POLICY REPORT URBAN STRUCTURE Date: December 5, 1995 Dept. File No. PW TO: Vancouver City Council FROM: Director of Central Area Planning, in consultation with the General Manager of Engineering Services, Director Legal Services and the Manager of the Housing Centre SUBJECT: Rezoning: 800-1100 Pacific Boulevard (Quayside Waterfront Block) RECOMMENDATIONS A. THAT the application by James Cheng Architects to amend CD-1 By-law No. 7248, for 800-1100 Pacific Boulevard (Quayside) to reallocate previously approved floor area and dwelling units within the waterfront block, be referred to Public Hearing, together with: i) plans received from James Cheng Architects, dated July 28, September 15, and as amended December 4, 1995; ii) draft CD-1 By-law amendments, generally as contained in Appendix B; iii) the recommendation of the Director of Central Area Planning to approve the application, subject to conditions contained in Appendix C; iv) consequential amendments to the Quayside Neighbourhood (800 -1100 Pacific Boulevard) CD-1 Guidelines to be presented for adoption in principle at the Public Hearing; and v) consequential amendment to the False Creek North Official Development Plan, to delete the mandatory retail requirement along Marinaside Crescent, should Council choose this option. FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary by-laws for consideration at Public Hearing. B. THAT Council adopt Recommendation A on the following conditions: i) THAT the passage of the above resolution creates no legal rights for the applicant or any other person, or obligation on the part of the City; any expenditure of funds or incurring of costs is at the risk of the person making the expenditure or incurring the cost; ii) THAT any approval that may be granted following the Public Hearing shall not obligate the City to enact a by- law rezoning the property, and any costs incurred in fulfilling requirements imposed as a condition of rezoning are at the risk of the property owner; and iii) THAT the City and all its officials, including the Approving Officer, shall not in any way be limited or directed in the exercise of their authority or discretion, regardless of when they are called upon to exercise such authority or discretion. GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of A and B. COUNCIL POLICY Relevant Council policy includes: - The False Creek Policy Statement approved in August 1988 - The False Creek North Official Development Plan (FCN ODP) approved in April 1990 - The Quayside CD-1 By-law No. 7248, Form of Development and CD-1 Guidelines adopted in November 1993. PURPOSE AND SUMMARY This report assesses a July 28, 1995 rezoning application by Concord Pacific to revise the schematic form of development for the waterfront block (see following map) and make grade-level retail on Marinaside Crescent optional rather than mandatory. Concord wants to replace the Marinaside retail with townhouses and move the retail to Davie and Pacific as part of a two-storey local commercial centre. They conclude this is the best location to serve residents. Staff strongly recommend keeping retail on Marinaside because it is the key to creating a unique urban experience at this prominent waterfront location. Concord and staff generally agree on a commercial pattern for Davie and Pacific that would provide for a supermarket and supportive retail at grade with restaurants and local serving office uses on the second floor accessed in ways that prevent internalization. On Marinaside Crescent, Council has the following choices regarding retail/restaurants versus housing: - Option 1 All townhouses, as proposed by Concord; - Option 2 Primarily townhouses, perhaps convertible at grade to retail later, but some restaurants at the westerly end; - Option 3 All retail/restaurants, as strongly recommended by staff; and - Option 4 Primarily retail/restaurants but some townhouses at the easterly end, convertible at grade to retail in the future. If Council chooses to remove the retail from Marinaside Crescent, Engineering staff recommend that the beautification be reconsidered and the street treated as other residential streets. Concord wants to change the form of development from five terraced towers ranging in height from 22 to 32 storeys, to six point towers ranging in height from 21 to 34 storeys. The total number of housing units and floor area would not change from the approved zoning. Staff support the new scheme because overall urban design and public amenity are improved. Conditions in Appendix C will guide further design development through the Development Application process. Appendix D contains changes to the CD-1 by-law to accommodate the revised massing, secure the agreed commercial pattern for Davie and Pacific, and implement housekeeping amendments for amenity space, recessed windows and transfer of units between Areas 4 and 5A. Revised Quayside CD-1 Guidelines will be presented for Council adoption at the Public Hearing. Engineering staff will report to Council at the Public Hearing with details on accommodating a rapid transit alignment under the waterfront block. Staff recommend referral of the application to Public Hearing, subject to design refinements. Council direction is sought on the Marinaside retail issue. Quayside Waterfront Block DISCUSSION Changes to Retail Pattern The False Creek North Official Development Plan (ODP) requires retail along Marinaside Crescent in Quayside. The only other location in False Creek North with mandatory retail is the Plaza of Nations. The current zoning reflects the ODP, with 7 200 m› (77,500 sq. ft.) of retail and commercial service use on Marinaside Crescent and in a food store at the corner of Davie Street and Pacific Boulevard. Concord wants to expand retail and commercial into a two-storey centre at this corner and replace retail on Marinaside Crescent with housing. These proposals are discussed below. Davie and Pacific Retail and Commercial Centre Recent Concord research has concluded that the optimum type of retail and service commercial for this area will be locally oriented; and that the optimum location for this will be at the Davie/Pacific intersection. Essential to this concept is a full service supermarket of 20,000 to 25,000 sq. ft. A component of other retail, restaurants and local-serving professional offices will support the supermarket, creating an easterly anchor for the shopping area now developing along Pacific Boulevard and reinforcing the Roundhouse Community Centre. Staff fully support the supermarket and feel it could even be larger than proposed. Staff also support other related retail and service commercial uses at this location provided internal malls are not created and retail is located at and oriented to the sidewalk, especially along Davie Street. The concern is to protect and enhance the retail vitality of the Pacific Boulevard retail commercial district. Staff and Concord have generally agreed upon an arrangement for retail and commercial at the southeast corner of Davie and Pacific as follows: - up to 4 200 m› (about 45,000 sq. ft.) of grade-level retail with 2 300 m› (25,000 sq. ft.) or more for a full service supermarket and the balance in other street-facing retail shops, ensuring retail continuity from the intersection extending south and east, especially along Davie Street; - up to 2 500 m› (about 27,000 sq. ft.) of second-floor restaurants and non-retail, locally-serving professional offices (such as doctors, dentists, lawyers, insurance, etc.) with 750 m› (8,000 sq.ft.) or more for one or more restaurants, each accessed directly from the sidewalk below. Staff propose the office component be drawn from the ODP allocation for offices in False Creek North. If Council adopts Concord's approach for Marinaside Crescent, as outlined below, Concord wants the office component to be converted from the existing Quayside retail allowance. The CD-1 by-law (see Appendix D) will explicitly prevent conversion of offices to retail and vice versa. Design conditions (see Appendix C) will ensure retail and second-floor restaurants are accessed from the sidewalk, thus avoiding internal malls; and that sidewalk retail continuity is achieved. Marinaside Crescent Retail Further to the above, Concord research concluded that retail on Marinaside Crescent will fail and only modest amounts of restaurant space at this location may be economic. Instead, they see a strong market for housing at grade that they feel will not mix well with retail or restaurants. Therefore, Concord propose townhouses all along the Marinaside Crescent frontage from Davie to the most easterly Mews. If pressed, Concord would consider the following alternative, although they do not believe it is the best solution: - 750 m› (8,000 sq. ft.) of restaurants at the western end of Marinaside Crescent, adjacent to Davie Street; - townhouses extending easterly, with the ground-level of these units designed with higher ceilings for future retail conversion, but with no other cost-related features such as increased parking, loading or building code requirements. Staff strongly recommend that Marinaside Crescent be developed from Davie to the easterly mews for retail and restaurant uses as originally envisaged in the ODP and approved zoning in order to create a unique, active public-oriented gathering place at this one prominent location on False Creek where cars will be allowed at the water's edge. Vehicles, boats, retail, restaurants, housing entrances and a coherent public realm treatment will create an experience similar to Granville Island, providing a vital counterpoint to the quieter residential frontages and park areas that dominate the balance of the False Creek North shoreline. To evaluate economic feasibility, a market consultant, Thomas Consultants, was retained by staff. Thomas advises that Marinaside Crescent can become a city highlight and regional/tourist shopping destination and experience providing for "boardwalk" style retailing with the waterfront character as a natural magnet. Thomas concludes that retail will start small with independent convenience and personal service stores. A critical mass will be generated from restaurants that will gravitate to the quayside setting. To this, higher order retailing (clothing, novelty and impulse shopping) will be drawn, generating continuing destination appeal. Thomas advises that during their review, several destination retailers (i.e., chandlery, hardware, nautical apparel) and restauranteurs expressed interest in Marinaside Crescent. Thomas notes that the synergy for a public-oriented, active, people place depends absolutely on a strong retail component coupled with vehicular access. From the outset, Planning in and around Marinaside Crescent has striven to reinforce this as a special public place in the False Creek basin, including: - limiting retail elsewhere in False Creek North; - allowing cars in order to optimize the unique access and visibility of the quayside; - keeping the street narrow with curb-side parking to ensure slow- moving traffic compatible with pedestrians; - designing a special public realm treatment integrating waterfront walkways, sidewalks, street and setback areas as one identifiable and functioning "place"; - providing for a diverse marina with moorage, livaboards, marine commercial and ancillary activities as well as a floating public walkway and ferry stop that will support land-based retailing; - requiring building setbacks along Marinaside to let shopping and restaurant activity easily spill out onto the sidewalk; and - allowing residential lobbies and doorways intermixed with the retail frontage and setting back the housing above to minimize impacts from street activity. If more retail allowance is needed in the ODP to achieve this vision for Marinaside Crescent, staff would support an increase beyond current ODP limits. Currently, there is more than enough retail capacity in the ODP, so this issue would not have to be dealt with until the final area zonings. If Council is anxious about short-term retail viability along Marinaside Crescent, an alternative suggested, though not preferred, by staff would establish a practical retail foothold at the outset, with the remaining frontage configured to give market flexibility for future retail conversion. Suggested would be to require: - about 2 300 m› (25,000 sq. ft.) of retail and restaurants now, extending from Davie Street to the Landmark Mews, with retail expansion potential into parking areas behind; and - townhouses extending easterly from Landmark Mews, with the ground- level of these units designed with higher ceilings for future retail conversion (including allowing live-work space now) and parking, loading and building code provisions resolved now to facilitate easy conversion later. In summary, documentation will be prepared for the public hearing whereby Council has the following choices regarding retail/restaurants as required in the ODP versus housing along Marinaside Crescent: - Option 1 All townhouses, as proposed by Concord; - Option 2 Primarily townhouses, perhaps convertible at grade to retail later, but some restaurants at the westerly end; - Option 3 All retail/restaurants, as strongly recommended by Planning, Engineering and other staff; and - Option 4 Primarily retail/restaurants but some townhouses at the easterly end, convertible at grade to retail in the future. If Council chooses to remove retail from Marinaside Crescent, Engineering staff recommend that Marinaside's treatment be made consistent with other residential city streets. They believe that converting Marinaside from the original concept requires that the beautification should be reconsidered. Changes to Form of Development The approved schematic form of development (see Appendix A) for the Waterfront block shows five terraced towers ranging in height from 22 to 32 storeys, stepping down from Pacific Boulevard to Marinaside Crescent. Seniors' non-market housing is located in three low-rises on Pacific. Family non-market housing is located in a low-rise across from Coopers Park, next to Cambie Bridge. This scheme orients the buildings to the curve of the bay, presents a symmetrical edge on Marinaside Crescent, and locates the bulk of building mass along Pacific Boulevard. Concord wants to change the built-form from terraced towers to more conventional point towers on a low-rise base. The 1,315 housing units and 130 700 m› (1.4 million sq.ft.) of residential floor area would not change from the approved zoning. Proposed are six towers ranging in height from 21 to 34 storeys. Four of these towers are paired providing a sense of entry to pedestrian mews linking Pacific Boulevard and Marinaside Crescent. These are flanked by 34-storey towers at Davie and at the east end of the block on a new pedestrian mews next to the non-market family site (see Appendix A). The seniors' non-market units have been consolidated into two sites, 150 units in a 13-storey tower at Davie and Pacific and 50 units in a mid- block low-rise on Pacific. These adjustments are acceptable to the Manager of the Housing Centre. Accommodating the floor area from the terraced tower scheme has required an additional 21-storey tower and added ten floors to other towers. Tower floorplates are 600 m› (6,400 sq.ft.) which are consistent with other shoreline locations. The easterly 34-storey tower has a slightly larger plate because it is separated from the family of towers to the west. As well, some towers are closer to the water than the previous scheme. Staff support the new scheme because: - Slimmer towers improve views through the waterfront block, both from upland sites and from the south shore of False Creek. - Building mass and shadowing along Pacific Boulevard are substantially reduced. Lower heights create a better transition to the street and open space compared to eight storey buildings in the current scheme. - The paired towers emphasize the axis of the Quayside Bay and respond to the downtown street grid. - Public access through the site has improved. An additional pedestrian mews is provided on the east portion of the site and the locations of the two westerly mews have been adjusted to align with the Cambie/Pacific intersection and maximise water views from the landmark tower. Staff recommend that the revised scheme become the form of development for the waterfront block. Further design development is recommended to refine the scheme through the development application process. Conditions are included in Appendix C. If the new rezoning is approved at public hearing, the new form of development will replace those sections of the Quayside CD-1 Guidelines dealing with the waterfront block. A revised set of guidelines will be presented for Council adoption at the public hearing. Appendix B outlines the adjustments to the CD-1 By-law to accommodate the new form of development and reallocation of building mass on the Quayside block. As well, based on development experience to date, by- law adjustments for all of Quayside are recommended to increase the amount of amenity space, provide more flexibility for recessed windows, which are considered a positive design feature, and allow more flexibility in unit numbers for each development parcel (without changing overall unit allowance or floor area). Engineering Issues Transit Corridor Right-of-way Further to Council direction, staff have been working with Concord to secure a rapid transit right-of-way through the Quayside Neighbourhood. Following the Quayside rezoning in 1993, Concord entered into a No Development Covenant with the City which requires Concord to provide an acceptable right-of-way for a future ALRT corridor. This work is ongoing and we anticipate bringing more details to Council at the Public Hearing. Pedestrian Access An additional pedestrian mews has been introduced which provides more access through the site to the waterfront. The Landmark Mews is located further east from Beatty Mews and the signalized crossing on Pacific. However, the relocated Cambie Mews provides a direct pedestrian linkage to Beatty Mews. Appendix C contains a condition to review the crosswalk location between the Beatty and Landmark Mews to create a clearer connection. Conditions of Approval Because the Quayside zoning has been enacted, all prior conditions of approval have been secured through legal agreements. Required additions and adjustments to those agreements are included in Appendix C. COMMENTS OF THE PUBLIC AND REVIEWING AGENCIES These comments are included in Appendix D along with sections on social and environmental implications. APPLICANT'S COMMENTS Concord will provide comments separately by letter at zoning referral. CONCLUSION Staff support the revised form of development proposed for the Waterfront block in Quayside, subject to the design conditions included in Appendix C, as it will result in an improved and more sensitive urban design. Staff do not support Concord's request to remove retail from Marinaside Crescent. Options are presented for Council consideration at the public hearing on this issue. * * *APPROVED SCHEMATIC DEVELOPMENT - November 1993Appendix A Page 1 of 2 PROPOSED FORM OF DEVELOPMENT Appendix A Page 2 of 2 DRAFT CD-1 BY-LAW AMENDMENTS Appendix B 800 - 1100 PACIFIC BOULEVARD The uses, floor areas and density, maximum height, maximum number of dwelling units and parking and loading requirements will not change from the current CD-1 By-law 7248. The following sections will change to accommodate the new form of development and changes to building massing on the waterfront block: - 5. Sub-areas - amend the wording and diagram to reduce the number of sites in Sub-area 4 - 6.5 Table 2 - change the allocation of floor area by sites in Sub- area 4 - 6.6 - delete this as it is no longer relevant - 6.8 - increase the number of dwelling units transferable between sub-areas 4 and 5A to a total of 20% - 7. Table 4 - Height - change the allocation of building height by sites in Sub-area 4 - 11. - Acoustics - delete the requirement for terraces, patios and balconies, pursuant to Council's balcony enclosure guidelines - Include provisions requiring access to second floor restaurants from directly at grade and office space from one or more lobbies at grade, and first-floor retail from the adjacent sidewalk with coherent retail continuity by limiting frontage of individual shops, and restricting conversion of retail or service uses to office space and the conversion of office space to retail or service use. In addition, two other adjustments are recommended: - 6.4(b) - remove the restriction on the maximum depth that windows may be recessed - 6.3(h) - increase the amenity space for residential uses in both Sub-areas 4 and 5A to a total of 11 000 m› (118,400 sq. ft.) for area which is at or above the base surface. QUAYSIDE WATERFRONT BLOCK Appendix C PROPOSED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL Page 1 of 5 NOTE: These are draft conditions which are subject to change and refinement by staff prior to the finalization of the agenda for Public Hearing. FORM OF (a) THAT a revised form of development for the DEVELOPMENT Quayside Waterfront block be approved by Council in principle, generally as shown on the plans stamped "Received City Planning Department, July 28, September 15, and December 4, 1995", having specific regard to the siting of the buildings, development of the ground plane, and general building heights and massing. A major objective of the form of development is to create a neighbourhood of quality urban design and architecture and maintain the qualitative aspects demonstrated in the Yaletown Edge and Roundhouse neighbourhoods. The Director of Planning may allow alterations and refinements to this form of development when approving the detailed scheme of development, with guidance from (b) below and if there are demonstrated improvements to the overall design. Criteria for judging changes will be based on the following principles: - improved relationships to adjacent development with respect to shadowing and public and private views; - improved livability with respect to private open space, privacy and access; - meeting CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles; - improved public and common open space provision, quality and programming; - improved public realm treatment, amenity and safety; - improved vehicle and pedestrian movement relationships and safety, and vehicular access; and - improved architectural design and quality of materials and finishes. DEVELOPMENT (b) THAT prior to the final approval by Council of the APPLICATIONS detailed form of development for each portion of the project, the applicant shall obtain approval of a development application by the Director of Planning who shall have regard to the following: Appendix C Page 2 of 5 - Ensuring that grade-level retail space is street-facing, especially on Davie Street, and that limits on individual shop frontage are provided to ensure retail continuity and interest; - Ensuring that all second floor restaurant uses are accessed directly from the street and second-floor offices are accessed from one or more street-oriented lobbies at grade; - Reducing second floor commercial at Davie and Pacific and limiting remaining space for local serving, non-retail office uses; - Adjusting the massing of the 13-storey seniors' building at Davie and Pacific to reduce view and building mass impacts for residents across Pacific Boulevard in Yaletown Edge; - Creating a more active and interesting grade level treatment along Pacific between the Cambie and Landmark Mews; - Reducing the large areas of water on the common open space on each block to provide for children's play and landscaping; - Reviewing the crosswalk connection on Pacific to achieve a clearer connection between the landmark mews and the pedestrian crosswalk on Pacific at Beatty Mews; and RETAIL (c) THAT Council choose one of the following retail OPTIONS options for Marinaside Crescent: - Option 1. All townhouses, as proposed by Concord; - Option 2. Primarily townhouses, perhaps convertible at grade to retail later, but some restaurants at the westerly end; - Option 3. All retail/restaurants, as strongly recommended by Planning, Engineering and other staff; and - Option 4. Primarily retail/restaurants but some townhouses at the easterly end, convertible at grade to retail in the future. Appendix C Page 3 of 5 Choosing Option 1, 2 or 4 will trigger a consequentia l amendment to the False Creek North ODP. ENERGY (d) THAT Council require the provision of low flow EFFICIENT toilets, shower heads and faucets as standard FEATURES features in the Quayside Waterfront Block, as and when required by the Plumbing By-law; AGREEMENTS (e) THAT prior to enactment of the CD-1 By-law amendment, the property owner shall, at no cost to the City: NON-MARKET (i) Modify the existing agreement where HOUSING necessary with respect to the location of non-market housing, satisfactory to the City Manager and Director of Legal Services, by which sufficient parcels shall be conveyed to the City for the non-market housing to be constructed within the site, at a price acceptable to City Council. Such parcels are for such non-market housing programs or initiatives as City Council may generally define or specifically approve from time to time. SERVICES (ii) Modify the existing Quayside Neighbourhood AGREEMENT Services Agreement to meet requirements of MODIFICATION the rezoning, to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Engineering Services and the Director of Legal Services, to ensure that any additional on-site and off-site works and services, required as a result of the revised development scheme on the subject site are designed, constructed, and installed at no cost to the City. EXISTING (iii) Amend and/or release all existing covenants COVENANTS and rights-of-way to address the proposed development, to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services; and Where the Director of Legal Services deems appropriate, the preceding agreements are to be drawn, not only as personal covenants of the property owner, but also as covenants which charge and run with the land. Appendix C Page 4 of 5 The Director of Legal Services may require the preceding agreements to be registered in the Land Title office, prior to enactment of the by-law, but in any event, the City will not issue any development permits, and the property owner shall not seek the issuance of any development permit relating to the site prior to the registration of the preceding agreement; such agreements are to have priority over those liens, charges and encumbrances as considered advisable by the Director of Legal Services. The required agreements shall provide security to the City including indemnities, warranties, options to purchase, no development covenants, equitable charges, development bonds, letters of credit, and withholding of permits, as considered advisable by, and in a form satisfactory to, the Director of Legal Services. The timing of all required payments shall be determined by the appropriate City official having responsibility for each particular agreement, who may consult other City officials and City Council. The property owner will confirm, in form satisfactory to the City, that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the site; or, if not, the property owner will cause the beneficial owner to agree that the beneficial has knowledge of all the transactions, gives its consent and is bound by all agreements, and evidence of such shall be provided to the City. Further, all legal costs expended by the City in being satisfied as to ownership of the site and as to the involvement of any beneficial owner (including retaining outside counsel to undertake investigations and prepare agreement and certificates) will be the responsibility of the property owner. Appendix C Page 5 of 5 If dates are established for enactment which, in the opinion of the Director of Legal Services would require increased resources within the Law Department, or which require, in the opinion of the Director of Legal Services, the retaining of outside counsel, reimbursement for these costs will be required from the property owner. COMMENTS OF THE PUBLIC AND REVIEWING AGENCIES Appendix D Public Comments The public process included six public meetings and model displays. There has been strong public support for the revised design as an improvement over the previous scheme. Concerns from Yaletown Edge residents about views impacts from the 13-storey seniors' building are addressed through conditions. The public has expressed a variety of views about retail along Marinaside Crescent. Almost all opposed an internalized shopping centre at Davie and Pacific. Vancouver City Planning Commission (VCPC) The VCPC considered the issue of retail along Marinaside Crescent and will present its position to Council at the Public Hearing. Urban Design Panel The Panel reviewed this proposal in September, 1995. The Panel strongly supported the revised form of development as a better reflection of the design principles originally envisaged for the site. Concern was expressed about the very large floorplate sizes and the need for skilful handling. This is addressed through revised smaller floorplates. The Panel did not support removing retail from Marinaside Crescent, noting that the entire urban design concept for the street is based on having some retail along it to complement pedestrian character. The Panel also strongly opposed internalizing any retail on Pacific Boulevard. Social Implications The changes to the approved zoning for Quayside will assist in the implementation of a socially diverse neighbourhood in False Creek North. Environmental Implications Quayside will provide opportunities for high-density living close to transit, recreation and work places in the central business district. This will reduce traffic demands with consequent benefits to air quality, energy costs and a reduction in vehicular pollutants.