1.

Minutes

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel held on February 28, 2007, be adopted.

CARRIED

2.

DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE DV 06-351211
(Report: February 14, 2007 File No.:  DV 06-351211)   (REDMS No. 2080180)

APPLICANT:

Ron Johnston (Contura Building Corporation)

PROPERTY LOCATION:

12033 Riverside Way

INTENT OF PERMIT:

To vary the provisions of the Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 5300 to increase the maximum building height of the “Business Park Industrial District (I3)” from 12 m (39.4 ft.) to 14 m (46 ft.), in order to permit construction of a three-storey office building.

Applicant’s Comments

Darcy Forcier spoke on behalf of the owner, and was joined by Ron Johnston, the applicant, and by Chip Barrett, the architect.

Mr. Forcier gave a brief overview of the project and supplied the following details:

·         

a three-story office building is proposed to be situated near the main intersection of No. 5 Road and Steveston Highway, on a site zoned Business Park Industrial District (I3);

·         

the main entrance to the building is oriented off the main parking area, toward the east;

·         

landscaping features, such as planting islands, have been added to the parking lot to soften the building and the parking lot appearance;

·         

parapet treatments have been added to assist in screening some upper floor units from the HVAC system;

·         

the applicant is seeking the variance because the parapet treatment would make the building more aesthetically pleasing;

Staff Comments

Jean Lamontagne, Director of Development, advised that the three storeys are within the height limit for the Business Park Industrial District (I3), and the variance is minor in the overall scheme. The sections of the building that feature a maximum building height of 14 metres are located in the vicinity of the main entrance, and include parapet articulations.

Correspondence

Jennifer Kirk, c/o Barry Allan Meppelink, 639056 BC Ltd, 12011 Riverside Way, Richmond (attached as Schedule 1 and forms a part of these minutes).

Barry Meppelink, Nathan Allan Glass Studios Inc., 12011 Riverside Way, Richmond (attached as Schedule 2 and forms a part of these minutes).

Glenn Taylor, Global Collective Design Inc., #130 – 11300 No. 5 Road, Richmond (attached as Schedule 3 and forms a part of these minutes).

George Hayhoe, The Beedie Group, 5367 Kingsway, Burnaby (attached as Schedule 4 and forms a part of these minutes).

Gallery Comments

None.

Panel Discussion

In response to in inquiry, Mr. Forcier advised that where the exterior height has been maximized, the increase in exterior height has had no impact on the height of the ceilings inside the building.

In response to a query, Mr. Lamontagne stated that the proposed building is set back substantially from No. 5 Road and from adjacent buildings, and that occupants of the office building to the south of the proposed building would retain a view.  In addition, the majority of the proposed building that is facing the building to the south is within the allowed height limit.  In response to a further query, Mr. Lamontagne advised that the maximum density would permit a larger building than currently proposed but the overall building size was limited by the ability to satisfy the on-site parking requirements. 

Panel Decision

It was moved and seconded

That a Development Variance Permit be issued which would vary the provisions of the Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 5300 to increase the maximum building height of the “Business Park Industrial District (I3)” from 12 m (39.4 ft.) to 14 m (46 ft.), in order to permit construction of a three-storey office building at 12033 Riverside Way

CARRIED

3.

Adjournment

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting be adjourned at 3:44 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, March 14, 2007.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Cathryn Volkering Carlile

Chair

Sheila Johnston
Committee Clerk