March 25, 2026 - Minutes
|
Development Permit Panel
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
|
Time: |
3:30 p.m. |
|
Place: |
Remote (Zoom) Meeting |
|
Present: |
Wayne Craig, General Manager, Planning and Development, Chair Roeland Zwaag, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works Marie Fenwick, Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage |
The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m.
|
|
MINUTES |
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel held on March 11, 2026 be adopted. |
|
|
CARRIED |
|
1. |
(REDMS No. 8332562) |
||
|
|
APPLICANT: |
David Lee |
|
|
|
PROPERTY LOCATION: |
12060 and 12080 No. 5 Road |
|
|
|
INTENT OF PERMIT: |
|
|
|
|
Permit the development of a two-storey industrial building on a site zoned “Light Industrial (IL)” and associated Environmentally Sensitive Areas compensation. |
||
|
|
Applicant’s Comments |
|
|
|
Marco Ciriello, representing Lo Studio Architecture Inc., with the aid of a visual presentation (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1), provided background information on the proposed development, highlighting the following: |
|
|
|
§ |
the proposed development includes a two-storey office and industrial building facing No. 5 Road, an extension of the existing rear lane to the north that will run along the rear (east side) of the subject site, and associated off-site Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) compensation; |
|
|
§ |
pedestrian access to the proposed building will be from No. 5 Road and vehicle access will be from the rear lane; |
|
|
§ |
the architectural form and character of the proposed building is similar to the existing industrial developments to the north (12020 and 12040 No. 5 Road) which are also owned by the same business organization; |
|
|
§ |
the proposed building is differentiated from the adjacent buildings to the north through articulation of its building façade; |
|
|
§ |
stairs and ramps leading to the building entrance are proposed to address the proposed grade change to meet the required building elevation; |
|
|
§ |
parking, loading and garbage areas are proposed at the back of the building; and |
|
|
§ |
sustainability features of the proposed development include, among others, a higher energy efficiency than the minimum required by the BC Building Code, high efficiency LED lighting, provision of Level 2 charging infrastructure for electric vehicle (EV) parking stalls, water conservation features and provision for future rooftop solar infrastructure. |
|
|
Alex Sartori, NEXT Environmental Inc., with the aid of the same visual presentation, spoke about the proposed development’s impact on off-site Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs), noting that (i) the required grading along the rear (east side) of the subject site to construct the rear lane extension will require the removal of six trees on the adjacent property to the east, and (ii) to compensate for the tree removals on the adjacent property to the east, the applicant is proposing off-site ESA compensation through planting of trees on the property to the north at 12851 Rice Mill Road and along the public pathway south of 12851 No. 5 Road. |
|
|
|
Meredith Mitchell, M2 Landscape Architecture Inc., with the aid of the same visual presentation, briefed the Panel on the main landscape features of the project, noting that (i) the proposed landscaping for the subject site is similar in character to the landscaping on the adjacent development to the north, (ii) bike racks are proposed in front of the building, (iii) a landscaped area in front of the building is proposed to provide an outdoor amenity space for employees, which includes a picnic table and a cable trellis with climbing vines to soften the building wall behind, (iv) the three trees originally proposed to be planted on the street frontage will be moved into the larger landscaped area on the back of the property to achieve the required soil volume requirements, (v) proposed on-site planting includes a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees and other plant materials, and (vi) irrigation will be provided for all landscaped areas on the site. |
|
|
|
Staff Comments |
|
|
Joshua Reis, Director, Development, noted that (i) the subject development permit application includes an ESA compensation for the off-site ESA impacts of the proposed development, (ii) the proposed off-site ESA compensation will result in approximately 1,020 square metres of ESA net habitat gain to compensate for the approximately 405 square metres of ESA on neighbouring lots impacted as a result of the proposed development, (iii) the City’s Parks Department has reviewed and supports the proposed ESA compensation and the applicant is required to enter into a servicing agreement to secure the ESA compensation works, and (iv) there is a Servicing Agreement associated with the project which includes, among others, frontage improvements, construction of the rear lane, and servicing and utility connections that have been secured through the rezoning application. |
|
|
Panel Discussion |
|
|
In reply to queries from the Panel, the applicant noted that (i) the green wall behind the seating area consists of a two-storey high cable trellis planted with a mix of broadleaf evergreen and deciduous climbing vines and are visible from the street, (ii) the proposed mix of deciduous and coniferous trees and shrubs for on-site planting would provide a good habitat for birds and insects, and (iii) the proposed on-site lighting will include downward lighting fixtures and are DarkSky compliant to avoid light spillover onto neighbouring properties. |
|
|
In reply to a query from the Panel regarding the off-site ESA compensation planting on two City properties near the subject site, staff noted that (i) the applicant will be required to enter into a servicing agreement with the City prior to Development Permit issuance, (ii) the applicant will coordinate with the City’s Parks Department but will be responsible for the planting and maintenance of the proposed off-site ESA compensation planting during the five-year maintenance period, and (iii) the applicant is required to enter into a Landscape Agreement that includes a five-year monitoring and annual reporting of the ESA plantings by a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP). |
|
|
The Panel noted that the applicant only highlighted the Rice Mill Road location for the proposed off-site ESA compensation plantings but there is a second location on No. 5 Road near the subject site where off-site ESA compensation plantings will occur. |
|
|
Also, staff noted that (i) the landscape plans presented by the applicant in the meeting differ from the plans provided to the panel for consideration, in particular the applicant proposes the relocation of the three trees originally proposed to be planted on the street frontage to the rear of the property, and (ii) staff will work with the applicant to ensure that the proposed landscape plan, as presented by the applicant, will be properly updated prior to the application moving forward to Council should the Panel endorse the application. |
|
|
In reply, the applicant clarified that the planting beds on the street frontage will not be removed and that the three trees originally proposed to be planted on the street frontage will be moved to the larger planting beds on the back of the site to achieve the required soil volumes. |
|
|
Correspondence |
|
|
None. |
|
|
Gallery Comments |
|
|
None. |
|
|
Panel Discussion |
|
|
The Panel expressed support for the application subject to the revisions to the landscape plan. In addition, the Panel noted the applicant’s thorough presentation, attention to detail, and the comprehensive ESA compensation planting program. |
|
|
Panel Decision |
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
That a Development Permit be issued at 12060 and 12080 No. 5 Road, which would permit the development of a two-storey industrial building on a site zoned “Light Industrial (IL)” and associated Environmentally Sensitive Areas compensation. |
|
|
CARRIED |
|
2. |
(REDMS No. 8280988) |
||
|
|
APPLICANT: |
JM Architecture Inc. |
|
|
|
PROPERTY LOCATION: |
3071 St. Edwards Drive |
|
|
|
INTENT OF PERMIT: |
|
|
|
|
Permit exterior renovations to the existing building at 3071 St. Edwards Drive on a site zoned “Auto-Orientated Commercial (CA)”. |
||
|
|
Applicant’s Comments |
|
|
|
Joe Minton, JM Architecture Inc., with the aid of a visual presentation (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 2), provided background information on the proposed development, highlighting the following: |
|
|
|
§ |
the subject development permit application includes revisions to the exterior cladding materials and colours of the existing 11-storey hotel building, landscape improvements, provision of bicycle storage in the pavilion building, and provision of electric vehicle (EV) parking spaces; |
|
|
§ |
the proposed exterior building renovation is the first stage of a larger future redevelopment of the subject site; |
|
|
§ |
the proposed exterior cladding materials for the hotel building includes an Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) with three different colour arrangements and textures; |
|
|
§ |
the existing porte cochère materials will be updated to include porcelain slabs and strip lighting; |
|
|
§ |
the existing building roof and façade and will be repainted to dark blue and white and light gray, respectively; |
|
|
§ |
the pavilion building will be repainted to match the updated façade of the hotel tower; and |
|
|
§ |
an enclosed garbage and recycling area is proposed at the back of the building pavilion. |
|
|
Donald Duncan, of Donald VS Duncan Landscape Architect, with the aid of the same visual presentation, briefed the Panel on the main landscape features of the project, noting that (i) a new pedestrian access between the main hotel building entrance and St. Edwards Drive that includes a new paving stone pathway is proposed, (ii) existing planted areas on the site will be enhanced with new plantings, and (iii) invasive ivy around the rear of the building is proposed to be removed. |
|
|
|
Staff Comments |
|
|
Joshua Reis, Director, Development noted that (i) the subject development permit application will facilitate improvements to the exterior of the building including changes in materials and colours and localized landscape improvements, (ii) the proposed pedestrian connection from St. Edwards Drive to the hotel main entrance will support additional pedestrian activity and provides a clearly marked path for the safety of pedestrians, (iii) four electric vehicle (EV) parking stalls provided with Level 2 charging infrastructure are proposed on-site and a legal agreement securing EV parking stalls is to be registered on Title prior to Development Permit issuance, (iv) there is no Servicing Agreement associated with the proposal given the scale of the development, and (v) no new signage is proposed as part of the subject Development Permit application as all signage on-site is currently existing. |
|
|
Panel Discussion |
|
|
In reply to queries from the Panel, the applicant confirmed that (i) the proposed pedestrian pathway includes provisions for letdowns and curb cuts and has been designed to provide accessibility to pedestrians with mobility challenges, (ii) the proposed strip lighting for the hotel building runs vertically on each frontage and only provides lighting over the face of the building and not directed to neighbouring developments, (iii) the proposed LED strip lighting can be programmed to different colours and is located against the white surface of the building, and (iv) the proposed building lighting is not anticipated to impact neighbouring developments. |
|
|
Correspondence |
|
|
None. |
|
|
Gallery Comments |
|
|
None. |
|
|
Panel Discussion |
|
|
The Panel expressed support for the application and staff were directed to work with the applicant to clarify the intensity of the proposed strip lighting and other lighting details on the building to avoid light pollution to neighbouring developments. |
|
|
Panel Decision |
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
That a Development Permit be issued which would permit exterior renovations to the existing building at 3071 St. Edwards Drive on a site zoned “Auto-Orientated Commercial (CA)”. |
|
|
CARRIED |
|
3. |
New Business |
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
That the Development Permit Panel meeting tentatively scheduled on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, be cancelled. |
|
|
CARRIED |
|
4. |
Date of Next Meeting: April 29, 2026 |
|
|
ADJOURNMENT |
|
|
It was moved and seconded |
|
|
That the meeting adjourn (4:22 p.m.). |
|
|
CARRIED |
|
|
Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. |
|
_________________________________ |
_________________________________ |
|
Wayne Craig Chair |
Rustico Agawin |