MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Tuesday, March 20, 2007, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

The Chair advised that before hearing oral reports under Item 6, the Committee would hear two referrals with regard to:

·      

Phase II of the Community Economic Adjustment Initiative (CEAI)

·      

Green Roofs

It was agreed to add Turning Point Recovery Society to the agenda under: Item 6. MANAGER’S REPORT

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

3.

APPLICATION BY BRIDGE CWL INVESTMENTS INC. FOR REZONING AT 7080 & 7100 BRIDGE STREET AND 7111, 7131 & 7151 NO. 4 ROAD FROM SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING DISTRICT, SUBDIVISION AREA F (R1/F) TO TOWNHOUSE DISTRICT (R2 – 0.6)

(RZ 05 – 319627 Report:  March 21, 2007, File No.:  12-8060-20-8217) (REDMS No. 2082535, 2083006)

Jean Lamontagne, Director of Development, reported that before the City moved forward with this application, the Planning and Development Department ensured that the appropriate property acquisitions along a portion of Sills Avenue had taken place. He further advised that the applicant’s proposal to develop townhouses and to construct portions of the road network is consistent with the McLennan South Sub-Area Plan.

In response to queries, Mr. Lamontagne advised that:

·      

during the Development Application process the applicant will submit detailed design plans for the proposed units at the ground level which are earmarked for enhanced accessibility and aging in place; provisions for stair assists to make the second floor accessible will also be investigated;

·      

the applicant and staff have addressed, and have allayed, the concerns raised by representatives of the strata development at 7060 Bridge Street;

·      

if the application is approved, staff will monitor the applicant’s noise suppression efforts during the construction of the proposed development;

·      

the increase in density from the base of 0.55 floor area ratio (FAR) to 0.60 FAR is consistent with the rest of the density along No. 4 Road.

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 8217, for the rezoning of 7080 & 7100 Bridge Street and 7111, 7131 & 7151 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.

CARRIED

4.

APPLICATION BY EAGLE RIDGE ENTERPRISES LTD FOR REZONING ON THE WESTERLY HALF OF 2560 SHELL ROAD/2633 SIMPSON ROAD FROM BUSINESS PARK INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (I3) TO LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (I2)

(RZ 06 – 351471 Report:  March 13, 2007, File No.:  12-8060-20-8219) (REDMS No. 2071432, 2091930)

Mr. Lamontagne stated that the site is split zoned with the east portion zoned Light Industrial District (I2) and the west portion zoned Business Park Industrial District (I3). Staff worked with the applicant to create a single zone throughout the property, and the applicant is applying to rezoning the I3 zoned portion of the site. This will eliminate a split zoned parcel in the City.

In addition, Mr. Lamontagne advised that the applicant had gone out of its way to implement beautification works along Shell Road and will add additional landscaping that will create a more pedestrian friendly street.

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 8219, for the rezoning of the westerly half of 2560 Shell Road/2633 Simpson Road from “Business Park Industrial District (I3)” to “Light Industrial District (I2)”, be introduced and given first reading.

CARRIED

5.

TRAFFIC SAFETY CONCERNS – SHELLMONT WEST AREA

(Report:  March 5, 2007, File No.:  10-6450-0901) (REDMS No. 2082247)

In response to a query, Victor Wei, Director, Transportation, advised that the work procedure staff followed when studying traffic safety concerns in the Shellmont West Area was the same procedure staff followed when studying traffic safety concerns in the Seacliffe neighbourhood.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the following proposed traffic calming measures for the Shellmont West area (as described in the report dated March 5^th, 2007, from the Director, Transportation), be forwarded to each of the area residents for comments and indication of support by means of a questionnaire to be mailed out immediately:

(a)

provision of new speed limit road markings (20 km/h) at the entrances to all lanes in the study area;

(b)

trimming of foliage at various locations in the study area where the laneway has been encroached upon; and

(c)

installation of hazard markers on existing pole and guy wire in the laneway to improve their visibility.

(2)

That staff proceed with the implementation of the proposed traffic calming measures immediately, subject to the support of the area residents.

CARRIED

A brief discussion ensued regarding traffic safety concerns in the Dallyn Road area and as a result the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff study and report back on traffic flow in the area of Dallyn Road, with a view to making improvements to address issues related to safety, parking and accessibility, similar to that carried out in the Shellmont West Area.

CARRIED

5a.

PHASE II OF THE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT INITIATIVE (CEAI)

The Chair referred to an email from the Executive Director of the Coastal Community Network (CCN) (on file in the Clerk’s Office) regarding Phase II of the Community Economic Adjustment Initiative, a Federal program.

The email advised that, with funds from the Recreational Salmon Fishing Loan Program Fund, Phase II of the CEAI could have up to $8 million available for community development projects.

In the email the Executive Director of CCN requested that a letter be written to the Hon. Rona Ambrose, Minister of Western Economic Diversification, indicating the types of projects for which Richmond could use this funding.

A brief discussion ensued and as a result the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff:

(1)

review the types of projects that meet the criteria of, and will be funded from, Phase II of the Community Economic Adjustment Initiative (CEAI) and make suggestions with regard to City of Richmond projects that could meet the criteria; and

(2)

prepare a letter from the City endorsing funding proposals from other BC coastal communities, if staff discover there are no City of Richmond projects that meet the Phase II CEAI  funding criteria.

CARRIED

5b.

GREEN ROOFS

The Chair cited information from the Corporation of the City of Port Coquitlam with regard to their Green Roof Bylaw No. 2240 (on file in the City Clerk’s Office), and requested that staff study green roof issues as they relate to Richmond.

Joe Erceg, General Manager, Planning and Development advised that, as part of the City Centre Area Plan, he has directed Planning and Development staff to allocate time and resources to comprehensively investigate all aspects of the green roofs including: storm water harvesting and management, costing, green roofs on podium roofs only or on both podium and tower roofs, plus all legal, warranty and maintenance issues. He stated that staff will present the Committee with a comprehensive plan outlining all the pros and cons of all aspects of green roofs.

A brief discussion ensued and as a result the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff study what projects are already being undertaken in the City with regard to functional green roofs, and that the study include investigation as to whether construction costs differ for a roof capable of holding a thick layer of soil rather than a thin layer of soil.

CARRIED

6.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(1)

Turning Point Recovery Society – In response to a query regarding the future plans of the non-profit charitable organization that offers residential support recovery services for alcoholics and addicts, Mr. Lamontagne advised that Planning and Development Department staff members had met with representatives of Turning Point earlier in the year regarding the organization’s interest in the purchase of a house located on Ash Street, currently operating as a residential support home owned and operated by BC Housing.

Staff ascertained that Turning Point representatives have no plans to expand its 10411 Odlin Road site.

Mr. Lamontagne stated that staff anticipates Turning Point to submit a rezoning application for the Ash Street property sometime in 2007. The organization is sensitive to issues surrounding residential support homes, and plans to work closely with potential neighbours in the Ash Street area.

(2)

Affordable Housing Strategy

Holger Burke, Development Coordinator reported that as staff is preparing the final strategy they are carefully examining all legal and administrative details.

He advised that the final strategy will not be presented to the Committee during April, but will be ready for presentation at a May, 2007 Committee meeting. This will not impact the planned implementation date of July 1, 2007.

(3)

City Centre Area Plan – No report was given.

(4)

Steveston Study – No report was given.

(5)

Official Community Plan/Liveable Region Strategic Plan Review – No report was given.

(6)

West Cambie Plan – Mr. Erceg reported that senior staff had met with the group of interested developers with regard to site servicing in the West Cambie area.

Staff advised the developers group that in order for staff to support a proposal, the developers’ contribution would have to be guaranteed and would have to equal one half of the total cost.

In a letter to the City, the developers group advised that Polygon has committed to providing the necessary $5 million in funding. The City would provide the other $5 million, and this amount would not impact the funding of the existing infrastructure program.

Mr. Erceg concluded by advising that the issue will be brought forward to the General Purposes Committee at the April 16, 2007 meeting.

(7)

Additional Planning Committee Meeting in April – Mr. Erceg stated that a Planning Committee meeting would take place at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, 2007, to be immediately followed by a Special Council meeting.

Discussion at the April 26, 2007 meeting will include Canada Line stations and rezoning application that could help fund the Capstan Station.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:37 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, April 3, 2007.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Sheila Johnston
Committee Clerk