Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall
6911 No. 3 Road

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Rob Howard
Councillor Kiichi Kumagai
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Harold Steves

Gail Johnson, Acting Corporate Officer

Call to Order:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie opened the proceedings at 7:02 p.m.

1A.

SINGLE-FAMILY LOT SIZE POLICY 5442 (SECTION 19-4-6 & 20-4-6)

(Mirabel Court, the south side of Blundell Road, and the west and east sides of Gilbert Road south of Blundell Road; Applicant:  City of Richmond)

1B.

SINGLE-FAMILY LOT SIZE POLICY 5408 (SECTION 18-4-6)

(Blundell Road, Gilbert Road, Comstock Road and No. 2 Road.; Applicant:  City of Richmond)

Applicant’s Comments:

Mr. Holger Burke, Acting Director, Development, stated that the applicant for the development at 8091 Gilbert Road, 6760 and 6800 Blundell Road had met with the residents in the neighbourhood and presented them with 3 redevelopment options.  At that time, residents stated they would strongly support a 5 lot subdivision, were mildly supportive of a 6 lot subdivision but would not support a 7 lot subdivision which was the applicant’s preference.

Written Submissions:

Received from Patrick Cotter’s Office (Schedule 1):

Signed Petition (13 names) from residents of Mirabel Court

o           John and Vicki Davies, 8151 Mirabel Court

o           Banting Family, 8131 Mirabel Court

o           Jackie Lui, 8391 Mirabel Court

o           Williamson Family , 8166 Mirabel Court

o           Dhillon Family, 8060 Mirabel Court

o           Yeung Tam Ki & Ling Wai Si, 8360 Mirabel Court

o           Ah Yon Family, 8011 Mirabel Court

o           Sam Family, 8441 Mirabel Court

o           Reynolds Family, 8280 Mirabel Court

Rey Janssen Lim, 8260 Gilbert Road, (Schedule 2)

B. Kelief, Gilbert Road, (Schedule 3)

Nestor D. Isla, 5536 La Mirada Avenue, Los Angeles, (Schedule 4)

Clare & Anne Ashe, 8171 Mirabel Court (Schedule 5)

Simon & Donna Austin, 6900 Chelmsford Street, (Schedule 6)

John & Vicki Davies, 8151 Mirabel Court (Schedule 7)

Arthur & Joy Ratnarajah, 6580 Chelmsford Street, (Schedule 8)

Patrick Cotter, 5735 Ferguson Court, Delta, (Schedule 9)

Kathleen Bruyns, 7640 Curzon Street, (Schedule 10)

Submissions from the floor:

Mr. John Fortier, 8220 Gilbert Road, queried why his property could not be rezoned multi-family as it was between a school, an assembly hall and a townhouse complex.  He asked that the recommendation for the lot size policy 5442 be rejected since not enough thought had been given to the proposed rezonings.  He advised he had not been notified of the public consultation process for the lot size policies. In response to a query from Council, Mr. Fortier stated that he would prefer smaller lots and some multi-family residences.

In response to a query from Council, Mr. Burke stated that property owners on the east side of Gilbert Road had been notified of the public consultation process but very little response had been received.  However, of those received, residents indicated they did not want townhouses in the area because they were concerned about an increase in traffic.

Mrs. Mary Dickson, 6520 Chelmsford Street, stated her concerns if multi-family residences were allowed: elevation of the site; height of the buildings; tree retention; and an increase in traffic.  In response Mr. Burke advised that buildings would be restricted to 2½ storeys; the lots did not require elevation; and the trees on the properties would be addressed if and when an application for rezoning of the properties was received.  Mrs. Dickson then stated that she was not in favour of the development because the lots proposed were too small.

Mr. Michael Tilby, spoke against Lot Size Policy 5408.  He stated that one of the reasons why staff had not received a greater response from the residents in this area may have been because of a language barrier.  He advised that the lots in question were unique and requested that the recommendation be deferred so that the developers could meet with residents to find mutually agreeable solutions for this neighbourhood. 

Mr. Steve Lau, representing the owner of 7651 Gilbert Road, spoke against the recommendation with respect to Lot Size Policy 5408 and requested that a decision be deferred until the residents met with the developer. 

Mr. Alan Reynolds, 8280 Mirabel Court stated that he was in favour of having the properties in the area of Mirabel Court and Gilbert Road developed.  However, the integrity of the neighbourhood should be kept intact by having the lots subdivided into 5 or possibly 6 lots only.  In response to a query from Council, he stated that he was not in favour of seven lots.

Mr. Bob Williamson, 8166 Mirabel Court, stated that a meeting with the developer’s representatives, the proposal for the subdivision of the properties at Gilbert and Blundell was for a 7 lot subdivision or nothing at all. 
Mr. Williamson stated that if this was allowed, the lots would be 30% smaller than others in the area.  He noted that he was in favour of the lots retaining the R1/D zoning, however, a 6 lot subdivision was not unreasonable.

Mr. Clare Ash, 8171 Mirabel Court, stated that he was in favour of the properties at the corner of Blundell and Gilbert Roads being developed but wanted the R1/D zoning retained.

Ms. Sal Bhullar, representing Trine Development Ltd., who are interested in the properties at 6611 and 6711 Gilbert Road, spoke in favour of having the decision on Lot Size Policy 5408 deferred.  In response to a query from Council, she stated that a deferral would give the developer enough time to prepare and present a proposal to residents. In response to a query from Council, Mr. Burke advised that staff had received queries about redevelopment of properties but at present, there were no applications for rezoning in this area.  Developers were told that the policy was being reviewed. 

Mary Williamson, 8166 Mirabel Court, spoke in favour of retaining the R1/D zoning for the Gilbert and Blundell properties.

Mr. Matthew Cheng, Architect for properties in the lot size policy 5408 area, supported a deferral of a decision on the lot size policy so that he could prepare plans to discuss with residents.  In response to a query from Council, Mr. Burke advised that residents on Blundell Road indicated their preference for single-family residential zoning in the area.  He stated that 4 options were presented at a public consultation meeting – these were a townhouse development option without a lane, single-family with a lane, a duplex development, or the option of retaining the current zoning.

Mrs. Donna Austin, 6900 Chelmsford Street, queried whether one of the options for this area was to retain the status quo.  She stated that she was concerned that residents were not clear about the options presented, and that their answers were indicative of this.  She also supported a deferral of the decision on Lot Size Policy 5408. 

In response to a query from Council, Mr. Burke stated that residents in the interior of the neighbourhood had been notified of the public consultation meetings, and that the residents in the Chelmsford Street area had been told that they would be impacted by a lane if redevelopment occurred.  In response to a query from Council, Mrs. Austin believed that more people would have responded if they had realised there would be changes due to redevelopment.

Mr. Patrick Cotter, applicant for the properties on the southwest corner of Blundell and Gilbert Roads, stated that the original proposal for these properties was consistent with the existing policy.  During the past 8 months he did not engage in consultation with the neighbourhood, as requested by staff, until the proposed lot size policy had been prepared.  He stated that at a recent meeting for the neighbourhood, 95% of the residents did not support townhouses but were unsure of what they wanted.  He advised that the developer was prepared to alter the proposal seeking single-family residences zoned  R1-06, and re-direct the application back to staff and the Planning Committee.

Ms. Vivian Wong, Mirabel Court, spoke against having a lane at the back of her property.  She also spoke against a 7 lot subdivision for the properties in question.

Mr. Terry Nisbett, who has an interest in 6691 Blundell Road, believed that the best use for the area along Blundell Road would be townhouses.  He supported a deferral of Lot Size Policy 5408 to provide further time for discussion. 

Mr. Alan Reynolds, 8280 Mirabel Court, stated he would be more supportive of
Mr. Cotter’s proposal if a 6 lot option had been presented.

Mr. Bob Williamson, 8166 Mirabel Court, stated that the developer preferred a 7 lot subdivision or nothing at all, and advised that 95% of the people on Mirabel Court supported the retention of the R1/D zoning for the corner of Blundell & Gilbert Roads. 

In response to query from Council, Mr. Cotter advised that based on economics, his client was prepared to hold onto the property as is, if a 7 lot subdivision was not feasible.

PH05/9-1

It was moved and seconded

That Single-Family Lot Size Policy 5442 (Section 19-4-6 & 20-4-6):

(1)         

be amended to include the east side of Gilbert Road south of Blundell Road; and

(2)

that rezoning and subdivision be restricted to the Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area E (R1/E) zone, except that:

(a)

8091 Gilbert Road and 6760 and 6800 Blundell Road be restricted to the Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area D (R1/D) provided that the lots are accessible by a lane which would not be connected to Mirabel Court; and

(b)

8233 and 8239 Gilbert Road and 8226 and 8228 Mirabel Court be restricted to the Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area D (R1/D) provided that no new accesses are created onto Gilbert Road.

CARRIED

PH05/9-2

It was moved and seconded

That Single-Family Lot Size Policy 5408 (Section 18-4-6) be referred back to staff for further consultation with the neighbourhood residents to find a mutually agreeable solution for this area.

Prior to the question being called, staff were directed to provide visual storyboards during the public consultation process so that residents will be clear about what to expect in the future as potential redevelopment occurs.   All options, including a no change, no development, option should be explained.  Staff were also directed to have a color coded map of the notification area with the responses received, when this matter is brought back to Council via the Planning Committee. 

The question on Resolution PH05/9-2 was then called and it was CARRIED.

2.

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN AMENDMENT BYLAW 7887 AND ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 7888 (RZ 04-272873)

(9480 Alberta Road;  the rear portions of 9580, 9620, 9640 and 9660 Alberta Road; 6631 and 6651 No. 4 Road; 9731, 9691 and 9651 Granville Avenue; and the rear portions of 9511 Granville Avenue and 9533 Granville Avenue (formerly 9531 Granville Avenue); Applicant:  Richmond School District No. 38)

Applicant’s Comments:

Mr. Eric Thorleifson, Manager of Facilities, Richmond School Board, on behalf of the applicant, advised that he was available for questions.

Written Submissions:

Aimin Guo, 9660 Granville Avenue (Schedule 11)

Submissions from the floor:

None. 

In response to a query from Council, Mr. Thorleifson advised that the School Board would try to save as many trees as possible or replace them in accordance with the City’s tree replacement policy.

Councillor Howard left the room at 8:30 p.m.

PH05/9-3

It was moved and seconded

That Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw 7887 and Zoning Amendment Bylaw 7888 each be given second and third readings.

CARRIED

PH05/9-4

It was moved and seconded

That Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw 7887 be adopted.

CARRIED

Councillor Howard returned at 8:33 p.m.

3.

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 7969 (RZ 05-305413)

(4831 Dunfell Road; Applicant:  Willie Po)

Applicant’s Comments:

The applicant advised that he was available to answer questions.

Written Submissions:

None.

Submissions from the floor:

None.

PH05/9-5

It was moved and seconded

That Zoning Amendment Bylaw 7969 be given second and third readings.

CARRIED

PH05/9-6

It was moved and seconded

That Zoning Amendment Bylaw 7969 be adopted.

CARRIED

Councillor Howard left at 8:38 p.m. and did not return.

4.

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 7970 (RZ 05-306447)

(9691 No. 1 Road; Applicant:  Ajit Thaliwal)

Applicant’s Comments:

The applicant was not present.

Written Submissions:

None.

Submissions from the floor:

None.

PH05/9-7

It was moved and seconded

That Zoning Amendment Bylaw 7970 be given second and third readings.

CARRIED

5.

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 7971 (RZ 05-301131)

(5520 Cantrell Road; Applicant:  Dereck Hamada)

Applicant’s Comments:

The applicant advised that he was available to answer questions.

Written Submissions:

None.

Submissions from the floor:

None.

PH05/9-8

It was moved and seconded

That Zoning Amendment Bylaw 7971 be given second and third readings.

CARRIED

PH05/9-9

It was moved and seconded

That Zoning Amendment Bylaw 7971 be adopted.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

PH05/9-10

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (8:50 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting for Public Hearings of the City of Richmond held on Monday, September 19^th, 2005.

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Acting Corporate Officer, City Clerk’s Office
(Gail Johnson)