning (approximately 2 685 m² or 28,900 sq. ft.) for the roof of the Malkin Building (first phase) and in the second phase in the amount of 232 m² (2,500 sq. ft.), on the condition that the floor space approved for the roof of the Malkin Building and the top storey from the proposed tower (second phase) to east of the Malkin Building , not be included in the forthcoming development permit application for the development at 65 Water Street; and

- the density transfer should follow the provisions of Council's Transfer of Density policies regarding the location of recipient sites.

Clause No. 6 (cont'd)

B. THAT Council endorse the leasing, at market value, of parking spaces by the development at 65 Water Street in the City-owned parkade in the 100 block of West Cordova and Water Street (the number of spaces being equivalent to 166 spaces minus the number of spaces provided for phases one and two of the 65 Water Street project).

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

(Councillor Price not present for the vote)

INFORMATION

7. Chinatown and Fraser Street BIAs Files: 5804-6

Anne McAfee, Director of City Plans, Peter Vaisbord, Coordinator Business Improvement Program, and Brian Porter, Legal Services, gave a verbal report and provided a updated count dated February 17, 2000 (on file) of the Chinatown BIA Court of Revision results. This was based on correspondence postmarked before, but received after, the Court of Revision. Mr. Porter reviewed the legal ramifications relating to Council's decision.

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

RECOMMENDED

THAT the verbal report regarding the Chinatown BIA be received for information.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

(Councillor Price not present for the vote)

With regards to the Fraser BIA, Mr. Vaisbord advised that a number of petitions have been received requesting that Council rescind its motion relating to the Fraser BIA. The Association had its first Annual General Meeting on February 15, 2000 with both supporting and opposing groups in attendance. The Board is composed of both factions and a budget of $120,000 was approved. A general meeting will be held in one month to discuss the situation with the community and determine budget allocations.

The Committee adjourned at 4.50 p.m.

* * * * *

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver