November 22, 2016 - Minutes

Date:

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Councillor Linda McPhail, Chair
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Chak Au
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Harold Steves

Call to Order:

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

AGENDA ADDITION

It was moved and seconded

That House Size on the Agricultural Land Reserve be added to the agenda as Item No. 2A.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on November 8, 2016, be adopted as circulated.

CARRIED

NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

December 6, 2016, (tentative date) at 4:00 p.m. in the Anderson Room.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

1.

Application by 0868256 BC Ltd. for Rezoning at 8360/8380 Sierpina Place from Single Detached (RS1/E) to Single Detached (RS2/B)
(File Ref. No. 12-8060-20-009642; RZ 16-737179) (REDMS No. 5197206)

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500, Amendment Bylaw 9642, for the rezoning of 8360/8380 Sierpina Place from “Single Detached (RS1/E)” to “Single Detached (RS2/B)”, be introduced and given first reading.

CARRIED

2.

Single-Family Dwelling Building Massing Regulation – Second Phase
(File Ref. No. 08-4430-01) (REDMS No. 4958848 v. 12)

Wayne Craig, Director, Development, Barry Konkin, Program Coordinator, Development, and James Cooper, Manager, Plan Review, spoke on single-family dwelling building massing regulation, highlighting amendment options related to (i) rear yard setbacks, (ii) setbacks for accessory structures, (iii) side yard setbacks, (iv) second storey balconies, (v) building site coverage, (vi) increasing landscaped areas on-site, (vii) on-site tree planting requirements, (viii) fencing regulations, and (ix) the methodology of calculating building height.

Mr. Konkin noted that should the proposed information on potential zoning amendment options be received, the next step would be for the amendment options to go to public and stakeholder consultation. The proposed consultation process would include two public information sessions with notifications in the newspaper, social media and the City’s website. Also, Mr. Konkin anticipates that public consultation could begin in early 2017 with a report on public feedback presented to Council in the late spring. Furthermore, he noted that additional public information sessions can be scheduled.

Discussion ensued with regard to (i) the retention of existing trees on-site, (ii) reviewing site coverage, (iii) subdivision and densification of large lots, (iv) increasing setback requirements, (v) options to increase green space on-site, (vi) the maximum floor area for garages and accessory buildings, and (vii) minimizing overlook from coach house balconies.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Konkin noted that drawings can be refined to be more user-friendly and that staff will be available to answer queries at the information sessions.

Discussion then ensued regarding (i) rear yard setbacks for single-storey dwellings, (ii) provisions for side yard setback projections, (iii) increasing green space in the front yard, and (iv) coach house balcony orientation.

Jim McGrath, 10131 Lawson Drive, expressed concern with regard to (i) the building height of new single-family dwellings, (ii) small building setbacks, (iii) overlook and loss of privacy, (iv) building shadowing, (v) loss of mature trees, (vi) inadequate green space, and (vi) the impact of large single-family dwellings on the surrounding neighbourhood.

XXXX XXXX, XXXX expressed concern with regard to (i) the loss of trees, (ii) reduction of green space, (iii) the effect of paved areas on rain runoff, and (iv) large garages.

Kathryn McCreary, 7560 Glacier Crescent, referenced speaking notes (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1) and expressed concern with regard to (i) the City’s rear yard setback requirements in comparison to other municipalities in Metro Vancouver, (ii) building site coverage, (iii) impervious area coverage, (iv) densification and subdivision of lots, and (v) side yard setback projections.

Jason Ma, 6220 Goldsmith Drive, spoke on single-family building massing regulations in the City and suggested that staff should be able to adjust minimum setback requirements relative to the configuration and character of existing dwellings in the neighbourhood.

In reply to queries from Committee, Joe Erceg, General Manager, Planning and Development, advised that according to Provincial legislation, staff do not have any discretionary approval related to minimum zoning requirements.

Lynda Terborg, 5867 Sandpiper Court, referenced her speaking notes (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2) and commented on single-family building massing regulations in the City.

In reply to queries from Committee, Mr. Craig noted that (i) public feedback will be compiled in a report and presented to Council, (ii) information on the matter will be available on the City’s website, and (iii) Council will be able to preview the consultation material on proposed amendments prior to public consultation.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the proposed amendments to Zoning Bylaw 8500 for further refinement of single-family residential massing be received for the purposes of public stakeholder consultation; and

(2)

That staff be authorized to proceed to public and stakeholder consultation.

The question in the motion was not called as discussion ensued with regard to the public consultation process. It was then suggested that staff collect contact information of residents in attendance at the meeting.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED.

2A.

House Size on the Agricultural Land Reserve
(File Ref. No.)

Historical staff reports and Council minutes related to regulations on house size on the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 3) along with the zoning bylaws from the Corporation of Delta (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 4) was distributed.

Discussion ensued regarding house size restrictions on the ALR and the subdivision of agricultural land.

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

It was moved and seconded

That staff examine and prepare a report on limiting the size of homes in agricultural areas based on:

(1)

the BC Ministry of Agriculture report “Bylaw standards for Residential Uses in the Agricultural Land Reserve”; and

(2)

the Corporation of Delta Zoning Bylaw, Part V A1 Zone Agriculture; and

report back by the end of January 2017.

The question on the referral was not called as discussion ensued with regard to the maximum size of homes within the ALR in the Corporation of Delta and the average size of agricultural lots in Richmond.

The question on the motion was then called and it was CARRIED.

Mr. Erceg advised that the City has sent correspondence to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) regarding the regulation of house size on the ALR, noting that the Province has not expressed interest in pursuing the matter. He added that the ALC has expressed interest in working with City and that staff are scheduled to meet with the ALC CEO and Ministry staff next week.

3.

MANAGER’S REPORT

(i)

Delta Casino

Mr. Erceg advised that the Corporation of Delta is considering development of a Casino and is seeking stakeholder input. He added that the City intends to bring a report regarding the matter to the December 6, 2016 Planning Committee meeting.

(ii)

Tree Bylaw Information Sessions

Mr. Erceg advised that the next Tree Bylaw Information session is scheduled for November 24, 2016 at the West Richmond Community Centre. He further noted that previous information sessions were well attended.

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (5:37 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, November 22, 2016.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Councillor Linda McPhail
Chair

Evangel Biason
Legislative Services Coordinator