CITY OF VANCOUVER

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

OCTOBER 22, 1998

A Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Vancouver was held on Thursday, October 22, 1998 , in the Council Chamber, Third Floor, City Hall, to consider proposed amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law. Item 3 was not concluded; therefore, the Public Hearing will reconvene on a date to be determined.

PRESENT:	Mayor Philip Owen Councillor Nancy A. Chiavario Councillor Alan Herbert Councillor Daniel Lee Councillor Don Lee Councillor Gordon Price Councillor Sam Sullivan
ABSENT:	Councillor Don Bellamy Councillor Jennifer Clarke (Sick Leave) Councillor Lynne Kennedy (Sick Leave) Councillor George Puil (Civic Business)
CLERK TO THE COUNCIL:	Nancy Largent

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Don Lee,
SECONDED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT this Council resolve itself into Committee of the Whole, Mayor Owen in the Chair, to consider proposed amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

1. REZONING and TEXT AMENDMENTS:

500-800 Canada Place Way and 999 Canada Place Way

An application by the Co-Director of Planning on behalf of Land Use and Development was considered as follows.

Summary: The proposal would rezone a portion of the Central Waterfront Port Lands to CD-1, zone an unzoned area extending north from Canada Place to Central Waterfront District and amend the Central Waterfront Official Development Plan. The CD-1 provisions would allow continuation of existing uses and compatible interim uses. Potential future uses are generally listed and are consistent with the approved 1994 Central Waterfront Port Lands Policy Statement. The proposed trade and convention development and other specific uses on these lands will be the subject of a future public review meeting.

The Co-Director of Planning on behalf of Land Use and Development, recommended approval of the application.

Also before Council was a memorandum dated June 22, 1998 (sic) from R Whitlock, Acting Senior Rezoning Planner, recommending the following correction to item 6(b)(iii) of the draft by-law to amend the Central Waterfront Development Plan:

Under the heading "Density" in the second paragraph of sub-section (a), which paragraph commences with the words "For density calculation purposes", by deleting the words "with a maximum gross land development not exceeding 14 acres".

Larry Beasley, Co-Director of Planning, reviewed the application, advising that the proposed shell zoning is a necessary legal mechanism to facilitate the City's processing of development, building and occupancy permits, in accordance with normal procedures. The Central Waterfront Plan will be amended to exclude this CD-1 area. Mr. Beasley stressed that approval of the application would confer no new development rights, and would be fully consistent with the Central Waterfront Lands Policy Statement. Nor will it affect any properties outside the shell boundaries; it was noted that the shell does not include CRAB Park. The proposed trade and convention development and other specific uses on these lands will be the subject of a future public review meeting.

Clause No. 1 Continued

Council was advised there had been no correspondence received on this application.

The Mayor called for speakers for or against the application, and four speakers expressed various concerns regarding the application:

- Isabel Minty
- Don Larson, CRAB Water for Life Society
- Leanore Sali, Gastown Business Improvement Society (brief filed)
- Duncan Strong, Gastown Homeowners Association

(also read letter from Joel Mulder).

Following are some of the concerns raised by the foregoing speakers:

· the public was unaware of this application due to poor public consultation, and the Public Hearing should be postponed until proper public consultation has been carried out lest public confidence in the public process be shaken;

· it was difficult to obtain a copy of the staff report on this application, and there has not been sufficient time to read and understand it;

· approval of the application may result in negative impacts on CRAB Park, such as shadowing or an access corridor for the drug and sex trades to enter the park;

· CP Rail wishes to abandon its rail yards and put huge developments on its lands, which this application will facilitate;

· movement of hazardous cargo through the rail yards has long been a neighbourhood concern, and is becoming even more important as the area densifies;

· the east lands should be removed from this CD-1 until the public has an opportunity to review the development proposed for the site; and

· the City must retain its commitment to low rise development on the east lands, and protection of low-rent housing in the area, the park and the environment.

Clause No. 1 Continued

Following are some of the points made by Mr. Beasley in response to the foregoing concerns:

· CP Rail continues to advise the City that the rail yard will remain in use as such for the foreseeable future;

· there are no changes to development allowances or uses in connection with the rail yards;

· the City is committed to protection of the park, and there are no changes in this rezoning which would impact it;

· transportation of hazardous cargo falls under senior jurisdiction; nevertheless, staff will continue to monitor the issue diligently;

· staff are continuing to take a proactive stance on housing in negotiations with the Province.

Summing up, Mr. Beasley reiterated that this rezoning confers no new development rights whatsoever. The trade and convention development proposal will be considered specifically at a future public review meeting. Any development application in connection with the east lands, once received, will be reviewed in accordance with the normal processes including public consultation.

MOVED by Councillor Herbert,

THAT the application be approved after amendment to the draft by-law to substitute the following for the item numbered 6.(b)(iii):

Under the heading "Density" in the second paragraph of sub-section (a), which paragraph commences with the words "For density calculation purposes", by deleting the words "with a maximum gross land development not exceeding 14 acres".

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

2. REZONING: 1742-1752 West 2nd Avenue

An application by Weber and Associates Architectural Consultants was reviewed as follows:

Summary: The proposed rezoning from IC-1 to CD-1 would permit development of a 4-storey mixed use building, with office, retail and service uses on the lower two floors, and residential units above. Underground parking would be provided.

The Director of Central Area Planning, on behalf of Land Use and Development, recommended approval subject to the following conditions as proposed for adoption by resolution of Council:

(a) THAT the proposed form of development be approved by Council in principle, generally as prepared by Weber and Associate Architectural Consultant, and stamped "Received City Planning Department, July 17, 1998”, provided that the Director of Planning may allow minor alterations to this form of development when approving the detailed scheme of development as outlined in (b) below.

(b) THAT, prior to approval by Council of the form of development, the applicant shall obtain approval of a development application by the Director of Planning, who shall have particular regard to the following:

(i) design development to maintain and enhance the existing area character and ensure livability;

(ii) design development to the landscaping to

· ensure that the streetscape relates to the long-term public realm treatment in Burrard Slopes; and

· improve treatment of the lane;

(iii) design development to take into consideration, the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) having particular regard to reducing opportunities for theft in the underground parking.

(Note to Applicant: This can be achieved by ensuring the residential lobby elevator does not open to the commercial level. Keying the elevator for residential moving may be necessary.)

Clause No. 2 Continued

(c) THAT, prior to enactment of the CD-1 By-law, the registered owner shall, at no cost to the City:

(i) make suitable arrangements to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services and the Approving Officer to consolidate the site;

(ii) make arrangements to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Engineering Services and Director of Legal Services for:

· the dedication of the southerly 2 ft. portion of Lots 13, 14 and 41 for future lane widening purposes; and

· clarification of the covenant shown on the land title of the site;

(iii) make suitable arrangements to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Engineering Services for all electrical and telephone services to be undergrounded within and adjacent the site from the closest existing suitable service point;

(iv) make suitable arrangements to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Engineering Services and the General Manager of the Park Board for the provision of street trees adjacent to the site; and

(v) execute a legal agreement to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services providing that owners will not discriminate against families with children in the sale of residential units.

Also before Council was a memo from L. Beasley, Co-Director of Planning, responding to a September 10, 1998 request from Councillor Sullivan that staff provide an ecological footprint analysis of this site.

Lynda Challis, Planner, advised that the application is consistent with related policy and supported by staff.

Paul Pinsker, Transportation Engineering, provided information on traffic conditions, as requested by Council at its meeting of September 15, 1998. The major issue is likely to be connection to Vanier Park. A consultant study is underway; Council will be advised of the results and there will be public consultation. Mr. Pinsker also reviewed a neighbourhood concern regarding parking.

Clause No. 2 Continued

In response to a query, Mr. Beasley advised that ecological footprint analysis involves too many parameters for a useful site-by-site breakdown, and its usefulness applies to larger areas. Further experience may make it feasible for analysis of smaller sites.

Thom Ecker, representing the applicant, .asked that Council approve one additional use to permit space to be leased to a car dealer for the purpose of leasing vehicles only.

Council was advised there had been no correspondence received on this application.

Summing up, Ms. Challis noted that car rental is already a permitted use, and that leasing, due to its longer-term nature, would likely have less impact than rental. Staff would have no objection to this additional use.

MOVED by Cllr. Chiavario,

THAT the application be approved with the conditions set out in this Minute of the Public Hearing, and with the following additional use:

Vehicle Dealer, except that service, repair, and rental of vehicles for less than a monthly period are not permitted.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

3. REZONING: 2705-2735 West 10th Avenue

Council heard seven of thirty-three speakers registered on this item, and decided to recess due to time constraints. The Public Hearing will be reconvened on a date to be determined. This item will be minuted concurrently for continuity and easier reading.

RISE FROM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Herbert,

THAT the Committee of the Whole rise and report.

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

ADOPT REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

MOVED by Cllr. Daniel Lee,
SECONDED BY Cllr. Herbert,

THAT the report of the Committee of the Whole be adopted and the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare and bring forward the necessary by-law amendments..

- CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Special Council recessed at 9:55 p.m.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver