ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: August 25, 2000
Author/Local: M.Cho/6496

RTS No. 01665

CC File No. 2604

Council: September 12, 2000

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of Current Planning
SUBJECT:	Form of Development: 1281 West Cordova Street

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the interim form of development for this portion of the CD-1 zoned site known as 501 Bute Street (1281 West Cordova Street being the application address) be approved generally as illustrated in the Development Application Number DE405254, prepared by and stamped “Received, City Planning Department July 19, 2000”, provided that the Director of Planning may impose conditions and 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 in principle the form of development for this site when the rezoning was approved, following a Public Hearing.

PURPOSE

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

SITE DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND

At a Public Hearing on June 29, 1995, City Council approved a rezoning of this site from CWD Central Waterfront District to CD-1 Comprehensive Development District. Council also approved in principle the form of development for these lands. CD-1 By-law Number 264 was enacted on November 26, 1996. Companion Guidelines (Harbour Green Neighbourhood [501 Bute Street] CD-1 Guidelines) were also adopted by Council at that time.

On March 24, 1998 at a Public Hearing, Council approved miscellaneous amendments to improve various By-laws pertaining to permit control. CD-1 By-law Number 7874 was enacted on April 21, 1998.

At a Public Hearing on May 28, 1998, Council approved amendments to increase the floor area permitted for retail and service uses, and exclude accessory uses to park use from floor area calculation. These amendments (By-laws Numbered 7922 and 7923) were enacted on July 21, 1998.

On February 23, 1999 at a Public Hearing, Council approved amendments to various CD-1 By-laws to include parking and loading relaxation clauses. CD-1 By-law Number 8011 was enacted on April 13, 1999.

At a subsequent Public Hearing on February 24, 2000, Council approved amendments to provide floor space exclusions to provide construction incentives to control building envelope leaks. This amendment (By-law Number 8169) was enacted on March 14, 2000.

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 DE405254. 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

The proposal is to move and place a temporary building on the subject site. The proposed building will be a sales centre for the proposed residential towers to be constructed on this site, and the adjacent site at 1239 West Cordova Street.

The Development Permit Board has approved in principle, the Preliminary applications for developing these sites with residential towers, and the Complete development application(DE404441) for Phase One at 1239 West Cordova Street is currently in process. Once the Complete applications for both towers have been approved by the Development Permit Board, the final form of development for these sites will be referred to Council for approval.

The proposed temporary building will be one-storey in height, having a floor area of approximately 246.5 m²/2,653 sq.ft., and will contain offices and presentation areas as well as a partial replica of a tower suite. The site will provide six off-street parking spaces for the temporary sales centre, having vehicular access from West Cordova Street.

It is anticipated that the sales centre will be on the site until July 2001. Therefore, it is intended that the development permit approval for the sales centre would be limited in time to a one-year period, unless extended in writing by the Director of Planning.

The proposed development has been assessed against the CD-1 By-law and Council-approved guidelines and responds to the stated objectives.

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 DE405254, subject to various conditions to be met prior to the issuance of the development permit. One of these conditions is that the interim form of development first be approved by Council.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver