ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: October 4, 1999
Author/Local: M.Cho/6496
RTS No. 01040
CC File No. 2608

Council: October 19, 1999

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of Current Planning
SUBJECT:	Form of Development: 940 Seymour Street

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the form of development for the CD-1 zoned site known as 940 Seymour Street be approved generally as illustrated in the Development Application Number DE404258, prepared by Buttjes Architecture Inc. and stamped “Received, City Planning Department May 21, 1999”, provided that the Director of Planning may 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 a rezoning of this site, following a Public Hearing.

PURPOSE

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

SITE DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND

At a Public Hearing on June 27, 1996, City Council approved a rezoning of this site and some adjacent lands from DD Downtown District to CD-1 Comprehensive Development District. CD-1 By-law Number 7673 was enacted on November 26, 1996. In addition, the CD-1 By-law permits a transfer of density from 901 Seymour Street to the subject site, 940 Seymour Street. Companion Guidelines (901 - 967 and 940 - 990 Seymour Street CD-1 Guidelines) were also adopted by Council on November 26, 1996. These guidelines formally apply the Downtown South Guidelines (excluding Granville Street) to developments proposed on these CD-1 sites.

At a subsequent Public Hearing, Council approved amendments to the CD-1 zoning area by rezoning additional area from DD Downtown District to CD-1 Comprehensive Development District. The amended CD-1 By-law Number 7693 was enacted on January 7, 1997.

The site is located at the northeast corner of Nelson Street and Seymour Street. It is one of three sites within the overall CD-1 zone and is situated across the street from the Dominion Motors site (901 Seymour Street, also known as “Staples”) which was designated a Municipal Heritage Building as a condition of the rezoning. The site and surrounding zoning are shown on the attached Appendix ‘A’.

Subsequent to Council’s approval of the CD-1 rezoning, the Development Permit Board approved Development Application Number DE404258. 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 involves the construction of a retail/residential development comprised of a two-and-one-half-storey podium base and two multiple dwellings (30-storeys and 22-storeys) with five-levels of underground parking having vehicular access from Seymour Street. The development includes retail stores on the first-storey and two residential towers containing a total of 429 dwelling units.

At the request of the applicant, and with support from staff, a specific form of development was not put forth at Public Hearing. Staff believed there was sufficient development control within the CD-1 By-law regulations and the Downtown South Guidelines to eliminate the need for a form of development proposal at Public Hearing.

The proposed development has now 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 Development Permit Board has approved Development Application Number DE404258, subject to various conditions to be met prior to the issuance of the development permit. One of these conditions is that the form of development first be approved by Council.

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