Date:

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Place:

Anderson Room

Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Harold Steves, Chair

Councillor Bill McNulty, Vice-Chair

Councillor Linda Barnes

Councillor Sue Halsey-Brandt

Councillor Rob Howard (arrived at 4:06 p.m.)

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

MINUTES

1.

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Tuesday, October 7, 2008, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

2.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

3.

APPLICATION BY 450470 BC LTD. FOR REZONING A PORTION OF 5011 MONCTON STREET FROM SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING DISTRICT, SUBDIVISION AREA E (R1/E) TO SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING DISTRICT, SUBDIVISION AREA C (R1/C)

(RZ 07-380166 – Report:  October 6, 2008, File No.:  12-8060-20-8434) (REDMS No. 2500876, 1358582, 2503016)

A brief discussion took place regarding access from the subject site to Railway Avenue. Staff advised that the rezoning conditions include the widening of Railway Avenue by 9.3 metres. In addition, should future development take place on lots to the east of the subject site, developers would be encouraged to provide shared driveways in order to ensure access to and from Railway Road.

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 8434, for the rezoning of a portion of 5011 Moncton Street from “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area E (R1/E)” to “Single-Family Housing District, Subdivision Area C (R1/C)”, be introduced and given first reading.

CARRIED

Cllr. Rob Howard entered the meeting at 4:06 p.m.

4.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(1)

City Centre Area Plan (CCAP)

No report was given.

(2)

Steveston Study

No report was given.

(3)

Official Community Plan (OCP)

No report was given.

(4)

Liveable Region Strategic Plan Review (LRSP)

Terry Crowe, Manager, Policy Planning reported that an informal draft of Metro Vancouver’s (MV) Growth Management Strategy would be reviewed by MV’s Board on October 24, 2008. In February 2009 the new MV Board will review it and more work will be done. A draft Growth Management Strategy may be available in mid-2009, at which time all 22 municipalities would have the opportunity to review it and provide comments.

(5)

Hedges Along Arterial Roads

Brian Jackson, Director of Development, stated that staff would soon present Committee with a report regarding hedge related issues, focusing especially on the areas of Williams Road and No. 1 Road.

(6)

Development Applications

Mr. Jackson reported that some developers have expressed concern that the clause in the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy that states that affordable units would remain in perpetuity has caused lending institutions to threaten to withhold financing, due to a concern that affordable units in some developments would be non revenue generating.

A brief discussion ensued during which concern was expressed that the City might be encouraged to adjust its Affordable Housing Strategy. Mr. Jackson advised that City staff would be meeting with members of Urban Development Institute to discuss the matter in more depth.

(7)

9611 Odlin Road and 9600 Cambie Road

In response to a query regarding the October 10, 2008 letter from Brian Dagneault of Dagneault Planning Consultants Ltd., (the letter is on file in the City Clerk’s Office) on behalf of George Struk (9600 Cambie Road) and Mr. and Mrs. Norman Walden (9611 Odlin Road), whose residences are located to the east of properties under application by the Ismaili council of Canada for their proposed Jamatkhana, staff advised that the properties are designated as park land in the West Cambie Plan.

Committee expressed concern that the homeowners’ 2005 application for rezoning for their properties for higher density townhouse use could not be processed until the West Cambie Area Plan was completed, and that both properties had subsequently been designated as park land.

Mr. Jackson noted that the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department may want to incorporate acquisition of these properties into their plans that will be presented to Council in February 2009.

As a result of the discussion the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That, in response to the October 10, 2008 letter from Brian Dagneault, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services staff investigate the acquisition of the properties at 9611 Odlin Road and 9600 Cambie Road and report their findings to Council.

CARRIED

(8)

City Property Located at Steveston Highway and Fifth Avenue

The Chair expressed the view that the possibility exists for future affordable housing for seniors to be located on City owned property at the corner of Steveston Highway and Fifth Avenue, and requested that this idea be explored further by City staff.

As a result of the Chair’s statement the following referral motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That Real Estate Services Staff:

(1)

investigate the potential for the sale of the City property located at the corner of Steveston Highway and Fifth Avenue; and

(2)

explore the use of the property for future affordable housing needs.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:20 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, October 21, 2008.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Harold Steves

Chair

Sheila Johnston

Committee Clerk