MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2006, at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

3.

APPLICATION BY SAMUEL CHEUNG FOR REZONING AT 8091 AND 8111 CALDER ROAD FROM SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING DISTRICT, SUBDIVISION AREA E (R1/E) TO SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING DISTRICT, SUBDIVISION AREA B (R1/B)

(RZ 05-317983 - Report:  April 25, 2006, File No.: 12-8060-20-8011) (REDMS No. 1716840, 1081046, 1712599)

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 8011, for the rezoning of 8091 and 8111 Calder Road from “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area E (R1/E)” to “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area B (R1/B)”, be introduced and given first reading.

CARRIED

4.

RICHMOND STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT (SOE): 2005 UPDATE REPORT

(Report:  May 1, 2006, File No.: 08-4425-07-01 ) (REDMS No. 1825225)

The Chair welcomed members of Council’s Advisory Committee on the Environment (ACE): Gordon Kibble, Evelyn Feller and Stephanie Walker as well as Lyle Walkerton representing the consulting firm The Sheltair Group, Vancouver. Also present was Michael Wolfe.

Mr. Kibble spoke briefly commenting that the report is the result of many hours of work on the part of City staff, members of ACE and The Sheltair Group. He noted that Richmond is a community undergoing constant change and is facing environmental challenges. Some of the successes outlined in the SOE report include the fact that transit ridership is on the increase and there is an increase in hiking trails and paths. On the list of Richmond’s challenges are the creation of equitable green space and the preservation of farmlands.

Discussion ensued covering the following points:

·            

the City could do a better job educating and informing residents about what it is doing on environmental issues including water consumption;

·            

the protection of Environmental Sensitive Areas (ESA) should be addressed more thoroughly, and wildlife corridors can be considered for the City;

·            

dumping on agricultural soils is an issue in Richmond and on lands contained in the Agricultural Land Reserve in the Lower Mainland, but there seems to be no reliable set of soils data that can measure how much of this activity is taking place in Richmond;

·            

priorities should be assigned regarding what environmental activities should be done next in Richmond ;

·            

when the SOE is updated in the future, an index should be added so readers can more easily navigate to portions of specific interest.

Committee requested that Richmond’s State of the Environment 2005 Update be sent to the GVRD environment committee for information.

Michael Wolfe submitted a list of ten recommendations on how to improve Richmond’s state of the environment. The list is on file in the City Clerk’s Office.

In response to an inquiry, Margot Daykin, Assistant Manager – Environmental Programs advised that the City’s Purchasing Guide which identifies criteria for environmentally friendly products, is still pertinent and is in use by City staff, especially by Purchasing Department staff.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Richmond State of the Environment (SOE): 2005 Update Report (attached to the report, dated April 28, 2006, from the Manager, Policy Planning) be endorsed;

(2)

That staff continue working on the SOE Implementation Program, as outlined in the Policy Planning Manager’s report dated May 1, 2006.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That staff prepare an information guide for the public outlining priorities on City environmental initiatives, describing how residents can become involved in these initiatives; and, in addition, staff advise on additional resources that are required to undertake such initiatives.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That staff provide comments on the practicalities of how to implement an “Environmental Impacts” section in all reports to Council and Committee.

CARRIED

5.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(1)

Affordable Housing

Holger Burke, Development Coordinator advised that there would be an Open House at City Hall on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Mr. Burke further advised that he was making arrangements for Council members to tour the Tsawwassen and North Delta Abbeyfield Housing facilities. He will inform Councillors of the date and time when the details have been established.

(2)

City Centre Plan

Mr. Burke reported that he will supply each Committee member with a copy of the 1982 Richmond Civic Centre Masterplan.

Mr. Burke advised that a second set of public open houses on the topic of the
City Centre Plan are tentatively earmarked to take place between June 20 and 23, 2006. Further information will be forthcoming at a future Planning Committee meeting.

Joe Erceg, General Manager, Planning and Development, advised that to meet impending project deadlines, he wished to set a date in May, 2006 for the second Council workshop to discuss the City Centre Plan.

(3)

Steveston Study

Terry Crowe, Manager, Policy Planning advised that the consultant firm Bermingham Wood has been hired and that all the monies for the Steveston Study are now in place. Mr. Crowe will be attending the Richmond Heritage Commission meeting on Thursday, May 18, 2006 and at that time will be addressing the topic of “conflict of interest”.

(4)

Official Community Plan/Liveable Region Strategic Plan Review

Terry Crowe reported that following the workshop on the City Centre Plan, another Council workshop will be arranged for discussion of the Official Community Plan.

Based on the work by GVRD staff they are likely to make recommendations to the GVRD Board in November, 2006. It is important that regional land use be harmonized with transportation.

Mr. Crowe reported that a meeting had taken place with representatives of the YVR Airport Authority and Transport Canada who will soon send a letter to the City regarding a possible increase in city building height.

6.

New Business

Councillor Linda Barnes noted that the adoption of Bill 30, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, will likely pose some real concerns for local governments and it would be helpful to have comments from staff on its implications.

It was moved and seconded

That staff prepare comments on Bill 30, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:01 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Tuesday, May 16, 2006.

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Councillor Bill McNulty
Vice-Chair

Sheila Johnston
Committee Clerk