MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

1.

2009 ANNUAL REPORT/2010 WORK PROGRAM: RICHMOND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

(File Ref. No.:  ) (REDMS No. 2788517)

Lesley Sherlock, Social Planner, and Judy Valsonis and Kim Winchell, Co-Chairs of the Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee (RCSAC), provided background information to the report and responded to queries from Committee.  The following comments were made:

·         

the Affordable Housing Coordinator has eased the channel of communication between RCSAC and the City, as well as the inclusion of RCSAC in the development of affordable housing strategies;

·         

in 2009, the Broadway Youth Resource Centre youth service hub model was examined in terms of current and future service delivery plans for Richmond;

·         

the RCSAC will submit a request for a slight increase in funding from the 2011 Operating Budget; and

·         

in regards to funding cuts, RCSAC has expressed concern regarding the long term funding of programs and service.

Committee praised the report and recognized the hard work involved.

It was moved and seconded

That the 2009 Annual Report and 2010 Work Program/Budget: Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee be approved as put forward in the staff report dated January 6, 2010 from the General Manager, Community Services.

CARRIED

2.

HOUSING AGREEMENT BYLAW NO. 8540 TO PERMIT THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A HOUSING AGREEMENT TO SECURE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS – 8600 PARK ROAD

(File Ref. No.: 06-2280-30-022) (REDMS No. 2777226v2)

Joan D'Angola, Affordable Housing Coordinator, provided background information to the report and responded to queries from Committee.  The following comments were made:

·         

in addition to the report, staff advised that this housing agreement is the second housing agreement achieved through the final Affordable Housing Strategy; and

·         

the City has approved approximately 400 units of market and affordable rental housing.

Committee remarked that this accomplishment should be conveyed to the public in order to highlight the City’s efforts in addressing the demand for affordable housing.

A brief discussion ensued between Committee and staff, and staff advised the following:

·         

the City Inspector can determine the number of occupants permitted to occupy a housing unit; and

·         

the Residential Tenancy Act rules apply to units governed by Affordable Housing Agreements.

It was moved and seconded

That Bylaw No. 8540 be introduced and given first, second and third readings to permit the City, once Bylaw No. 8540 is adopted, to enter into a Housing Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto, in accordance with the requirements of s. 905 of the Local Government Act to secure the Affordable Housing Units required by Rezoning application 07-397063 and the associated Bylaw No. 8439.

CARRIED

MANAGERS’ REPORTS

(1)  

Applications Update

Brian J. Jackson, Director of Development, provided information regarding the following applications that are moving forward:

·            

transportation solutions are being created for the IKEA Industrial Retail Store at Bathgate Place and Jacombs Road;

·            

revised drawings have been submitted by Wal-Mart;

·            

plans for the Community Centre forming part of the application by W.P. Leung Architects in the City Centre at Firbridge are proceeding;

·            

staff is seeing an increase in the number of applications received, with two high-rise applications in the City Centre received this week alone; and

·            

ASPAC’s application for the Olympic precinct will be brought before Council within the next two months.

(2)  

General Manager

Joe Erceg, General Manager, Planning and Development, briefed Committee on the following:

·            

an increase in applications suggests that the economic downturn may be subsiding; however, a potential increase in interest rates may impact economic recovery; and

·            

the potential rezoning application on the Mixed Maritime Use Site of the former Canada Packer’s Land.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:17 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, January 19, 2010.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Bill McNulty

Chair

Susan Steeves

Committee Clerk