1.

Minutes

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel held on Wednesday,     January 14th, be adopted.

CARRIED

2.

Development Permit DP 03-244883
(Report: January 9/2003 File No.:  DP 03-244883)   (REDMS No. 1106072)

APPLICANT:

James Lee, Architect

PROPERTY LOCATION:

8711 Alexandra Road

INTENT OF PERMIT:

1.

To allow a 880.6 m (9,479 6 ft), three-storey karaoke building on a site zoned Automobile Oriented Commercial District (C6); and

2.

To vary the regulations in the Zoning and Development Bylaw to:

a)

reduce the road setback from 6.0 m to 5.0 m on Alexandra Road and to 5.8 m on Sorensen Crescent;

b)

reduce the rear yard setback from 25.0 m to 12.4 m adjacent to the residential zoning district to the north;

c)

reduce the manoeuvring aisles from 7.5 m to 6 m; and

d)

allow 48% of the parking spaces on-site (22 stalls) to be for small cars.

Applicants Comments

Mr. James Lee, Architect, representing the applicant advised that this development was devoted specifically for karaoke use.  He noted that the building had a unique design.  The upper area was comprised of smaller rooms and would be used by the general public, the lower area would house a private club and a dance floor.  He stated that the Advisory Design Panel had approved this project but were concerned about the safety and security of the rooftop garden (which was added on  due to a suggestion made by staff), and the lack of adequate parking on site.  To address these concerns, he noted that:

(1)         2 exits would be provided for the rooftop garden which would used primarily for parties; these would be monitored by both staff and a TV monitor, if this proved to be problematic, the roof would be secured with no access available to the public. 

(2)         a traffic consultants report had been provided to the City's Transportation Department who disagreed with the recommendations of the report. After numerous discussions with the applicant it was agreed that the required number of parking stalls for this type of business was 76.  He stated that only 45 parking stalls could be provided on this site, however, the applicant had verbal reciprocal agreements with two restaurant owners in the area, which would allow him to use their parking stalls after business hours and vice versa.   In response to a query from the Panel, he advised that the owners of those properties would not agree to a restrictive covenant tying down the off-site parking agreements.

Staff Comments

Mr. Holger Burke, Acting Development Applications Manager, stated that staff had suggested that the applicant use the roof deck as a green space, however, if safety was a concern to the Panel or neighbourhood, the suggestion could be retracted.  He advised that this application was only brought to Panel because staff had been advised that the applicant would secure 31 offsite parking spaces via a legal covenant.  However, the applicant had only recently advised that the owners of the adjacent property would not agree to a covenant and that arrangements with another restaurant were being proposed.   He advised that staff could not support this offsite parking proposal.  In response to a query from the Panel,  Mr. Burke, Acting Development Applications Manager,  advised that staff supported the proposed rear yard setback variance because the long term vision for the area to the north of the site was for mixed use/light industrial development. 

Panel then noted their concern that the properties on Leslie Road were zoned single family residential and that even though the facade of the building was curved, the height of the building would impact the property immediately behind the development.  In response to a query from the Panel Mr. Lee stated that there was a row of trees on the neighbouring property which buffered it from the development.  He also stated that the site would be graded to the level of the neighbouring property in order to preserve the trees.  Mr. Burke, noted that there was a large existing tree on the subject site that would be retained to buffer the proposed Karaoke building from the single family residence to the north.

In response to a query from the Panel, Ms. Donna Chan, Transportation Engineer, advised that the City's Transportation Department had reviewed the applicants traffic study and although they agreed with the rates provided, they did not agree with the reports recommendation.  She noted that after several discussions with the applicant it was agreed that the recommended parking stalls would be equivalent to what was required under the building code analysis.

Correspondence

None.

Gallery Comments

Mr. Caspar Fagel, 8740 Leslie Road, advised that he lived directly behind this site and noted that a three-storey building would dwarf his house, and especially, he did not support the reduced rear yard setback variance which the applicant requested.  In response to a query from the Panel, staff advised that unless this was an establishment with a liquor licence, there would be no restrictions on operating hours.  Mr. Fagel then noted that presently, his sleeping pattern was continuously disturbed because of noise made by either restaurants or their patrons until about 5:00 am in the morning.     

Mrs. Diane Styles, 8680 Leslie Road, noted her concerns that she could not sleep at night because of the activities of restaurant patrons and other late night activities in this area.  She also stated her concern that there was an illegal parking lot established at 8631 Alexandra Road.

Mr. Bert Lesage, 8660 Leslie Road, stated his concerns about sleepless nights because of activities of patrons in this area.  He also noted his concern about the illegal parking lot at 8631 Alexandra Road.

Panel Discussion

Discussion then ensued among Panel Members and it was agreed that although the design of the building was attractive, due to the lack of adequate parking and the 50% reduction in the setback requested to the adjacent residential uses, they could not support this application.

Panel Decision

It was moved and seconded

That a Development Permit for 8711 Alexandra Road that would:

1.

Allow a 880.6 m (9,479 6 ft), three-storey karaoke building on a site zoned Automobile Oriented Commercial District (C6); and

2.

Vary the regulations in the Zoning and Development Bylaw to:

a)

reduce the road setback from 6.0 m to 5.0 m on Alexandra Road and to 5.8 m on Sorensen Crescent;

b)

reduce the rear yard setback from 25.0 m to 12.4 m adjacent to the residential zoning district to the north;

c)

reduce the manoeuvring aisles from 7.5 m to 6 m; and

d)

allow 48% of the parking spaces on-site (22 stalls) to be for small cars,

BE DENIED.

CARRIED

3.

Development Permit DP 03-249869
(Report: January 7/2004 File No.:  DP03-249869)   (REDMS No. 1101215)

APPLICANT:

J.A.B. Enterprises Ltd.

PROPERTY LOCATION:

7040 Blundell Road

INTENT OF PERMIT:

1.

To allow development of three (3) two-storey townhouse units containing a total floor area of 550.45 m2 (5,925 ft2) on one (1) combined lot with a total area of 2,300 m2 (24,754 ft2); and

2.

To vary the provisions of the Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 5300 as follows:

a)

reduce the side yard setback along the west property line from 3.0 m      (9.843 ft.) to 1.63 m (5.35 ft.) for a portion of the principal building on one (1) townhouse unit at the south-west corner of the site; and

b)

reduce the side yard setback along the west property line from 3.0 m     (9.843 ft.) to 1.32 m (5.35 ft.) for a two-story box bay window and gas fireplace on one (1) townhouse unit at the southwest corner of the site.

Applicants Comments

None.

Staff Comments

Mr. Holger Burke, Manager, Development Applications, advised that staff supported this application.

Correspondence

None.

Gallery Comments

None.

Panel Discussion

None.

Panel Decision

It was moved and seconded

That a Development Permit be issued for 7040 Blundell Road on a site zoned Comprehensive Development District (CD/23) which would:

1.

Allow development of three (3) two-storey townhouse units containing a total floor area of 550.45 m2 (5,925 ft2) on one (1) combined lot with a total area of 2,300 m2 (24,754 ft2); and

2.

Vary the provisions of the Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 5300 as follows:

a)

reduce the side yard setback along the west property line from 3.0 m (9.843 ft.) to 1.63 m (5.35 ft.) for a portion of the principal building on one (1) townhouse unit at the south-west corner of the site; and

b)

reduce the side yard setback along the west property line from 3.0 m (9.843 ft.) to 1.32 m (5.35 ft.) for a two-story box bay window and gas fireplace on one (1) townhouse unit at the southwest corner of the site.

CARRIED

4.

Adjournment

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting be adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Wednesday,         January 28^th, 2004.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Jeff Day, General Manager

Engineering and Public Works, Chair

 

Desiree Wong
Recording Secretary