MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Tuesday, June 19, 2007, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

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

COUNCILLOR HAROLD STEVES

3.

RIVER ROAD PROPERTIES

(File No.:  12-8000-02) (REDMS No. 2247440)

Councillor Steves stated that, in the company of Joe Erceg, General Manager of Planning and Development, he had recently toured River Road lots in the vicinity of No. 8 Road and discovered that there appear to be instances of illegal uses, such as land fill activity, taking place.

Wayne Mercer, Manager, Community Bylaws, advised that there has been a list of property owners in that vicinity not complying with the stated land use. He added that three non-complying property owners are in receipt of letters from the City advising that after June 30, 2007 the City will initiate enforcement activities.

In response to a query, Mr. Mercer advised that if property owners do not voluntary comply with the City’s direction and bylaws, the situation would be reviewed by the City’s Law Department, and ultimately the next step would be a court case.

Discussion then took place among Committee members and staff on the issue of the City enforcing zoning bylaws, road weight load limits, clean up bylaws, and other related issues in the area, and in particular on:

·         

vehicles plying River Road that exceed the load limits;

·         

the need to call upon, and work with, the RCMP to initiate ongoing inspections along River Road to track trucking activity and to enforce the bylaws;

·         

advantages of setting up an “AG2” zone for an ‘agri-industrial service area’, and disadvantages, if any;

·         

the possibility of, and consequences of, a cranberry operation moving onto a River Road site that is zoned industrial and not agricultural;

·         

the GVRD’s recent action taken against property owners who have allowed dumping on their River Road land;

·         

Community Bylaws staff is communicating with three separate Provincial ministries with regard to the proposed soil bylaw and staff believes that at a meeting scheduled to take place in Victoria on July 10^th, the issue will be brought to a conclusion;

·         

an attempt by the City to exercise control over all the soil would not gain approval from the Province;

·         

banning fill in Richmond would penalize the high percentage of farmers in the City who practise good farming methods, and not influence the small percentage of those who do not practise good farming methods.

Mr. Mike Petrich, Berane Construction Ltd., 16360 River Road, stated that he has owned River Road land since 1981, and that he had attempted at various times in the past to have his property rezoned. He inquired at City Hall about rezoning the property to Industrial Storage District (I5), he later inquired about rezoning the land to accommodate a driving range, and most recently he had applied for permission to use the land for temporary storage. He stated his opinion that all River Road property owners should be treated equally by the City, and expressed his exasperation at not receiving answers and information from City staff.

In response to the Chair’s request for clarification of Mr. Berane’s situation, Mr. Erceg stated that at present Mr. Berane’s property is being used contrary to the existing land use permitted, and that the vehicles stored on his land exceed the weight limits permissible on River Road. He further stated that Mr. Berane is one of the parties in receipt of a letter from City Bylaws to bring his property into compliance by June 30, 2007.

Discussion ensued and Mr. Mercer, accompanied by Amarjeet Rattan, Manager, Business Liaison, advised that:

·         

at present, the properties on the south side of River Road, including Mr. Berane’s property, are not zoned to allow for the conduct of business, so the City would not, and has not, issued business licences for businesses operating at these properties;

·         

the recent letter from City Bylaws sent to three property owners on River Road who are illegally operating businesses, instructs these property owners to remove all business signage;

·         

in light of there being no provision in the City to allow for commercial trucks to park on the street, Mr. Rattan advised that he would look into the situation to determine the need.

In response to a request by the Chair that staff inspect a gate that he noted was across a City road, advice was given that beyond the section in question is a CNR Rail right-of-way.

Mr. Steve Easterbrook, a resident of River Road, stated that since 1991 he has operated a certified organic egg production agricultural business on his property. Over the years, he has observed significant deterioration in the area and by his estimate there are at least six properties that are storing trucks on site, thus contravening the City’s bylaws. He stated that activity in this part of Richmond suffers from a lack of clarity on the part of both the City and the Province. Before starting his agri-business, Mr. Easterbrook undertook due diligence and he is of the opinion that other property owners along River Road should do the same. In conclusion, he stated support for the recommendation to enforce the law, and stated that contravening rules and regulations is not feasible.

Mr. George Makoski, a resident of River Road, stated that he supports the recommendation to enforce the law and remarked that, for the past three years, he has been vocal in his complaints with regard to a lack of enforcement of the regulations and the non-compliance on the part of other River Road property owners. He commented that it is not fair to legitimate businesses who do comply with City bylaws, and who do pay business taxes, that others who conduct businesses are not held to the same standard. In conclusion he stated his belief that the trust and confidence residents have in the City has been eroded by the City’s inaction along River Road.

Mr. Harold Lougheed, 19000 River Road, advised that he has operated an organic blueberry farm for 13 years on his property. He stated his support for the comments made by Mr. Easterbrook and Mr. Makoski and introduced a concern that was not mentioned by the other speakers: River Road was conceived originally as a dyke, and even now is not really a road, but a dyke covered with asphalt. Using photographs that he had taken recently, of the degradation of new asphalt on River Road, Mr. Lougheed expressed concern that the roadbed was being compromised by the amount of traffic, and by the weight of the trucks that travel that part of River Road. In addition he expressed concern regarding the undermining of the ditch that runs along River Road, and stated his belief that, if there is a water main failure or if Richmond suffers a flooding incident, residents in the River Road area are especially vulnerable.

In response to a direction from the Chair, Mr. Erceg advised that he would relay Mr. Lougheed’s comments and concerns to Engineering and Public Works staff, and that staff could take the comments under advisement and bring them to the attention of the Public Works and Transportation Committee.

Further discussion ensued with regard to the noted problems along River Road. In response to Committee’s direction for staff to report back with regard to a long term resolution to the issues confronted by River Road residents, Mr. Erceg advised that, through the Policy Planning division of the Planning and Development Department, staff would explore the background informing the issues and would bring options to Committee within six months. He added that enforcement of the bylaws for the three property owners in receipt of the letter from the City would take place first.

In response to a request from Committee that staff submit an update on the progress of the enforcement, Mr. Mercer advised that because the June 30, 2007 deadline for voluntary compliance has now passed, enforcement would now begin. He will report to the Committee on the enforcement before the end of December 2007.

The Chair stated that the reason he submitted the report on this issue was to demonstrate that Council supports staff’s endeavours in regard to enforcing the law in the River Road area.

It was moved and seconded

That the City of Richmond document any bylaw infractions in the River Road area and enforce the law.

CARRIED

After a brief discussion with regard to the idea of setting up an “AG2” zone for an ‘agri-industrial service area’, the following referral was made:

It was moved and seconded

That staff investigate the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a new “AG2” zone for an ‘agri-industrial service area’, as suggested by the Agricultural Land Commission in 1988.

CARRIED

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

4.

APPLICATION BY THE CITY OF RICHMOND FOR REZONING AT 2631 AND 2491 WESTMINSTER HIGHWAY FROM AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT (AG1) TO SCHOOL & PUBLIC USE DISTRICT (SPU)

(RZ 07-365245 – Report:  June 13, 2007, File No.:  12-8060-20-8268) (REDMS No. 2120501, 2083337, 2244416)

Committee suggested that in order to avoid any confusion with regard to the specific use of the building after the proposed conversion to a multi-functional building with one large meeting room/classroom, a kitchen and public washrooms, that the application be referred to staff, and be brought forward to a future Planning Committee meeting. A brief discussion ensued regarding a timetable for bringing the application back to Committee and a timetable for the completion of the proposed conversion of the building, used previously as a garage/storage space.

It was moved and seconded

That staff investigate the creation of an “Agri-Industrial Zone”, as it would relate to the property at 2631 and 2492 Westminster Highway, and to bring the results of that investigation to the Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Planning Committee meeting for discussion.

CARRIED

It was moved and seconded

That the report entitled “Application by the City of Richmond for Rezoning at 2631 and 2491 Westminster Highway from Agricultural District (Ag1) to School & Public Use District (SPU)” (dated June 13, 2007 from the Director of Development) be referred to the Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Planning Committee meeting, and that staff bring forward a revised zoning district specific to the proposed park use.

CARRIED

5.

APPLICATION BY PARM DHINJAL FOR REZONING AT 10520 WILLIAMS ROAD FROM SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING DISTRICT, SUBDIVISION AREA E (R1/E) TO SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING DISTRICT (R1-0.6)

(RZ 07-366381 – Report:  June 11, 2007, File No.:  12-8060-20-8266) (REDMS No. 2242325, 1791415, 2243333)

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 8266, for the rezoning of 10520 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.

CARRIED

6.

APPLICATION BY JOHN HALL AND WEI CHANG FOR A STRATA-TITLE CONVERSION AT 8800/8820 ROSEDENE COURT

(SC 07-367841 – Report:  June 11, 2007, File No. (REDMS No. 2241245, 1467889)

It was moved and seconded

That the application for a strata-title conversion by John Hall and Wei Chang for the property located at 8800/8820 Rosedene Court be approved on fulfilment of the following conditions:

(1)

Final inspection approval of Building Permit B7 07-377734 for past enclosure of the carport without a permit at 8800 Rosedene Court;

(2)

Registration of a flood indemnity covenant on title;

(3)

Payment of all City utility charges and property taxes up to and including the year 2007; and

(4)

Submission of appropriate plans and documents for execution by the Mayor and City Clerk within 180 days of the date of this resolution.

CARRIED

7.

(Report:  June 19, 2007, File No.:  08-4045-20-10) (REDMS No. 2238599)

Terry Crowe, Manager, Policy Planning, advised that the report served two purposes: (i) to present the City Centre Population Projection Study conducted by Urban Futures, and (ii) to present the findings from the third Open House conducted in March, 2007.

Mr. Crowe introduced David Baxter and Andrew Ramlos, consultants with Urban Futures Strategic Research. Mr. Ramlos used a power point presentation to highlight features of the demographic study, and drew the Committee’s attention to:.

·            

the City Centre’s anticipated growth rate numbers are estimates, and actual growth may differ from what is projected;

·            

a City Centre population of 120,000 is reasonable, and would take until approximately 2100 to achieve;

·            

the greatest anticipated rate of growth will be greatest between now and 2021;

·            

by 2021 it is anticipated that the City Centre’s population will reach approximately 78,000 (two-thirds of the ultimate build-out population of 120,000);

·            

after 2021 the City Centre’s rate of growth will likely slow by almost 50% to 2031, and between 2031 and 2050, it will slow by a further 75%; this anticipated slowing of population growth is consistent with anticipated trends across the Lower Mainland region;

·            

between 2007 and 2021 the population aged 19 years and younger is expected to increase by approximately 70%, and after 2021 the number of children anticipated in the City Centre is expected to remain relatively constant until 2101;

·            

the number of older adults will increase at a rate faster than the total population;

·            

the City Centre will be the location of an increasingly larger share of the City’s new housing due to densification, transit-oriented development and compact community living.

Discussion then took place among Committee members, the consultants and staff on the demographic study, and in particular on: how the consultant’s forecast the age groupings; how risk was assessed in the planning context; the many variables in a demographic study of this kind; the absence of household income as a measurement in the demographic study; it would be helpful if the information in the draft demographic study was put into context and compared to what has been done in the rest of the Lower Mainland region in the past 15 years and what other municipalities in the region are going to do in the next 15 years; the periodic updating of demographic information.

In response from queries, staff advised that:

·            

City staff has delivered the Draft Demographic Study findings to Ken Morris, Secretary Treasurer of the Richmond School Board, and in addition there will be a meeting in the near future during which City staff and the Urban Futures consultants will meet with School Board staff and their consultants, to discuss methodology, statistics, demographics, modeling and share other information;

·            

at the third Open House, held in March, 2007, staff heard that residents expect the City to manage growth in the City Centre well and to make the growth sustainable; staff will continue to educate the residents with regard to the City Centre Area Plan in order to raise the awareness of what is going to happen in the City Centre;

·            

the information contained in the Draft Demographic Study will be effective during the phasing part of the development of the City Centre, and will be informative as to the pace of development, the ability to provide community amenities, the location of amenities and so on;

·            

three of the four Canada Line stations will be the driving force behind many of the future housing starts in the City Centre, and these housing structures will be a variety of housing types.

(Councillor Derek Dang left the meeting during the discussion on Item 7 and did not return.)

Concern was expressed that residents may not fully understand that the City Centre is a defined location at the core of the City, that it does not spread outside certain boundaries and into single-family home neighbourhoods, and that staff could delineate the City Centre core in forthcoming reports to avoid any confusion on the part of City residents.

The Chair commented that, in 1971, had anyone done demographic projections for Richmond’s population, the City’s current population would not have been envisioned. 

It was moved and seconded

That, as per the Manager, Policy Planning report entitled: City Centre Area Plan (CCAP) Update – Projected Community Change, dated June 28, 2007, City staff proceed:

(1)

with the public consultation process outlined in the report; and

(2)

to consult with the Richmond School Board.

CARRIED

8.

CITY CENTRE TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE – CREATING A TRANSPORTATION VISION

(Report:  June 5, 2007, File No.:  10-6500-04, XR 08-4045-20-10) (REDMS No. 2112115)

Victor Wei, Director, Transportation advised that the City Centre Transportation Plan (CCTP) complemented the CCAP to ensure that the City’s transportation infrastructure, as well as its planning policies, could support the planned growth in a sustainable manner.

Mr. Wei stated that the power point presentation would highlight Phase 1 of the CCTP (comprising the Transportation Demand Forecast Modelling and the Vision Development) and that Phase 2 of the CCTP would focus on developing an implementation strategy. He anticipated that work on Phase 2 would be completed in the summer of 2007.

The power point presentation covered the following parts of Phase 1 of the CCTP:

·            

together the CCAP and the CCTP encourages transit-oriented development which fosters a lifestyle change so that residents can choose to live, work, shop and use recreational amenities without the need of a vehicle;

·            

the six key components of the transportation vision for the City Centre are: transit, walking, cycling, driving and parking, goods movement, and emergency services;

·            

the four goals of the CCTP are: smart community, build green, build economic vitality, and build a legacy;

·            

Richmond is currently challenged by its large block sizes, unappealing streetscapes and incomplete sidewalk and cycling networks; the CCTP oulines areas where pedestrian and cycling environments can overcome these challenges;

·            

the City’s major roads provide important cross-city and cross-downtown corridors, while minor routes break up Richmond’s super-blocks to provide a fine-grain network that would enhance pedestrian circulation;

·            

the CCTP favours walking, cycling and public transit as preferred travel modes;

·            

key street improvement features include a westward extension of Lansdowne Road from Minoru Blvd. to Hollybridge Way; a westward extension of Ackroyd Road from No. 3 Road to Minoru Blvd.; new east-west streets extended westward from No. 3 Road to the river’s edge on the Middle Arm of the Fraser River; and loop roads to help local traffic access destinations in the City Centre;

·            

the proposed transit network hierarchy comprises the Canada Line, regional bus connections, local bus service and community shuttles;

·            

the CCTP lists new pedestrian corridors, appealing and animated pedestrian streetscapes, urban plazas, gathering places and street furniture as features to enhance the pedestrian experience;

·            

a safe, continuous and convenient network of bike routes serving cyclists of all ages and abilities would encourage more people to cycle more often;

·            

the parking plan will cover both public and private parking, with a combination of on-site and precinct parking, and with curb side parking in selected areas;

·            

the CCTP suggests moving in the direction of meeting parking demand more efficiently and with less impact on urban land, as well as promoting the concept that having a parking space is not necessarily part of home ownership;

·            

policies and programs are already in place to make the City’s transportation system smarter, and the CCTP vision states that the City would work collaboratively with local, regional, provincial and federal agencies to implement initiatives that are outside the direct control of the City.

At the conclusion of the power point presentation, discussion ensued between the Committee and Mr. Wei regarding:

·            

while not discouraging parking, some housing units could be developed with fewer number of parking places and it would be observed how the market responded to that idea; in addition some developers are already marketing housing units with a “car-share” program; this type of program is the responsibility of the individual developer, with agreement involving the City;

·            

whether, in the next 25 years, the Canada Line would extend further south of Saba Road, to the Granville/No. 3 Road intersection;

·            

the City will not overbuild roads and is not supportive of paving over more parts of Richmond in order to widen roads;

·            

Planning and Development staff will liaise with Engineering and Public Works staff on the question of elevating Richmond’s roadways to meet a flood-proof level;

·            

with regard to the coordination of traffic signals in the City, Mr. Wei announced that funding had been received that will enable staff to look at key corridors for existing and future developments, and to start planning ahead for signals necessary to ease traffic flow;

·            

the implementation plan will group the features outlined in the Vision into categories and then measure what can be achieved in five years, in ten years, and so on;

·            

as Richmond undergoes changes, the Middle Arm of the Fraser River could be accessed by other modes of transit, and river ferries and river taxis could be explored.

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed Vision for the updated City Centre Transportation Plan (as described in the report dated June 5, 2007 from the Director, Transportation), be endorsed in principle subject to further public consultation in co-ordination with the City Centre Area Plan update process.

CARRIED

Mr. Wei suggested that the vision for the updated City Centre Transportation Plan be forwarded to the Richmond School Board for information. As a result of the discussion that followed Mr. Wei’s suggestion, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That the proposed Vision for the updated City Centre Transportation Plan (as described in the report dated June 5, 2007 from the Director, Transportation), be forwarded to the Richmond School Board for information.

CARRIED

9.

RICHMOND HERITAGE COMMISSION 2006 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2007 WORK PLAN

(Report:  June 18, 2007, File No.:  01-0100-20-HCOM1-01 ) (REDMS No. 2243016, 2243018)

Graham Turnbull, Chair of the Richmond Heritage Commission (RHC), and Terence Brunette, Planner, staff liaison for the RHC, presented the RHC’s 2006 Annual report and the 2007 Work Plan to Committee.

In response to a query from Committee, Mr. Turnbull advised that each year more students participate in the Richmond School Heritage Fair than the year before, and that the local Heritage Fair is affiliated with a national Heritage Fair.

There was a brief discussion about heritage sites in Steveston and a question regarding the heritage merits of the Steveston Dairy Queen was raised. Mr. Turnbull and Mr. Brunette remarked that they would look into the heritage status of the Dairy Queen.

In response to a further question, Mr. Turnbull stated that program to collect oral histories from Richmond residents is an on-going program, and that tapes of the oral interviews are filed at the City’s Archives and are available to researchers.

Councillor Rob Howard, Council Liaison with the RHC, remarked that the rest of Council joined him in congratulating the RHC on its 2006 activities and looked forward to hearing of the success of its 2007 Work Plan.

It was moved and seconded

That the Richmond Heritage Commission 2007 Work Plan be approved.

CARRIED

10.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(1)

Steveston Study - Mr. Crowe advised that at the Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Planning Committee meeting staff would present the Steveston Village Conservation Strategy and the Steveston Transportation Strategy.

(2)

Official Community Plan – No report was given.

(3)

Liveable Region Strategic Plan Review – No report was given.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:59 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 Wednesday, July 4, 2007.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves
Chair

Sheila Johnston
Committee Clerk