1.

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel held on
July 27^th, 2005, be adopted.

CARRIED

2.

DEVELOPMENT PERMIT DP 04-280280
(Report: July 15^th, 2005 File No.: DP  04-280280)   (REDMS No. 1594006)

APPLICANT:

JLA Architecture

PROPERTY LOCATION:

8711 Alexandra Road

INTENT OF PERMIT:

1.

To permit the construction of a 444 m² (4,777 ft²) karaoke entertainment building at 8711 Alexandra Road on a site zoned Automobile Oriented Commercial District (C6); and

2.

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

a)

Reduce the road setback from 6 m (19.685 ft.) to 0 m (0 ft.) for portions of the building along Alexandra Road and Sorenson Crescent;

b)

Increase the allowable number of small car stalls from 30% (12 stalls) to 73% (27 stalls); and

c)

Reduce the width of manoeuvring drive-aisles from 7.5 m (24.6 ft.) to 6.7 m (22 ft.).

Applicant’s Comments

Mr. Michael Wu Applicant, advised that this project had been approved at a previous meeting of the Development Permit Panel, however, construction costs were too high and a decision was made to reduce the building floor area.  He noted that revised design included the following items to address staff and Advisory Design Panel comments:

-             the design of the building was semi-circular with the main floor at ground level;

-             the second floor was reduced in size;

-             the primary vehicle entrance to the site was off Alexandra Road with a second access on Sorenson Crescent;

-             the streetscape walls of the building were animated through the use of coloured panels, with a different colour palette for the second floor;

-             the primary building entrance was at the front of the building with the rear entrance being primarily used as an exit-only door;

-             a drop off point adjacent to the vehicle access from Alexandra Road was added at the request of the Design Panel;

-             a fenced garbage enclosure was included in the building design adjacent to the stairwell at the rear of the building;

-             a willow tree was retained and permeable surfaces would be used in all landscaped areas;

-             he indicated they were trying to plant some trees on the adjacent commercial site to the east to improve the site landscaping.  He noted he had contacted the manager of the property concerning this issue, but did not have a response as yet.  In response to a query from the Panel he advised that if this were not possible, he would install a 6’ cedar fence along the property line; and

-             a walkway from the parking lot to the building had been provided.

In response to a query from the Panel, staff advised that:

-             the parking variances had been reviewed by the transportation department and were a function of the site size, tree retention, perimeter landscaping and the pedestrian walkway through the parking lot.

In response to a query from the Panel, Mr. Wu, advised that:

-               the pedestrian walkway could not be landscaped because of the car overhang from the parking stalls, however, he noted that bollards would be used to light the walkway;

-               the roof deck faced Alexandra Road and Sorensen Crescent and there was no plans to use this area except as an access to a fire-escape and the area was visible from inside the building;

-               the building was further away from the single-family residence than in the previous proposal, and that trees would be planted to buffer the property and, as well, a full-time security guard would be employed to secure the area;

-               the site fully met the city’s requirements for setbacks and guidelines for openness for the intended use;

-             in his business experience the client demographic typically drove compact cars;

-             the architect had investigated a number of parking lot layouts and was convinced that this was the best solution for the placement of parking stalls on site;

-             that if large car stalls were required, the pedestrian walkway would have to be eliminated; and

-             the trees being suggested on the adjacent commercial site to the east would be provided at the developer’s cost and that he would make every effort to contact the owner in order to get their approval to landscape this area.

Staff Comments

Mr. Holger Burke, Acting Director of Development, advised that the building had been reduced in size because of construction costs.  Setback variances had been requested for the curved portion of the building.  He noted that transportation staff supported the small car stalls variance because of the narrowness of the site, the provision of a walkway and the setback from Sorenson Crescent.  He advised that the request for a variance for reduction in width of manoeuvring drive-aisles was fairly common.

Correspondence

None.

Gallery Comments

None.

Panel Discussion

The Panel indicated that they wanted the applicant to further pursue the installation of landscaping on the adjacent commercial site to the east and to provide staff with an update on whether an agreement could be secured prior to the Development Permit being presented to Council.

Panel Decision

It was moved and seconded

That a Development Permit be issued which would:

1.

Permit the construction of a 444 m² (4,777 ft²) karaoke entertainment building at 8711 Alexandra Road on a site zoned Automobile Oriented Commercial District (C6); and

2.

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

(a)

Reduce the road setback from 6 m (19.685 ft.) to 0 m (0 ft.) for portions of the building along Alexandra Road and Sorenson Crescent;

(b)

Increase the allowable number of small car stalls from 30% (12 stalls) to 73% (27 stalls); and

(c)

Reduce the width of manoeuvring drive-aisles from 7.5 m (24.6 ft.) to 6.7 m
(22 ft.).

CARRIED

3.

DEVELOPMENT PERMIT DP 05-292236
(Report: July 21^st, 2005 File No.:  DP 05-292236)   (REDMS No. 1620814, 1614058)

APPLICANT:

Sandhill Developments Ltd.

PROPERTY LOCATION:

11000, 11020, 11040, 11080, 11100 No. 5 Road and 12000 Steveston Highway

INTENT OF PERMIT:

1.

To permit the construction of a commercial development with three (3) buildings at 11000, 11020, 11040, 11080, 11100 No. 5 Road and 12000 Steveston Highway on a site zoned Comprehensive Development District (CD/161); and

2.

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

a)

Reduce the public road setback (No. 5 Road) from 6 m to 4.2 m for the south building; and

b)

Increase the percentage of the 123 required parking spaces, which are permitted to be for small cars, from 30% to 31% to permit one (1) additional small parking space.

Applicant’s Comments

Ms. Andrea Scott, representing the applicant, briefly described the project and advised that a 6’ wide pedestrian walkway was provided in front of the commercial buildings, a number of pedestrian walkways were incorporated into the site plan and pavement texture and colours were used to further distinguish the walkways and drive aisles.  2 trellis features, incorporating rock columns, were used to anchor the project and construction materials used complimented the Ironwood site across the road.  In response to a query from the Panel, she advised that the garbage enclosure was adjacent to the proposed pub with access to the garbage area being provided from the rear lane.

Staff Comments

Mr. Holger Burke, Acting Director of Development, advised that:

-             the rezoning application was approved for this site on July 25^th, 2005;

-             the applicant had hired a consulting firm to perform a public survey of residents in the area with regard to the proposed pub, and a meeting had been arranged for
August 23^rd, 2005 to hear public comments;

-             staff were generally satisfied with the design of the project, and that a variance was requested for a road setback because of a road dedication requirements; and

-             the applicant had acquired the property next to the site (12060 Steveston Hwy) with the intention of rezoning the site as a future phase of this commercial development and therefore the adjacency issues would be resolved through the future rezoning and Development Permit process.

In response to a query from the Panel, he advised that the existing industrial property would screen blank walls, and future development would also do the same.

Correspondence

Neil and Mary Friesen, 10711 Seamount Road, Richmond (attached as Schedule 1 and forms a part of these minutes).  In response to a query from the Panel, Mr. Burke advised that the applicant had dedicated land along Steveston Highway and No. 5 Road and would be providing traffic improvements for the area and that the land use issue was dealt with through the rezoning process.

Gallery Comments

None.

Panel Discussion

Chair advised that the applicant had done a good job in developing the site, as well as with flood proofing issues.

Panel Decision

It was moved and seconded

That a Development Permit be issued which would:

1.

Permit the construction of a commercial development with three (3) buildings at 11000, 11020, 11040, 11080, 11100 No. 5 Road and 12000 Steveston Highway on a site zoned Comprehensive Development District (CD/161); and

2.

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

a)

b)

Increase the percentage of the 123 required parking spaces, which are permitted to be for small cars, from 30% to 31% to permit one (1) additional small parking space.

CARRIED

4.

Adjournment

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting be adjourned at 4:09 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, August 10^th, 2005.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Joe Erceg
Chair

Desiree Wong
Committee Clerk