January 7, 2014 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Bill McNulty, Chair
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Linda Barnes
Councillor Harold Steves

Absent:

Councillor Evelina Halsey-Brandt

Also Present:

Councillor Linda McPhail

Call to Order:

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

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

Tuesday, January 21, 2014, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room

The Chair advised that the following matters would be added to the agenda as Items 1A – Department of National Defence Lands, 1B – Land Strategy – Fraser Wharves, 1C – Thomas Kidd House, and 1D – Alternate Energy Stations.

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

1.

Application by Samuel Yau for Rezoning at 11320/11340 Kingsgrove Avenue from Two-Unit Dwellings (RD1) to Single Detached (RS2/K)
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-009095, RZ 13-632272) (REDMS No. 4077223)

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500, Amendment Bylaw 9095, for the rezoning of 11320/11340 Kingsgrove Avenue from “Two-Unit Dwellings (RD1)” to “Single Detached (RS2/K)”, be introduced and given first reading.

CARRIED

1A.

Department of National Defence Lands
(File Ref. No.)

Committee queried the status of the Department of National Defence’s lands and whether the City would acquire such lands should they become available.  As a result, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine the potential acquisition of the Department of National Defence’s lands and report back.

CARRIED

1B.

Land Strategy – Fraser Wharves
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued regarding Port Metro Vancouver’s purchase of the Fraser Wharves facility and how this acquisition may potentially affect the City’s land strategy.

Discussion further took place regarding the City’s land strategy as it relates to future infrastructure such as a new bridge and how this may also potentially affect City’s land strategy.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine the City’s land strategy in relation to:

(a)

Port Metro Vancouver activities, and in particular its purchase of the Fraser Wharves facility; and

(b)

a new bridge and other waterfront opportunities along Richmond-arms of the Fraser River,

and report back.

CARRIED

1C.

THOMAS KIDD HOUSE
(File Ref. No.)

The Chair remarked that the Thomas Kidd House is for sale and queried the home’s heritage value.  As a result, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff investigate the potential purchase of the Thomas Kidd House and report back.

CARRIED

1D.

Alternate Energy Stations
(File Ref. No.)

Discussion ensued regarding alternate energy stations at new service stations.  As a result of the discussion, the following referral was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine the inclusion of alternate energy stations as part of any new gas stations and report back.

CARRIED

2.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Richmond Response: New Westminster’s Proposed Queensborough Community Plan

Terry Crowe, Manager, Policy Planning, provided background information and noted that the City of New Westminster’s proposed Queensborough Community Plan is compatible with the City’s Hamilton Area Plan.

As a result, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That New Westminster Council be advised that Richmond has no objection to the proposed Queensborough Community Plan.

CARRIED

(ii)

Planning and Development Department Updates

Wayne Craig, Director, Development, updated Committee on the status of the referral made at the November 19, 2013 Planning Committee meeting regarding the application by Onni Development (Imperial Landing) Corporation.

Discussion ensued regarding the amount of buildable area in Steveston Village.

Mr. Craig then updated Committee on land use contracts, noting that Provincial staff are working on draft legislation; however, there is no formal direction as to when and if said legislation would be brought before the Legislative Assembly.

Discussion ensued and Committee members expressed their desire to see legislative change to land use contracts as soon as possible.  As a result of the discussion, the following motion was introduced:

It was moved and seconded

That a letter under the Mayor’s signature be sent to the appropriate Minister and Richmond MLAs requesting that legislative change be brought forward addressing land use contracts.

CARRIED

Mr. Craig referenced past discussions regarding the use of trees native to Richmond on development sites.

Gordon Jaggs, Tree Preservation Coordinator, stated that there are inherent challenges with strictly utilizing trees native to Richmond as replacement trees on development sites.  Mr. Jaggs commented on the challenges and noted that staff will continue to integrate native species, particularly native conifers, as much as possible.

In reply to a query from Committee, Mr. Craig spoke of two courses of action related to Health Canada’s changes to medical marijuana production facilities, and research and development facilities.

Discussion ensued and Committee directed staff to provide an update on medical marijuana production facilities, and research and development facilities at the next Community Safety Committee meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:00 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 7, 2014.

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Councillor Bill McNulty
Chair

Hanieh Berg
Committee Clerk