ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: December 2, 1999
Author/Local: MGordon/7665
RTS No. 962
CC File No. 8208

Council: December 14, 1999

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of Current Planning, in consultation with the General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Granville Island Planning Programme: Resources and Schedule

RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT a two-step planning process for the revision of the “Reference Document for Granville Island,” jointly-managed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation - Granville Island and City Staff, as outlined in this report, be endorsed.

B. THAT the decision on whether to proceed to Step Two of the planning process will be taken by Council at the conclusion of Step One, following advice from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation - Granville Island, with respect to continuing the planning process.

C. THAT the resources and budget, identified on page 5 of this report, to review and prepare a revised “Reference Document for Granville Island,” be approved at a total cost of $110,700, on a cost recovery basis, to be contributed in up to two payments by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation - Granville Island, with the first payment of $36,700 to be paid up front at the beginning of Step One and the second payment of $74,000 to be paid up front at the beginning of Step Two, should Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation - Granville Island agree to pursue Step Two of the planning process (and that staff not expend the Step Two funding if the cost recovery payment is not forthcoming).

GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The General Manager RECOMMENDS approval of A, B and C.

COUNCIL POLICY

· On April 18, 1978 Council approved the “Reference Document for Granville Island” noting that it “be approved for use by persons involved in the preparation of plans and proposals for the redevelopment of the Island, including the Development Permit Board. It was most recently amended on March 23, 1999 to reflect the current scale of development of Granville Island.

· On March 12 1998, Council resolved that amendments to the “Reference Document for Granville Island” to accommodate a multi-cinema complex at 1405 Anderson Street “be processed similarly to an amendment to an official development plan whereby Council may consider such changes, along with the principles of the development, at a Special Meeting of Council, similar to a Public Hearing, following a report including staff analysis and recommendations.”

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND

This report recommends a two step planning process, resources and budget for a review of the “Reference Document for Granville Island” (hereafter called the Reference Document). It also recommends a contribution from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation -Granville Island (hereafter called CMHC) to cover City costs for this work.

Last May, CMHC’s Manager for Granville Island approached staff with a proposal to review the Reference Document to identify a mutually agreed upon future for its evolution. The product of the review will be: for the first step, guiding principles for the amendment of the Reference Document, and; for the second step, a revised Reference Document. It will thereafter be used by City staff to evaluate development proposals for the Island.

DISCUSSION

Issues: In June and September, staff hosted three public open houses to identify issues for planning the future of Granville Island. Based on public feedback and issues of concern to the City and Granville Island, it is recommended that the review consider the following issues (see Appendix A for a summary of public input at the open houses):

· appropriate mix of uses and businesses: ensuring that new activities respect the character of the island and encouraging activities to increase night time activity;
· increases in the amount of developed floor space: there could be the expansion of existing facilities such as the public market or the introduction of new services and businesses;
· the scale of future buildings: what height and massing is appropriate for future buildings;
· parking: how should vehicular parking be provided for further development as there is little remaining parking capacity within existing facilities on the island to support further expansion of island facilities;
· pedestrian and vehicular access to and circulation on the island: access to and circulation on the island should be addressed as well as considering the potential for other transportation modes such as links to the heritage trolley;
· addressing impacts on adjacent neighbourhoods: when reviewing new uses, parking and vehicular access to the island consideration must be given to impacts on neighbouring residential areas;
· cultural activities and facilities: how can these be fostered on the island; and
· parks and recreation facilities: consideration will be given to the needs for open spaces and community facilities such as the False Creek Community Centre.

Linkage with Current Access and Traffic Calming Study: For the past several years, representatives of City Engineering and Planning, CMHC, Island businesses and the adjacent residential and business communities have been addressing the need for more effective pedestrian and vehiclular access to the island. The local residential community has also been concerned about traffic calming measures. The results of this study will be reported to Council this winter. The review of the Reference Document will be co-ordinated with and will be consistent with this work.

Process and Timing: Staff recommend that a jointly-managed two step 9-month planning process be initiated for the review and revision of the Reference Document. Step one will result in the presentation to Council and the Granville Island Trust of a set of guiding principles addressing the major themes for the island’s future. Following approval of the guiding principles, Council and CMHC will decide whether to proceed to Step Two. Step Two will result in the preparation of detailed amendments for the Reference Document, consistent with the guiding principles, for approval by Council and CMHC. The Public will be consulted throughout the process. The two-step process is further detailed in the following chart.

Time Frame	Step One:		Step Two:
	January - February, 2000	March, 2000 - early April 2000	April - June, 2000	July -September, 2000
Tasks	-Identify Issues -Identify Objectives -Collect Data	-Prepare Guiding Principles -Prepare Council Report	-Draft detailed revisions to the Reference Document	-Review by CMHC and City Council -Redrafted Reference Document published
Public Process	-Open Houses	-Open Houses -Focus Groups -Meetings with Community Groups -Delegations to City Council	-Open Houses -Table Draft Reference Document for Public Review	-Delegations to City Council
Products	-Draft Objectives and Issues	-Guiding Principles	-Draft Revised Reference Document	-Redrafted Reference Document

Resources: It is not possible to carry out this review without the use of temporary staffing, unless this work is deferred until at least 2001 when staff is freed up from other work. However, in the interest of having this work proceed next year, CMHC has offered to assist by contributing up to $110,700 in two payments to pay for the cost of additional temporary City staff. The first payment of $36,700 will fund Step One. If the City and CMHC agree, then Step Two will commence and a second payment of $74,000 will be made for this work. In any event, City resources will not be spent unless cost recovery payments are in hand.

CMHC will also be providing additional consulting resources for the preparation and evaluation of policy options and for seeking public input. The City will be contributing clerical support staff, urban design assistance, and supplementing the professional resources listed above for the redrafting of the Reference document as well as printing the revised document.

The following budget is proposed for the two steps.

	Step One (3.5 months)	Step Two (5.5 months)	Total
Planner II		$28,500 (5 months)	$28,500
Planning Assistant III	$13,600 (3.5 months)	$21,500 (5.5 months)	$35,100
Civil Engineer I	$6,100 (1 month)	$9,500 (2 months)	$15,600
Social Planning	$3,500 (3.5 months)	$5,500 (3.5 months)	$9,000
Park Board	$3,500 (3.5 months)	$5,500 (3.5 months)	$9,000
Computers, Equipment and Furniture	$9,000	$2,000	$11,000
Public Meetings	$1,000	$1,500	$2,500
Total	$36,700	$74,000	$110,700

CONCLUSION

CMHC is interested in working with the City on planning for the future evolution of Granville Island. A 9-month two step jointly managed planning process is proposed to ensure that future development reflects both the City’s and CMHC’s aspirations for Granville Island, one of Vancouver’s most popular destinations for residents and visitors.

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APPENDIX A
Page 1 of 1

Public Input at the Open Houses hosted by the Granville Island Trust Staff

In June and September, Granville Island staff hosted public open houses to identify issues for planning the future of Granville Island. The issues identified by the public included:

· traffic: this was by far the biggest concern whether one is driving (i.e. congestion) or walking (vehicle exhaust) onto the island;
· access for cyclists and persons with disabilities: the public felt that facilities could be improved;
· parking: a perceived shortage of parking;
· public transit: suggestions were made for the improvement of service;
· tour buses: concerns were raised about the number of tour buses;
· island character: opinion was divided over the continued presence of the concrete plant on the island and there were complaints about amplified buskers music;
· the relative lack of night-time activity: suggestions were made for more activities generating night time activity, improved light and security are needed; and
· crowds in the market: some felt the public market has become overcrowded.

Granville Island staff presented proposals for future change on the island and there was general support for:

· more artisan studios;
· more cultural and entertainment uses, including a small student or alternative cinema (rather than a larger mainstream cinema complex) or a small live theatre;
· a service centre, including a post office, bank, a small hardware store, a small pharmacy, flim developing and other services oriented to island visitors and businesses and employees;
· expansion of the public market and extending hours for island merchants to 6:30 or 7:00 p.m.

There were mixed views on the future of the Ocean Building Products site, with discussion on extending the waterfront walkway on this site, an interpretative centre, building a parkade with ground floor retail or retaining the industrial use.

The addition of a tram or streetcar generated widespread enthusiasm as well as providing off-island parking and providing bicycle and roller blade access on the causeway.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver