October 29, 2025 - Minutes

Time:

3:30 p.m.

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Wayne Craig, General Manager, Planning and Development, Chair
Marie Fenwick, Director, Arts, Culture and Heritage Services
Roeland Zwaag, General Manager, Engineering and Public Works

Staff advised that Item 2, Development Permit 22-022003, for the property at 14511 Westminster Highway, was not in order for the Panel to consider at this time and that this item should be referred to the next meeting of the Development Permit Panel to be held on November 13, 2025, in order for staff to work with the Applicant and prepare a revised report and agreed to considerations.

It was moved and seconded

That Item 2, Development Permit 22-022003, be considered at the next meeting of the Development Permit Panel, scheduled to be held on November 13, 2025.

CARRIED

MINUTES

It was moved and seconded

That the minutes of the meeting of the Development Permit Panel held on October 16, 2025, be adopted.

CARRIED

1.

GENERAL COMPLIANCE - REQUEST BY KADIUM NO. 4 DEVELOPMENT LTD. FOR A GENERAL COMPLIANCE RULING AT 10380 NO. 4 ROAD

(File Ref. No.:  DP 21-936427) (REDMS No. 7778537)

APPLICANT:

Kadium No. 4 Development Ltd.

PROPERTY LOCATION:

10380 No. 4 Road

INTENT OF PERMIT:

For the plans involving changes to the proposed Landscape Plan, Tree Management Plan and Landscape Detail Plan, be considered to be in General Compliance with the approved Development Permit (DP 21-936427).

Applicant’s Comments

Jason Liang, Kadium No. 4 Development Ltd., 10380 No. 4 Road, introduced the project and, with the aid of a visual presentation (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1), highlighted the proposed changes as follows:

(i)

Replacement of Tree # 435:

§   

as part of the rezoning consideration in 2021, the approved tree protection and replacement plan identified two trees that were to be relocated on-site and which required they be removed and temporarily transplanted off-site during construction;

§   

Maple Leaf Tree Movers (2015) Ltd. (Maple Leaf) provided an assurance letter outlining the methodology and procedure to relocate Tree #422, a Japanese maple, and Tree #435, a Pink snowbell, and were subsequently hired to transplant both trees temporarily off-site (April-July 2022);

§   

a few months later, Maple Leaf advised the developer that Tree #435 did not survive, and on October 17, 2023, the project arborist undertook a field review to the off-site location at 14571 Westminster Hwy. and found that although Tree #422 was likely to survive, Tree #435 had not survived the temporary relocation and would need to be replaced; and

§   

Tree #435 is proposed to be replaced with one large tree, a 10cm Dawyck Purple beech tree, in the same location that was proposed for the transplanted tree on the property.

(ii)

Change in height of the north property line fence:

§   

the neighbour to the north requested that the originally planned 4ft. fence be increased for improved privacy; and

§   

the project team reviewed and confirmed the fence could be raised to 5ft. while remaining in full compliance with Richmond City Bylaw (combined retaining wall and fence height below 2.0m).

(iii)

Change of east retaining wall material from Allan Block to Timber:

§   

The change in material is for the rear yards of the east side of the townhouses, with the eastern half of the backyards being within the Statutory Right-of-Way (SRW) area;

§   

a perimeter drain runs approximately 8 inches west of the SRW, leaving only 8 inches between the perimeter of the drain and the SRW boundary which could not accommodate 12 inch Allen Block as originally intended; and

§   

following discussion with the design team and Landscape Architect, a timber retaining wall (4 inches x 6 inches) is proposed instead, which has a thinner profile, will fit within the space, also provides the same durability and structural integrity and will match the wood fence style along the east property line.

Staff Comments

Staff noted (i) the development is currently under construction, (ii) tree retention was originally assessed as part of the rezoning application, (ii) the applicant has provided detailed accounting of the tree relocation process and has agreed to plant an upsized tree, a 10 cm Dawyck Purple beech tree, in the same location that Tree #435 was to be replanted to, (iii) proposed changes to the fence and retaining wall are consistent with the site zoning, and (iv) the City continues to hold a security to ensure the landscaping works are completed in accordance with approved plans.

Panel Discussion

The Panel queried the typical success rate of transplanted large trees and if there were limitations to the size of the replacement trees (e.g., 10 cm.).  In response, Terry Thrale, Project Arborist, Woodridge Tree Consulting, noted (i) in general, he rarely recommends tree relocation as it is often (over 50%) unsuccessful and optimal conditions are needed, and (ii) a 10 cm calibre tree is considered to be an upsize tree and would be as large as commercially available for most types of trees.

In response to a further query with respect to the fencing along the north property line in relationship to the front yard setback, Denitsa Dimitrova, PMG Landscape Architect, confirmed there will be a 1m high fence within the front yard setback and then the 5ft. fence extends from the end of setback beyond.

Correspondence

None.

Gallery Comments

None.

Panel Discussion

The Panel commended the developer and arborist for efforts made to retain Tree #435, noting the care and attention that was paid.

Panel Decision

It was moved and seconded

That the attached plans involving changes to the proposed Landscape Plan, Tree Management Plan and Landscape Detail Plan, be considered to be in General Compliance with he approved Development Permit (DP 21-936427).

CARRIED

2.

DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 22-022003

(REDMS No. 8173750)

APPLICANT:

Hardev S. Chane

PROPERTY LOCATION:

14511 Westminster Highway

INTENT OF PERMIT:

Permit the construction of a single detached house on a site zoned “Agriculture (AG1)” and designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA).

This item has been deferred and will be considered at the next meeting of the Development Permit Panel, scheduled to be held on November 13, 2025.

3.

New Business

None.

4.

Date of Next Meeting:  November 13, 2025

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (3:50 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, October 29, 2025.

_________________________________

_________________________________

Wayne Craig
Chair

Lorraine Anderson
Legislative Services Coordinator