September 25, 2019 - Minutes

Time:

3:30 p.m.

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

John Irving, Chair 
Laurie Bachynski, Director, Corporate Business Service Solutions 
Jim Young, Acting Director, Facilities

Minutes

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel held on September 11, 2019 be adopted.

CARRIED

1.

DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 18-797026 
HERITAGE ALTERATION PERMIT 18-797029 
(REDMS No. 6201440)

APPLICANT:

Eric Stedman Architect

PROPERTY LOCATION:

12060 & 12080 1st Avenue

INTENT OF PERMIT:

1.

Permit the construction of a three-storey, mixed-use development at 12060 and 12080 1st Avenue on a site zoned “Steveston Commercial (CS3)”;

2.

Vary the provisions of Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 to:

(a)

increase the maximum permitted building height from 12 m to 14 m to allow stair and elevator access to the rooftop outdoor amenity area;

(b)

increase the total allowable maximum aggregate width of a recessed balcony opening on the front façade from 25% of the lot width to 32% of the lot width on the 2nd and 3rd storeys;

(c)

increase the allowable maximum aggregate area of all recesses and openings on the front façade from 33% to 35 %; and

(d)

reduce the minimum required vehicle manoeuvring aisle width in the parking area from 7.5 m to 6.7 m; and

3.

Issuance of a Heritage Alteration Permit (HA 18-797029) at 12060 and 12080 1st Avenue in accordance with the Development Permit.

Applicant’s Comments

Eric Stedman, Eric Stedman Architect, with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (attached to and forming part of these Minutes as Schedule 1) provided background information on the proposed development and highlighted the following:

§   

the subject site consists of two lots, one of which contains a private garden;

§   

the proposed three-storey mixed-use building with a continuous recessed commercial storefront at ground level and two upper storeys of residential spaces is consistent with the existing zoning for the site; 

§   

the front and rear building elevations are divided into two distinct facades to reflect the historic lot lines;

§   

four commercial retail units are provided on the ground floor;

§   

the building’s architecture and details are inspired by historic buildings in the neighbourhood and reflect their heritage character;

§   

the proposed variance to increase the aggregate width of recessed balcony openings as a percentage of the lot width will allow for more daylight access into the upper level  residential units;

§   

the proposed elevator and stair projections are located at the centre of the building to minimize their visual impact from all angles;

§   

a common outdoor amenity space is proposed on the building rooftop; and

§   

a significant amount of glass is proposed for the front and rear ground floor of the building to maximize visibility.

Caroline Kennedy, CJ Kennedy Landscape Design, briefed the Panel on the main landscape features of the project, noting that (i) additional angled on-street parking spaces fronting the building are proposed, (ii) linear pavers will be installed adjacent to the commercial frontage and rear residential entry, (iii) landscaping including interpretive heritage signs on the commercial frontage and at the rear of the site are intended to commemorate the history of the Sakata family house and garden, (iv) screened residential parking is proposed at the rear of the site, (v) permeable pavers will be installed for the residential and visitor parking spaces adjacent to the back of the building, (vi) replacement trees will be planted at the rear of the site and on the rooftop deck, and (vii) a landscaped common outdoor amenity area is proposed on the rooftop deck of the building.

Staff Comments

Wayne Craig, Director, Development, noted that (i) the proposed development is consistent with the existing zoning for the site, subject to the proposed variances, (ii) the development’s proposed landscaping including installation of interpretive signage commemorates the existing house and garden of the Sakata family, (iii) the proposed variances are related to the building height, width of recessed balconies, overall area of recessed openings along the 1^st Avenue frontage, and vehicle manoeuvring aisle width in the parking area at the rear of the site, (iv) the project was reviewed and supported by the Richmond Heritage Commission and Advisory Design Panel subject to their recommendations and comments, and (v) there is a Servicing Agreement associated with the proposed development for frontage works along 1^st Avenue and the rear lane as well as for site services.

Gallery Comments

None.

Correspondence

None.

Panel Discussion

In reply to queries from the Panel, Mr. Stedman and Ms. Kennedy noted that (i) the proposed colour palette for the three-storey building is inspired by the colours of neighbouring heritage buildings, (ii) the front façade treatment has been carried around the south and rear elevations, (iii) the design of windows for the subject development reflects the windows of the heritage building containing the Post Office, (iv) the elevator structure has been designed to minimize its height and meet the standards of the Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, and  (v) the elevator structure on the rooftop is clad with shingle material consistent with the high-quality exterior cladding materials proposed for the building.

In reply to further queries from the Panel, the design team noted that (i) planting at the ground and rooftop levels reflect the heritage character of the Sakata family garden, (ii) the interpretive heritage signage at the rear of the site is visible from the rear lane, (iii) a mural will not be incorporated on the south wall of the building as the façade treatment is not consistent with the character of the buildings in Steveston Village, (iv) the decorative garden pattern trench drain along the building frontage helps commemorate the history of the Sakata family garden, (v) maintaining continuous access along the pedestrian arcade was a major consideration in the design of proposed landscaping along the 1^st Avenue commercial frontage, (vi) the proposed landscaping is intended to achieve a garden feel with smaller massing of planting as opposed to standard landscaping, and (vii) hose bibs will be installed in the recessed balconies to allow for irrigation of future planting in those areas.

Panel Discussion

The Panel expressed support for the project, noting the applicant’s significant effort to reflect the heritage character and history of the site and achieve the City’s objectives through the design of the project.

Panel Decision

It was moved and seconded

1.

That a Development Permit be issued which would permit the construction of a three-storey, mixed-use development at 12060 and 12080 1st Avenue on a site zoned “Steveston Commercial (CS3)”;

2.

Vary the provisions of Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 to:

(a)

increase the maximum permitted building height from 12 m to 14 m to allow stair and elevator access to the rooftop outdoor amenity area;

(b)

increase the total allowable maximum aggregate width of a recessed balcony opening on the front façade from 25% of the lot width to 32% of the lot width on the 2nd and 3rd storeys;

(c)

increase the allowable maximum aggregate area of all recesses and openings on the front façade from 33% to 35 %; and

(d)

reduce the minimum required vehicle manoeuvring aisle width in the parking area from 7.5 m to 6.7 m; and

3.

That a Heritage Alteration Permit (HA 18-797029) be issued at 12060 and 12080 1st Avenue in accordance with the Development Permit.

CARRIED

2.

Date of Next Meeting:  October 17, 2019

3.

Adjournment

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting be adjourned at 4:10 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, September 25, 2019.

_______________________________

_____________________________

John Irving 
Chair

Rustico Agawin 
Committee Clerk