January 16, 2007 - Minutes
Planning Committee
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Date: |
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 |
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Place: |
Anderson Room |
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Present: |
Councillor Harold Steves, Chair |
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Also Present: |
Councillor Cynthia Chen |
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Call to Order: |
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. |
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MINUTES |
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1. |
It was moved and seconded |
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That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Tuesday, December 19, 2006, be adopted as circulated. |
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CARRIED |
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It was agreed to add West Cambie Area Plan Update to the agenda under: Item 17. MANAGER’S REPORT |
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NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE |
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2. |
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2007, at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room. |
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DELEGATION |
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3. |
School Trustee Linda McPhail, Chair, Board of School Trustees, School District No. 38 (Richmond) – City Centre Area Plan | ||
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Accompanied by Trustee Donna Sargent, Vice Chair, and Trustee Sandra Bourque, Linda McPhail, Chair of the Board of School Trustees, School District No. 38 (Richmond) expressed the Board’s concerns regarding the proposed City Centre Area Plan (CCAP). | ||
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(A copy of the School Board power point presentation is on file in the City Clerk’s Office. A copy of the School Board’s submission to the Committee is attached as Schedule A and forms part of these minutes.) | ||
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Some of the concerns expressed by the School Board were: | ||
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the School Board considers that the time frame to comment on the CCAP is too short; | |
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the CCAP has not yet provided information regarding the rate of development or projected demographics of people who will live in the City Centre; | |
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the CCAP includes School Board land in its calculation of City park quotas; | |
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there is a stated need for more school sites in the City Centre, but there is a lack of information necessary for the School Board to determine school needs. | |
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Discussion ensued on the following topics: | ||
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communication between City Council and the School Board should be improved, in order for the two organizations to discuss planning and other issues that affect both, thereby enhancing cooperation between the two organizations; it was suggested that a School Board Trustee could attend Planning Committee meetings; staff could come back to Committee with ideas and options on how better to communicate; | |
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the School Board currently has lands for sale and City staff has indicated that the City is not interested in purchasing some of the sites; | |
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in the future, City staff could monitor School Board land for sale and could ensure that City Council is aware of the availability of the land; in addition a formalized protocol could be created to allow the City to look at each parcel of land the School Board has for sale; | |
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the City should have a land bank, and a process of land banking is something that the City could undertake; | |
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analysis is being done on the CCAP and after that process is complete, the City would submit that information to the School Board; | |
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the CCAP requires approximately six more months of technical work, and will not be finalized until later in 2007, which would allow time for the City to share details of the concept and analysis with the School Board; | |
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Community Schools, as defined by the Ministry of Education, is an idea that could be explored; | |
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throughout the City there are park sites that are jointly administered by the City and the School Board; | |
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It was moved and seconded | ||
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That the City (i) request the School Board to clarify its definition of Community Schools and (ii) request an opportunity for a visioning exercise between the two groups. | ||
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CARRIED | ||
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It was moved and seconded | ||
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(1) |
That at the February 6, 2007 Planning Committee meeting, staff provide options on how to enhance communication, and how to create more informed dialogue, between City Council and the School Board; and | |
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(2) |
That as one of the options, staff advise as to whether the City could invite the School Board to identify a Trustee to sit on the City’s Planning Committee. | |
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CARRIED | ||
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PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT |
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4. |
RICHMOND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2006 ANNUAL REPORT, 2007 WORK PROGRAM AND BUDGET (Report: December 18, 2006, File No.: 01-0100-20-RCSA1-01) (REDMS No. 2053569, 2053537) |
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Belinda Boyd, Co-Chair of the Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee (RCSAC), addressed the Committee and assured the Committee that in 2007 the RCSAC would perform more of an advocacy role than it has been doing in the recent past. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That, as per the Manager, Policy Planning report dated December 18, 2006, entitled “Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee 2006 Annual Report, 2007 Work Program and Budget”, the Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee 2007 Work Program be approved. |
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CARRIED |
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5. |
RICHMOND INTERCULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2006 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2007 WORK PROGRAM & BUDGET (Report: December 18, 2006, File No.: 01-0100-20-RIAD1-01) (REDMS No. 2054089, 2039872, 2011286, 1897432, 1698624, 1780080, 2011141, 1884727) |
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Mr. Shawkat Hasan and Mr. Lawrence Lim addressed the Committee, and Committee members expressed interest in, and support for, the Committee’s forthcoming Newcomers Guide. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That, as per the Manager, Policy Planning report dated December 18, 2006, entitled “Richmond Intercultural Advisory Committee 2006 Annual Report and 2007 Work Program & Budget”, the Richmond Intercultural Advisory Committee 2007 Work Program be approved. |
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CARRIED | ||
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6. |
RICHMOND SENIORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2006 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2007 WORK PROGRAM (Report: December 18, 2006, File No.: 01-0100-20-SADV1-01) (REDMS No. 2054047, 2050004, 2037589, 2054061) |
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Angela Gauld and Stephen Ngan represented the Committee. Lesley Sherlock, Social Planner, spoke on behalf of the absent Committee Chair, Olive Basset, and informed Committee that Ms. Bassett appreciated Council’s support throughout her three years as Chair, and that Ms. Basset would not be standing for a further term of Chair. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That, as per the Manager, Policy Planning report dated December 18, 2006, entitled “Richmond Seniors Advisory Committee 2006 Annual Report and 2007 Work Program”, the Richmond Seniors’ Advisory Committee’s 2007 Work Program be approved. |
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CARRIED | ||
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7. |
CITY-WIDE INTERIM VOLUNTARY AMENITY CONTRIBUTION GUIDELINE (Report: January 4, 2007, File No.: 08-4000-00/Vol 01) (REDMS No. 2052979) | |
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Holger Burke, Development Coordinator, stated that staff recommendedstablishing a guideline for a voluntary contribution. He reported that during consultation with members of the development community, the performa and land lift approach caused uncertainty and concern in the market, and that a fixed flat rate was the preferable option. | |
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In addition, staff heard from developers that the City should not introduce and then quickly implement new fees, which would leave little time for developers to prepare for new fees. For this reason, the guideline is proposed to be implemented on July 1, 2007, and it would apply only to residential rezoning applications. | |
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Consultation with members of the Urban Development Institute (UDI) highlighted two major concerns: contribution rates and the amenity contribution guideline preceding discussion of the affordable housing strategy. | |
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Mr. Burke stated it is unlikely that a unanimous consensus on contribution rates would ever be achieved, and, in defending the proposed rates, he added that the recommended rates are in line with the work done, and conclusions reached, by the consultant Paul Rollo. He added that the proposed rates are comparable with those in some other municipalities. | |
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To explain why the amenity contribution guideline was discussed in advance of the affordable housing strategy, Mr. Burke stated that it is important for Council to establish amenity guidelines first, and staff can then feed that information into the affordable housing strategy and help establish affordable housing targets. He added that upon approval of the guideline, it is expected that the amenity contributions will at best meet 1/3 of the target for subsidized housing. | |
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Discussion ensued and Mr. Burke further advised that: | |
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the guideline will be reviewed later in 2007 with the CCAP, and again in 2008 with the Official Community Plan; |
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BC Housing’s waiting list grows by approximately 64 households a year in Richmond, which indicates the demand for subsidized housing (households with an annual income of less than $20,000); |
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it is projected that the amenity contribution guideline could raise approximately $1,000,000 a year; |
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assuming another $4,000,000 was secured from other sources, this would only result in 25 new subsidized housing units (assuming a cost per unit of $200,000); |
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staff recommends an annual review of the rates; |
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The Chair invited delegations to address the Committee. Jeff Fisher, the UDI’s Director of Municipal Affairs and Research, Scott Baldwin, Chair of UDI’s Liaison Committee with City Staff, and developer Nelson Chan, UDI Board Member, made the following points: | |
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UDI (i) believes that more consultation with members of the development community is needed, and (ii) is concerned that the guideline could be approved by Council within a week’s time; |
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UDI is concerned that when costs are increased and those costs are passed along to the home buyer, housing becomes less obtainable; |
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Richmond has identified how to collect the funds but the report does not outline how the City will spend the monies collected; |
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UDI believes that Richmond is approaching the maximum level it can charge developers; |
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UDI suggested that Council approve the flat fee approach but consult further with the development industry to ascertain what the actual flat fee should be. |
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The Chair thanked the UDI representatives for their presentation. Developer Dana Westermark then addressed the Committee and expressed concern that, in its rush to put a charge in place, the City is risking distorting the responses that are currently being developed for affordable housing. | |
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He described a project he is developing for the West Cambie neighbourhood that would include approximately 298 affordable units for sale. He acknowledged that the plans for this development are outside the policies of the West Cambie Area Plan but that his is a creative solution that could help the City deliver the affordable housing product. | |
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He remarked that the various levels of government and the media are paying attention to the affordable housing issue, and at the same time the development community is willing to respond to the issue. | |
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Mr. Westermark recommended that the City take a step back in order to clarify its goals and define its targets. | |
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Staff advised that: | |
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the recommendation to establish a guideline for a voluntary contribution would create a fund earmarked for subsidized housing which is deeply subsidized, for entry level ownership units; |
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the affordable housing strategy is exploring incentives, such as density exemptions, parking relaxation, and DCC breaks; and |
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the amenity contribution guideline and affordable housing strategy do not apply to the West Cambie area because this area has its own plan that was recently adopted with its own affordable housing target, density bonus provisions and amenity contribution rates. |
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It was moved and seconded | |
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That the “City-Wide Interim Voluntary Amenity Contribution Guideline” dated January 4, 2007, which applies to the residential floor area of residential and mixed use rezoning applications, be approved (Attachment 3 to the report dated January 4, 2007 from the Director of Development and Manager, Policy Planning). | |
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The question on the motion was not called as the Committee sought confirmation that the guideline for a voluntary contribution would be brought back for review. | |
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Mr. Burke stated that the review would take place by the fall of 2007 at a Planning Committee meeting, during the discussion of the City Centre Area Plan Implementation Strategy. | |
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The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED, with Councillors McNulty and Howard opposed. | |
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8. |
RICHMOND COMMENTS: GVRD DISCUSSION PAPER ON A REGIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGY (Report: January 5, 2007, File No.: 08-4057-05/2007-Vol 1) (REDMS No. 2057041) | ||
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It was moved and seconded | ||
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(1) |
That the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) be advised that the City of Richmond: | |
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(a) |
supports the GVRD Board in preparing and implementing a Regional Affordable Housing Strategy, since affordable housing is an important federal, provincial, regional and municipal issue; |
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(b) |
has no major objections or concerns regarding the GVRD “Discussion Paper on a Regional Affordable Housing Strategy” received with a letter dated December 8, 2006 from Lois E. Jackson, Chair, GVRD Board; and |
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(c) |
requests further information and discussion on how a Regional Affordable Housing Strategy will be implemented (e.g., the proposed $50 million regional surcharge; the affordable housing targets; the requirement that these targets be achieved in an Official Community Plan regional context statement; etc.). |
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(2) |
That copies of this resolution be forwarded to: | |
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(a) |
all GVRD municipalities with a suggestion that they may wish to provide similar support to the GVRD Board preparing and implementing a Regional Affordable Housing Strategy; and |
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(b) |
the Richmond Federal MPs and Richmond Provincial MLAs with a request that the Federal and Provincial Governments support the GVRD in preparing and implementing a Regional Affordable Housing Strategy. |
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CARRIED | ||||
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9. |
(RZ 06-329755 - Report: December 19, 2006, File No.: 12-8060-20-8130) (REDMS No. 2054580, 1791415, 2054867, 2054882) |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Bylaw No. 8130, for the rezoning of 10351 Aragon Road from “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area E (R1/E)” to “Coach House District (R9)”, be introduced and given first reading. |
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CARRIED | ||
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10. |
(RZ 05-313124 - Report: January 2, 2007, File No.: 12-8060-20-8147) (REDMS No. 2046866, 2027181, 2046874) |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Bylaw No. 8147, for the rezoning of 7791 and 7931 No. 4 Road from “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area F (R1/F)” to “Townhouse District (R2 – 0.6)”, be introduced and given first reading. |
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CARRIED | ||
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11. |
(RZ 04-272735- Report: December 11, 2006, File No.: 12-8060-20-8179) (REDMS No. 2049662, 2002295, 2049749) |
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In response to queries, staff confirmed that the (i) city owned some of the land, and (ii) that the development does include green initiatives, such as amenity space on the roof level. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Bylaw No. 8179, to create “Comprehensive Development District (CD/170)” and for the rezoning of 8400 and 8440 Anderson Road, a portion of Anderson Road, and a portion of surplus City owned land from “Townhouse District (R2)” and “Two-Family Housing District (R5)” to “Comprehensive Development District (CD/170)”, be introduced and given first reading. |
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CARRIED | ||
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12. |
(RZ 06-327611 - Report: December 15, 2006, File No.: 12-8060-20-8181) (REDMS No. 2051827, 2054346) |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Bylaw No. 8181, to reduce the minimum lot size from 0.300 ha (0.741 acre) to 0.117 ha (0.289 acre) in “Comprehensive Development District (CD/167)”, and to rezone 9400 Ferndale Road from “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area F (R1/F)” to “Comprehensive Development District (CD/167)”, as amended, be introduced and given first reading. |
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CARRIED | ||
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13. |
(RZ 06-345322 - Report: December 14, 2006, File No.: 12-8060-20-8182) (REDMS No. 2037628, 714236, 2053522) |
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Councillor Chen declared a conflict of interest and left the meeting at 8:24 p.m. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Bylaw No. 8182, for the rezoning of 11840 Dunavon Place from “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area E (R1/E)” to “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area A (R1/A)”, be introduced and given first reading. |
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CARRIED | ||
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14. |
(RZ 06-338011 - Report: December 19, 2006, File No.: 12-8060-20-8183) (REDMS No. 2055080, 1791415, 2055114, 2055120) |
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Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt expressed support for the application, but noted that she looks forward to input from the public at the February, 2007 Public Hearing. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Bylaw No. 8183, for the rezoning of 10680 Williams Road from “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area E (R1/E)” to “Single-Family Housing District (R1-0.6)”, be introduced and given first reading. |
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CARRIED | ||
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15. |
(RZ 06-347545 - Report: December 19, 2006, File No.: 12-8060-20-8184) (REDMS No. 2055196, 1791415, 2055207) |
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Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt expressed support for the application but noted that she looks forward to input from the public at the February, 2007 Public Hearing. |
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Councillor Cynthia Chen returned to the meeting at 8:28 p.m. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Bylaw No. 8184, for the rezoning of 10080 Williams Road from “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area E (R1/E)” to “Single-Family Housing District (R1-0.6)”, be introduced and given first reading. |
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CARRIED | ||
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16. |
(RZ 06-342754 - Report: January 2, 2007, File No.: 12-8060-20-8187) (REDMS No. 2056649, 1791415, 2056683) |
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Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt expressed support for the application but noted that she looks forward to input from the public at the February, 2007 Public Hearing. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Bylaw No. 8187, for the rezoning of 10500 Williams Road from “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area E (R1/E)” to “Single-Family Housing District (R1-0.6)”, be introduced and given first reading. |
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CARRIED | ||
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17. |
MANAGER’S REPORT |
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(1) |
Affordable Housing – No report was given. |
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(2) |
Steveston Study – No report was given. |
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(3) |
Official Community Plan/Liveable Region Strategic Plan Review – No report was given. |
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(4) |
West Cambie Area Plan Update – Joe Erceg, General Manager, Planning and Development Department, advised Committee that during the Closed Planning Committee meeting, to be held immediately following the Planning Committee meeting, he would update the committee. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the meeting adjourn (8:37 p.m.). |
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CARRIED |
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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, January 16, 2007. |
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Councillor Harold Steves |
Sheila Johnston |