January 19, 2026 - Minutes

Place:

Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair
Councillor Carol Day
Councillor Laura Gillanders
Councillor Kash Heed (by teleconference)
Councillor Andy Hobbs
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Michael Wolfe

Claudia Jesson, Corporate Officer

Absent:

Councillor Chak Au

Call to Order:

Mayor Brodie opened the proceedings at 5:30 p.m.

1.

RICHMOND ZONING BYLAW 8500, AMENDMENT BYLAW 10726 (ZT 25-007646)

(Location: Unit 2005 - 10011 River Drive; Applicant: Peter Liu)

Applicant’s Comments:

The applicant was available to respond to queries.

Written Submissions:

None.

Submissions from the floor:

None.

PH26/1-1

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500, Amendment Bylaw 10726 be given second and third readings.

CARRIED

2.

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN BYLAW 9000, AMENDMENT BYLAWS 10724 AND 10725

(Location: City-wide; Applicant:  City of Richmond)

Applicant’s Comments:

Staff noted (i) Bylaws 10724 and 10725 would amend various aspects of the City’s Official Community Plan (OCP) as it relates to the housing policy and environmentally sensitive areas (ESA), which includes new policy frameworks, a revised regional context statement, land use maps and ESA map, and (ii) as required, referral letters were sent (receiving support and feedback for consideration) to the Agricultural Land Commission, Richmond School District No.#38 and Metro Vancouver (Regional Planning Committee).

Written Submissions:

Richmond School District No. #38 and subsequent staff memorandum to Council (Schedule 1)

Provincial Agricultural Land Commission (Schedule 2)

Complete Bylaw 10724 (copy on file, City Clerks office)

Submissions from the floor:

Peter Deconti, 4531 Boundary Road and 4480 Thompson Road, spoke on behalf of his siblings, noting (i) their parents purchased the one-acre property in the mid 1950s and meticulously managed the land, (ii) it was only after Mr. Deconti, Sr. passed away in 1998 that the invasive Himalayan blackberries began to creep in from neighbouring lots, (iii) every effort has been made over the years to maintain the land, however the invasive weeds took hold in areas that could not be reached, (iv) the family was shocked to discover that in 2017 their private residential property had been designated as having an ESA and stated they had never been formally or informally notified of the designation change, which appears to have been applied arbitrarily based on aerial imagery of invasive blackberries rather than true ecological assessment, (v) while it is acknowledged that City staff visited the property recently and have reduced the designated ESA, the family remains deeply opposed to the principle of this designation and the way it was applied to a few small pocketed properties, primarily along Beckwith, Thompson and Boundary Roads.

In closing, Mr. Deconti stated that the ESA on the property has penalized the family by devaluing the land and requested that Council rescind the ESA designation not only for the subject property, but entirely reconsider the transparency and fairness of this entire process for all residents of Richmond.

In response to queries from Council, staff noted (i) they had visited the subject property, (ii) overall the ESA area was reduced from .25 hectares to .09 hectares as there has been more clarity with respect to invasive species, (iii) aerial photography is only going to identify so much when looking at designations, therefore some site visits were necessary, in addition to specifically requested site visits, to update ESA polygons as much as possible, (iv) the process required to remove an ESA designation from a private property, (v) it is a requirement of the Local Government Act that a city look at these types of environmental areas and designate accordingly, (vi) there are several properties in the area that have ESA polygons, and (vii) currently, the proposal is to take out those areas that are covered by blackberry and just leave the mature tree canopies.

PH26/1-2

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond Official Community Plan Bylaw 9000, Amendment Bylaw 10724 be given second and third readings.

The question on the motion was not called as discussion ensued with respect to how the OCP supports the subdivision of lots.  With respect to arterial roads specifically, it was noted there is a map in the OCP that deals with existing lanes and future lanes and policies that allow rezoning and subdivision that supports the continued implementation of the City’s lane network. 

Staff further noted (i) there are many areas in Richmond where heights are permitted beyond three and four storeys however, in terms of arterial road locations, the OCP sets a baseline height, and (ii) there are provisions through policies that would allow Council to consider additional heights specific to applications and the type of housing or uses that may be included in those applications.

The question on the Resolution PH26/1-2 was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllr. Hobbs opposed.

PH26/1-3

It was moved and seconded

That Richmond Official Community Plan Bylaw 9000, Amendment Bylaw 10725 be given second and third readings.

CARRIED
Opposed:  Cllr. Hobbs.

The following referral motion was then introduced:

PH26/1-4

It was moved and seconded

That staff look at the Environmentally Sensitive Area on the property that runs from Thompson Road to Boundary Road (4531 Boundary Road and 4480 Thompson Road), and report back.

CARRIED
Opposed:  Cllr. Wolfe

A further referral motion was then introduced as follows:

PH26/1-5

It was moved and seconded

That staff review the potential removal of Environmental Sensitive Area designations on all private properties.

The question on Resolution PH26/1-5 was not called as a brief discussion ensued with respect to the merits of the resolution as it pertains to the Local Government Act regarding the designation of ESAs.

The question on Resolution PH26/1-5 was then called and it was CARRIED with Cllrs. Day, Gillanders and Wolfe opposed.

ADJOURNMENT

PH26/1-6

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (6:25 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the Regular meeting for Public Hearings of the City of Richmond held on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Mayor (Malcolm D. Brodie)

Corporate Officer (Claudia Jesson)