July 16, 2014 - Minutes

Time:

3:30 p.m.

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Joe Erceg, Chair
Robert Gonzalez, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works
John Irving, Director, Engineering

1.

Minutes

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel held on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, be adopted.

CARRIED

2.

Development Permit 14-662568
(File Ref. No.:  DP 14-662568)  (REDMS No. 4266509)

APPLICANT:

616147 BC Ltd.

PROPERTY LOCATION:

4220 Vanguard Road

INTENT OF PERMIT:

To permit the construction of a 283 m² industrial storage warehouse building with mezzanine level at 4220 Vanguard Road on a site zoned “Industrial Retail (IR1).”

Applicant’s Comments

Wendy Andrews and Reiner Siperko, 616147 BC Ltd., gave a brief overview of the proposed industrial storage warehouse building with respect to (i) urban design, (ii) architectural form and character, (iii) landscape and open space design, and (iv) vehicle accessibility.

Panel Discussion

Discussion ensued with regard to the proximity of the proposed structure to residential areas and the potential for excessive noise. Ms. Andrews advised that she anticipates that the building will mainly be used for storage and no external mechanical equipment will be used.

Discussion then ensued regarding pedestrian access to the site and in reply to queries from the Panel, Ms. Andrews advised that no new crossings are planned and she anticipates low pedestrian traffic to the site. She added that she anticipates that the existing driveway will be maintained and that a sidewalk along the side of the building will be added.

Staff Comments

Wayne Craig, Director, Development, noted that additional landscaping will be added on site to provide additional buffering.

Correspondence

None.

Gallery Comments

None.

Panel Decision

It was moved and seconded

That a Development Permit be issued which would permit the construction of a 283 m² industrial storage warehouse building with mezzanine level at 4220 Vanguard Road on a site zoned “Industrial Retail (IR1).”

CARRIED

3.

Development Permit 14-657502
(File Ref. No.:  DP 14-657502)  (REDMS No. 4254762)

APPLICANT:

Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.

PROPERTY LOCATION:

11380 Steveston Hwy.

INTENT OF PERMIT:

To permit the construction of an 882 m² addition and exterior renovation to the building at 11380 Steveston Hwy on a site zoned “Industrial Community Commercial (ZC6) – Ironwood Area.”

Applicant’s Comments

Andrew Gordon, Architect, Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. and Florian Fisch, Landscape Architect, Durante Kreuk Ltd., provided an overview of the proposed site addition and renovation with respect to architectural form and character and landscape and open space design. Mr. Gordon noted that parking stalls will be updated to include small car spaces and that an electric vehicle recharging station will be included in the proposed development.

Discussion ensued regarding the renovation components included in the application. In reply to queries from the Panel, Mr. Gordon advised that renovation of other buildings in the site will be completed in stages and that the proposed renovations will be fully integrated with the original structure.

Mr. Fisch gave an overview of the proposed landscaping and tree retention plan. He added that a wide walkway with seating elements will be included.

Panel Discussion

Discussion ensued with regard to the addition of parking spaces. Mr. Gordon noted that parking space lines will be repainted to accommodate new parking spaces.

In reply to queries from the Panel, Mr. Fisch commented on the placement of the proposed landscaping features and noted that there will be a net gain of landscaping elements in the proposed renovation.

In reply to queries from the Panel, Mr. Gordon advised that renovations to the structure will include updates to the façade and overhang as well the addition of glazing.

Discussion ensued regarding the access points to the site and Mr. Gordon advised that accessibility and sustainability features will include (i) widening of the sidewalk, (ii) increasing planting in the area, and (iii) installing an electric vehicle recharging station.

Farouk Babul, Westbank, suggested modifying the conditions of the development permit in order to expedite the application process. The Chair advised that the application would need to be referred back to staff in order to modify the development permit conditions.

Staff Comments

Mr. Craig advised that staff have worked with the applicant on aspects of (i) pedestrian and mobility access to the site, (ii) landscaping upgrades, and (iii) adding an electric vehicle charging station.

In reply to queries from the Panel, Mr. Craig noted that the proposed application meets the requirements for the total number of parking spaces as well as the ratio of small vehicle and regular vehicle parking spaces.

Correspondence

None.

Gallery Comments

Referring to letters from businesses in the area, (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1) and images of the site, (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2) David Porte and Daniel Bar-Dayan, Porte Realty Ltd., expressed concerns with regard to the proposed application and was of the opinion that:

§   

the size and location of the proposed application may restrict visibility of and connectivity to the adjacent buildings;

§   

the design of the proposed application does not reflect the retail nature of the adjacent buildings;

§   

visibility restrictions may negatively affect tenants of the adjacent building;

§   

the proposed design may restrict access and lead to traffic congestion; and

§   

the proposed design may restrict access to the adjacent loading bay and compromise pedestrian safety.

Alex Cairns, Cushman and Wakefield, expressed concerns with regard to the proposed application and was of the opinion that the proposed application may restrict access to adjacent buildings and negatively impact traffic.

Panel Discussion

Discussion ensued with regard to further design enhancements to the proposed application that would address concerns related to (i) accessibility to the neighbouring site, (ii) the ratio of small vehicle and regular vehicle parking spaces, and (iii) possible traffic congestion.

The Chair encouraged that the applicant examine the option of including the renovation of the entire site into the permit application. He also encouraged the applicant to undertake further consultation with neighbouring businesses to address concerns related to design.

Panel Decision

As a result of the discussion, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Application by Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. For a Development Permit at 11380 Steveston Hwy, dated June 20, 2014, from the Director, Development, be referred back to staff to examine:

(1)

enhancements to urban design and architectural form and character that would improve integration with other buildings on the site and accessibility to neighbouring sites;

(2)

changes to the location and ratio of small vehicle and regular vehicle parking spaces;

(3)

options to include the renovation of the entire site in the development permit;

and report back.

CARRIED

4.

Development Variance 13-634940
(File Ref. No.:  DV 13-634940)  (REDMS No. 4245844)

APPLICANT:

Onni 7731 Alderbridge Holding Corp.

PROPERTY LOCATION:

5311 and 5399 Cedarbridge Way

INTENT OF PERMIT:

To vary the provisions of Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 to further reduce the visitor parking requirement from 0.15 spaces/unit, as per Development Permit (DP 12-615424), to 0.10 spaces/unit for a portion of the development located at 5311 and 5399 Cedarbridge Way on a site zoned “High Density Low Rise Apartments (RAH2).”

Applicant’s Comments

Eric Hughes, Onni 7731 Alderbridge Holding Corp., gave a brief overview of the methodologies of the traffic and parking study related to the proposed application to reduce visitor parking on the proposed development. Mr. Hughes noted that the study compared parking rates of other developments in proximity to the site and the Canada Line. Also, Mr. Hughes advised that the overall parking rate between the two sites would be approximately 0.125 spaces/unit and that there will be interim visitor parking available during the construction phase of the east lot.

Panel Discussion

In reply to queries from the Panel, Mr. Hughes advised that the parking rate on the east lot would remain at 0.15 spaces/unit and that any future reduction to parking rates would be based on market demand.

Staff Comments

Mr. Craig noted that visitors will have access to both parking lots which will provide an average parking rate of 0.125 spaces/unit.

Panel Discussion

Discussion ensued with respect to pedestrian access to the Canada Line. Victor Wei, Director, Transportation, noted that sidewalk enhancements along Landsdowne Road will provide a continuous connection to Canada Line.

Discussion then ensued with regard to the development contributions to sidewalk enhancements.

Correspondence

None.

Gallery Comments

None.

Panel Decision

As a result of the discussion, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the staff report titled Application by Onni 7731 Alderbridge Holding Corp. for a Development Variance Permit at 5311 and 5399 Cedarbridge Way, dated June 27, 2014, from the Director, Development, be referred to staff to examine options to reduce the visitor parking requirement from 0.15 spaces/unit to 0.125 spaces/unit and report back to the Development Permit Panel meeting on July 30, 2014.

CARRIED

5.

New Business

6.

Date Of Next Meeting: July 30, 2014

7.

Adjournment

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting be adjourned at 5:02 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, 2014.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Joe Erceg
Chair

Evangel Biason
Auxiliary Committee Clerk