ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: June 15, 1995
Dept. File No. 00 318
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT: Closure and Lease of a Portion of Bentley Street,
South of 75th Avenue - S.S. Master Society
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council close, stop-up and lease to the S.S. Master
Society, the portion of Bentley Street contained within the
bold outline on the plan attached as Appendix "A", subject to
the following conditions:
1) The term of the lease to be five years subject to a six-
month notice of cancellation by either party.
2) The rental to be in accordance with Council decision with
respect to the following Considerations B or C.
3) The lease area is to be used for parking, storage and the
placement of a maximum of two cargo containers. The
placement of the containers is not to restrict access to
the fire hydrant or other utilities contained within the
lease area.
4) There shall be no new structures allowed on the premises
without the written consent of the City Engineer. The
design of the fencing and gate enclosure is to be to the
satisfaction of the City Engineer and the Fire Chief.
5) The City reserves a public utility right-of-way over the
entire leased premises.
6) The lease area is to be kept in a neat and tidy
condition.
7) All agreements are to be to the satisfaction of the
Director of Legal Services.
8) No legal right or obligation shall be created and none
shall arise hereafter, until the documents are executed.
CONSIDERATION
B. THAT the rental be $1,313.00 per month as determined by the
Manager of Real Estate. OR
C. THAT the annual rental to be $1.00, as requested by the S.S.
Master Society.
COUNCIL POLICY
The authority for closing and disposing of streets and lanes is set out
in the Vancouver Charter.
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PURPOSE
This report seeks Council approval of the closure and lease of a portion
of Bentley Street, south of 75th Avenue for use by a Society which has
preserved a heritage steam powered tugboat.
BACKGROUND
For a number of years, the steam tug S.S. Master has been stored at
moorage facilities located at the south foot of Bentley Street, in a
slough of the North Arm of the Fraser River. The moorage facilities are
owned by the Canadian Forest Products and are accessed through Canfor
property. The S.S. Master Society wishes to lease the subject portion
of Bentley Street to provide needed secure storage facilities.
DISCUSSION
The Bentley Street end, south of 75th Avenue, has only two abutting
owners, Borden Chemical on the west side and Canfor on the east. Both
abutting owners have indicated their support for the proposed lease.
There is little use made of this street end as neither abutting owner
presently take access from it, and there is little viewing potential to
attract the public to the river's edge at this point. There has been
some problems related to illegal refuse dumping on this isolated portion
of road, and the fencing of the area is likely to help this situation
somewhat.
The Engineering Services Department supports the request for the lease,
on the basis that the intended use does not conflict with present
municipal uses of the street end, and the fencing of the area will
improve security for the S.S Master Society and may help reduce refuse
dumping.
The S.S. Master Society has requested that the rental be a nominal sum
of $1.00, see their letter attached as Appendix "B". This request is
based on the fact that the Society is a non-profit organization, and
provides service to the community by preserving a heritage vessel which
participates in many public festivities in and around Vancouver. As
this request is tantamount to a grant by Council, it will require 8
votes of Council to carry.
CONCLUSION
At the present time, the subject portion of Bentley Street is not used
or needed for municipal purposes, other than those which can be
preserved by conditions to be contained in the proposed lease. The
City's future use of the lease area will be protected through
cancellation provisions and the limited term of the lease. We,
therefore, recommend that this portion of Bentley Street be closed and
leased, subject to the conditions contained in this report.
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