July 16, 2008 - Minutes


City of Richmond Meeting Minutes

Development Permit Panel

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

 

Time:

3:30 p.m.

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Cathryn Volkering Carlile, Chair
Victor Wei, Director, Transportation
Dave Semple, Director of Parks and Public Works Operations

The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m.

 

1.

Minutes

 

It was moved and seconded

 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel held on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, be adopted.

CARRIED

 

2.

Development Permit 07-394476
(Report: June 12, 2008 File No.:  DP 07-394476)   (REDMS No. 2434468)

 

APPLICANT:

Yamamoto Architecture Inc.

 

 

PROPERTY LOCATION:

7080, 7100 Bridge Street and 7111, 7131, 7151 No. 4 Road

 

 

INTENT OF PERMIT:

 

 

1.

To permit the construction of 45 two-storey townhouse units at 7080, 7100 Bridge Street and 7111, 7131, 7151 No. 4 Road on a site zoned “Townhouse District (R2-0.6)”; and

 

2.

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

 

 

a)

reduce the required side yard setback along the western portion of the northern property line to permit a portion of four (4) buildings to encroach a maximum of 1.5 m into the required setback.

 

 

Applicant’s Comments

 

Mr. Taizo Yamamoto of Yamamoto Architecture Inc., used display boards and a miniature model to point out the following salient features of the proposed development:

 

·   

45 2-storey units with double car garages will be constructed between Bridge Street and No. 4 Road;

 

·   

A future Sills Avenue close to Bridge Street will provide access to 6 units and a second access located at the intersection of future Sills Avenue and LeChow Street will provide access to the rest of the development;

 

·   

The No. 4 Road access is limited to emergency use only;

 

·   

The request to vary the required side yard setbacks along the western portion of the northern property line to permit four (4) buildings to encroach a maximum of 1.5 meters will result in a negligible impact to the northern adjacent site;

 

·   

Two (2) units are designed to be converted to fully accessible units;

 

·   

The outdoor amenity space is located near the main access to the development; and

 

·   

Pedestrian pathways have been incorporated within the site.

 

 

Staff Comments

 

Mr. Brian Jackson, Director of Development, stated that staff recommends in favour of issuing a development permit.  He added that he supports the requested variance on the required setback and noted that the applicant had appropriately responded to and dealt with the issue by including recesses to the building elevation.

 

Mr. Jackson made reference to the statutory rights of way of pedestrian and vehicular movements. He advised that staff would like to make additional recommendations to Council that would authorize staff to:

 

·          

Discharge the statutory right of way for pedestrian access registered under Plan BCP 8513 (Ref. No. BV 499715);

 

·          

Discharge an access easement for vehicle access registered under Plan BCP 8515 (Ref. No. BV 499719); and

 

·          

Retain an access easement for vehicle access (for 7038 Bridge Street, which is located north of the Dava Development and not associated with the subject development application) registered under Plan BCP 8514 (Ref. No. BV 499717).

 

Mr. Jackson explained that said recommendations were made because the envisioned connectivity between  the subject property and Dava Development, which is located on its northern side, was not realized.

 

In closing, he expressed appreciation to the applicant for having responded very well to the comments of the Advisory Design Panel and staff.

 

 

Correspondence

 

None.

 

 

Gallery Comments

 

A member of the Strata Council to the north of subject property expressed concerns  on right of way issues  and the possible noise and pollution that will be brought about by the reduction of the required setback on Building 16.

 

Mr. Yamamoto, upon being asked by the Chair to respond, clarified that the reduced setback on Building 16 is not really significant.

 

At this juncture, Mr. Jackson reiterated the staff’s recommendation to Panel that the latter  recommend to Council that said right of way be discharged.

 

 

Panel Discussion

 

In response to a question whether special provisions have been made in the parking area of 2 accessible units that could be readily converted for disabled residents to accommodate their needs, Mr. Yamamoto said that in addition to the standard-sized garage, there are also 2 accessible visitor stalls, one of which could be possibly adapted to accommodate bigger accessible vehicles.

 

In response to other questions, Mr. Yamamoto added that the proposed development is family orientated and pointed to the location of playground and its access points in the display board. As well, he indicated in the display board the sites earmarked for the retention and relocation of trees.

 

 

Panel Decision

 

It was moved and seconded

 

That a Development Permit be issued which would:

 

1.

Permit the construction of 45 two-storey townhouse units at 7080, 7100 Bridge Street and 7111, 7131, 7151 No. 4 Road on a site zoned “Townhouse District (R2-0.6)”; and

 

2.

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

 

 

a)

reduce the required side yard setback along the western portion of the northern property line to permit a portion of four (4) buildings to encroach a maximum of 1.5 m into the required setback; and

 

That the Panel recommend to Council to authorize:

 

1.

Discharge the statutory right of way for pedestrian access registered under Plan BCP 8513 (Ref. No. BV 499715);

 

2.

Discharge an access easement for vehicle access registered under Plan BCP 8515 (Ref. No. BV 499719);

 

3.

Retention of an access easement for vehicle access (for 7038 Bridge Street which is located north of the Dava Development and not associated with the subject development application) registered under Plan BCP 8514 (Ref. No. BV 499717); and

 

4.

 Staff to take all necessary steps to complete the matter including authorizing the Manger, Real Estate Services, to negotiate and execute all documentation to effect the transaction, including Land Title Office documentation.

 

(CARRIED)

 

3.

Development Permit 08-422493
(Report: June 17, 2008 File No.: 
DP 08-422493)   (REDMS No. 2454328)

 

APPLICANT:

J. Sanghera, K. Sanghera, S. Sanghera, and G. Sanghera

 

 

PROPERTY LOCATION:

8880 Sidaway Road

 

 

INTENT OF PERMIT:

 

 

To permit the construction of a single-family dwelling and provide compensation enhancement planting on a site zoned Agricultural District (AG1) and designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area.

 

 

Applicant’s Comments

 

Mr. Jasbinder Sanghera, representing the family of J. Sanghera, K. Sanghera, S. Sanghera, and G. Sanghera, made a PowerPoint presentation and described the plan as follows:

 

·          

A single family house will be constructed to replace an existing house on the property and will be located in the center of the property;

 

·          

All building structures, except the septic field are located within the 50 meters setback area; and

 

·          

The new house is designed to meet the minimum habitable elevation requirement of 3.0 meters GSC.

 

He also advised that his family is committed to preserving the ESA and RMA thru replanting in approximately  2,600 sq. m2 land area;  retaining existing trees and vegetation; and paying the $30,099.44 security to the City of Richmond for the site replanting plan.

 

In addition, he stated that coordination has been made with appropriate agencies with regard to the location of the proposed driveway which is at least 15 feet from other driveways.

 

 

Staff Comments

 

Mr. Jackson recommended the issuance of a development permit and commended the applicant for quickly addressing ESA and RMA issues; working closely with staff to address Council concerns; and hiring a biologist to look into the area in greater detail.

 

 

Correspondence

 

None.

 

 

Gallery Comments

 

None.

 

 

Panel Discussion

 

Responding to a concern raised about the position of the proposed gate to the property relative to Sidaway Road, Mr. Sanghera advised that the distance between the gate and the said road is 28 feet.

 

In response to a question, he stated that the garage area could also serve as storage area for equipment used in ground maintenance.

 

In reply to a query on how he has been dealing with environmental and riparian requirements of the proposed development, Mr. Sanghera advised that he has been working closely with City Hall and the Department of Fisheries and Ocean to address environmental and riparian concerns.

 

 

Panel Decision

 

It was moved and seconded

 

That a Development Permit be issued which would permit the construction of a single family dwelling and provide compensation enhancement planting at 8880 Sidaway Road on a site zoned Agricultural District (AG1) and designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area.

 

CARRIED

 

4.

Development Permit 08-422727
(Report: June 18, 2008 File No.:  DP 08-422727)   (REDMS No. 2464135)

 

APPLICANT:

Ventana Construction Corporation

 

 

PROPERTY LOCATION:

12100 Featherstone Way

 

 

INTENT OF PERMIT:

 

 

To permit the construction of an automobile dealership on a site zoned Comprehensive Development District (CD/187).

 

 

Applicant’s Comments

 

Dean Huggins, Architect of McDonnel, Quiring and Newmann Architects, stated that the main automobile dealership building is currently under construction and this Development Permit deals primarily with a second automobile dealership building which will share the same architectural vocabulary.

 

He also mentioned some minor adjustments to the originally approved plan such as the removal of the signage on the northeast corner of the roof and some minor changes to the original landscaping are incorporated.  A climbing vine feature is incorporated into the south elevation of the proposed new building to provided additional screening and there are new trees added to the site.

 

 

Staff Comments

 

Mr. Jackson stated that staff recommends the issuance of development permit.

 

 

 

Correspondence

 

None.

 

 

Gallery Comments

 

None.

 

 

Panel Discussion

 

In reply to a query on how the delivery of vehicles is proposed to be done for the second automobile dealership, Mr. Huggins advised that the same loading area will be utilized by both the main and secondary automobile dealerships.

 

 

Panel Decision

 

It was moved and seconded

 

That a Development Permit be issued which would permit the construction of an automobile dealership at 12100 Featherstone Way on a site zoned Comprehensive Development District (CD/187).

 

CARRIED

 

5.

Adjournment

 

It was moved and seconded

 

 

That the meeting be adjourned at 4:05 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, July 16, 2008.

________________________________

_________________________________

Cathryn Volkering Carlile
Chair

Rustico Agawin
Committee Clerk