May 21, 2013 - Minutes

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall
6911 No. 3 Road

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Derek Dang
Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt
Councillor Ken Johnston
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Linda McPhail
Councillor Harold Steves

Michelle Jansson, Acting Corporate Officer

Call to Order:

Mayor Brodie opened the proceedings at 7:00 p.m.

1.

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 8907 (RZ 11-586861)

(Location:  7460 Ash Street; Applicant:  Man-Chui Leung and Nora Leung)

Applicant’s Comments:

The applicant was available to answer questions.

Written Submissions:

(a)

Sharon MacGougan on behalf of Joyce MacGougan, 7500 Ash Street (Schedule 1)

(b)

Sharon MacGougan, 7411 Ash Street (Schedule 2)

(c)

Douglas Nazareth, 7480 Ash Street (Schedule 3)

(d)

Annie and Wolfgang Schroeder, 9360 and 9380 General Currie Road (Schedule 4)

Submissions from the floor:

Mr. James Wright, 8300 Osgoode Drive, spoke on behalf of the Garden City Conservations Society and was concerned with the trend to disregard the conservation of mature trees.  The Society would like to see a change in the trend and suggested that the application under consideration is a good place to take action for nature and human liveability.

Sharon MacGougan, 7411 Ash Street, spoke on behalf of herself and her mother, Joyce MacGougan at 7500 Ash Street, expressed concern with regard to the following:  i) pedestrian safety due to the fragmentation of sidewalks in the area; ii) traffic issues related to speed and access to and from the site; iii) failure of the City to provide promised street upgrades; and iv) loss of mature trees and the associated undergrowth and wildlife.

In response to queries, Wayne Craig, Director of Development provided additional information on requirements for offsite improvements (curb, sidewalk, etc.) for this site and the adjacent site to the south (which does not have redevelopment potential).  Mr. Craig confirmed the tree removal and replacement recommendations from the Arborist’s report as well as the cash-in-lieu contribution for replacement tree planting.

Mr. Michael Wolfe, 9731 Odlin Road, expressed concern for the loss of a natural area and the need to protect species at risk.   He suggested that the extension of General Currie Road was not necessary and the lands would be better served as park space.

Mr. Douglas Nazareth, 7480 Ash Street, suggested that the development be reduced to permit 4 residential units in order to preserve many of the trees and requesting the sidewalk be extended to 7500 Ash Street.

Mayor Brodie acknowledged the conclusion of the first round of public speakers.  Speakers then addressed Council for the second time with new information.

Discussion ensued with respect to tree preservation and lot density, the species and size of trees removed and replaced, sidewalk extension to 7500 Ash Street and offsite improvements on Ash Street to Blundell Road, traffic calming measures including conducting a traffic study, and the preservation of a raptors nest in accordance with the Wildlife Act.

In response to queries from Council, Mr. Craig explained how tree removal and replacement is determined, cash-in-lieu contributions are calculated and how the City’s Flood Protection Bylaw impacts possible tree removal.  Mr. Craig advised that staff is unaware of the raptors nest and will require the applicant to retain a qualified environmental professional to assess the situation.  Mr. Craig further advised that a traffic calming study can take months and also requires public input to determine acceptable traffic calming measures for the neighbourhood.

PH13/5-1

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500, Amendment Bylaw 8907 be referred to staff to provide more information regarding the following:

(1)

species and dimensions of trees removed and of proposed replacement trees;

(2)

reduction in lots/density and the impact on the number of trees to be retained;

(3)

wildlife protection;

(4)

sidewalk extension to 7500 Ash Street and the City’s plan for sidewalk improvements to Blundell Road; and

(5)

traffic calming measures.

CARRIED

2.

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 9008 (RZ 13-627573)

(Location:  5131 Williams Road; Applicant:  Balandra Development Inc.)

Applicant’s Comments:

The applicant was available to answer questions.

Written Submissions:

None.

Submissions from the floor:

None.

PH13/5-2

It was moved and seconded

That Zoning Amendment Bylaw 9008 be given second and third readings.

CARRIED

3.

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 9009 (RZ 13-628402)

(Location:  3311 Garden City Road; Applicant:  Gurmej Bains)

Applicant’s Comments:

The applicant was available to answer questions.

Written Submissions:

None.

Submissions from the floor:

None.

PH13/5-3

It was moved and seconded

That Zoning Amendment Bylaw 9009 be given second and third readings.

CARRIED

4.

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 9014 (RZ 12-615601)

(Location:  9720, 9740 and 9760 Alberta Road; Applicant:  Ajit Thaliwal and Eric Law Architect Inc.)

Applicant’s Comments:

The applicant was available to answer questions.

Written Submissions:

None.

Submissions from the floor:

None.

PH13/5-4

It was moved and seconded

That Zoning Amendment Bylaw 9014 be given second and third readings.

CARRIED

5.

ZONING AMENDMENT BYLAW 9015 (RZ 12-619835)

(Location:  7400, 7420 and 7440 Railway Avenue; Applicant:  664525 B.C. Ltd.)

Applicant’s Comments:

Taizo Yamamoto, Yamamoto Architecture, provided additional information in relation to concerns raised through the public information process and highlighted some of the changes to the proposal:  i) the driveway was relocated from the north side of the lot to the centre of the development; ii)  increased setbacks; iii) side by side parking; iv) increased visitor parking by one additional space;  v) retention of 9 mature cedar, fir and pine trees; and vi) the duplex form and scale resembles the existing single-family units in the area.

Written Submissions:

(a)

Yanjie He, 7488 Railway Avenue (Schedule 5)

(b)

XiaoFeng He, 7373 Lindsay Road (Schedule 6)

(c)

Wei You and Dehe Li, 7508 Railway Avenue (Schedule 7)

(d)

Mabel Yu, 7231 Lindsay Road, (Schedule 8)

(e)

Lan Nguyen, 5028 Linfield Gate (Schedule 9)

(f)

Petition addition of pages 3 and 4 (Schedule 10)

(g)

Resident, 7411 McCallam Road (Schedule 11)

(h)

Xiao Min Mai, 7391 Lindsay Road (Schedule 12)

Mayor Brodie acknowledged the correspondence received by the area residents included in the agenda material.

Submissions from the floor:

Mr. Glen Sheardown, 7360 Railway Avenue, expressed opposition to the rezoning application citing the following concerns:  i) the development changes the character of the neighbourhood; ii) access to and from the site will impact the busy route; iii) three visitor parking spaces are not adequate and will impact parking on secondary roads; iv)  the development will impact his privacy; v) increased vehicular emissions and noise;  and vi) wants the large fir tree at the rear of the property preserved.

Mr. Tom Knowles, 7320 Railway Avenue, expressed concern with the larger homes being developed and with the number of homes already listed for sale in the area.

Jaswant Mann, 7580 Railway Avenue, was opposed to the development due to the increased traffic concerns related to access and parking.

Baljit Tamana, 7340 Railway Avenue, expressed opposition to the rezoning application because of traffic concerns (i.e. access to and from Railway Avenue, parking) and that the development would change the character of the neighbourhood.

Reginald Tate, 7520 Railway, addressed the petition citing 45 residents of adjacent properties are in opposition to the development due to reduced quality of life, reduced property values due to noise, air pollution and loss of natural light, and the increased traffic on Railway Avenue.

Steven Latham, a Richmond resident, spoke in favour of the development as it would add character to the area and future residents would be able to take advantage of the nearby Community Centre, parks, and schools.  The two storey development with the associated side by side and visitor parking is a good use of the land.

Helen Sheardown, 7360 Railway Avenue, spoke in opposition to the rezoning as it does not fit in with the overall character of the area.  She expressed concern with respect to shading, particularly for those properties on Lindsay Road, and not enough visitor parking.

In response to the submissions from the floor, Mr. Yamamoto noted that the planning report indicated that the proposed development would result in approximately six additional vehicles per hour during the peak periods.  The Arborist’s report recommended the large tree at the rear of the property be retained, as well as the trees along Railway Avenue.  The shading and privacy concerns have been addressed by increasing the setbacks, limiting the height to 2-storey units, orienting second level windows away from the adjacent properties wherever possible, and with fencing and a hedge buffer along the south property line.  It was further noted that the applicant has created a smaller scale form sympathetic to the character of the neighbourhood, proposing a higher quality of finish and material; provided side by side parking, and has consolidated three entrances into one.

Mayor Brodie acknowledged the conclusion of the first round of public speakers.  Speakers then addressed Council for the second time with new information.

Jaswant Mann questioned how the additional six vehicles per hour during the peak periods was determined and was informed that it was based on transportation staff analysis of the proposed development.

Reginald Tate stated that the zoning allows for a maximum coverage of 19,000 sq. ft. The proposed development covers is only 5 sq. ft. short of the maximum allowed indicating how much asphalt and cement being placed on the site.

PH13/5-5

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500, Amendment Bylaw 9015 be DENIED.

The question was not called on resolution PH13/5-5 as discussion ensued with respect to the appropriateness and location of the development and the potential for similar townhouse development on the arterial road.  As a result of the discussion the following referral was introduced:

PH13/5-6

It was moved and seconded

That Zoning Amendment Bylaw 9015 be referred to staff to have the applicant consult with the community as to an appropriate development for the site.

The question was not called on resolution PH13/5-6 as discussion ensued regarding the potential for future townhouse development and the opportunity that a consensus may be reached to the type of redevelopment.  Staff were directed to expand the notification area to include residents on McCallan Road and that any proposed upgrades to the bus stop on Railway be included in the staff report.  The question on the referral was then called and it was CARRIED.

6.

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN BYLAW 9000, AMENDMENT BYLAW 9016, OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN BYLAW 7100, AMENDMENT BYLAW 9021, RICHMOND ZONING BYLAW 8500, AMENDMENT BYLAW 9017 AND TERMINATION OF HOUSING AGREEMENT AT 9393 ALEXANDRA ROAD (FORMERLY 9371 AND 9411 ALEXANDRA ROAD) BYLAW 9022 (RZ 12-598503)

(Location:  9311, 9331, 9393, 9431, 9451 and 9471 Alexandra Road; Applicant:  Polygon Development 269 Ltd.)

Applicant’s Comments:

The applicant was available to answer questions.

Written Submissions:

(a)

Zhe Wang, 408 - 9299 Tomicki Avenue (Schedule 13)

(b)

Alvina Lee, 202 - 9299 Tomicki Avenue (Schedule 14)

Submissions from the floor:

None.

Discussion ensued and it was noted that offsite improvements on Tomicki Avenue, Alexandra Road and May Drive are a requirement of rezoning.   Staff was directed to respond to Ms. Lee’s correspondence with respect to the offsite improvements associated with the development. It was noted that the value transfer for the affordable housing is designated for the Kiwanis development.

PH13/5-7

It was moved and seconded

That Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaws 9016 and 9021, Zoning Amendment Bylaw 9017, and Termination of Housing Agreement Bylaw 9022 be given second and third readings.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

PH13/5-8

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (8:56 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 Tuesday, May 21, 2013.

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Acting Corporate Officer
City Clerk’s Office (Michelle Jansson)