VANCOUVER EDITION MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 Vol. 3 • No. 30 Community amenity contributions DEVELOPMENT, DENSITY AND DOLLARS By Karenn Krangle Developer contributions to community on how the city benefi ts from the land Meggs, who noted that developers amenities should not be considered lift of rezoned property and what it is pay charges (development cost levies) essential to the city’s growth, a city used for. on all new buildings, pointed out that councillor said recently. Th e event, entitled “Development, although rezonings receive “98 per cent Geoff Meggs of Vision Vancouver, density and dollars — what do we do?,” of the attention, they account for 3 per told a Simon Fraser University City focused on developer contributions, cent of the building permits. Conversations gathering earlier this particularly those in exchange for “Th ere were 44 of them last year,” he month that city staff negotiate on a increased density. said, explaining that CONTINUED PAGE 7 > case-by-case basis with developers on what community amenity contributions the city can expect from “extra wealth” generated by a rezoning. Although developers feel they have “a gun to their head,” he said, the city believes the wealth is produced by the public as a result of its regulatory actions. “I think CACs are important, but in my view they’re not a fundamental aspect — they should not be seen as a way to grow the city,” he said. Meggs was joined by Councillor WHERE ARE THE SWIMMERS? George Affl eck of the opposition civic Not at Sunset Beach (pictured) nor at Second Beach, which health offi cials have closed because of high coliform counts. Non-Partisan Association in a discussion INSIDE Community plans Avalon Dairy Neighbourhood consultation continues Project not supported SUMMER BREAK NRU Vancouver edition takes a break until September. We return Sept. 9. p 3 p 9 2 VANCOUVER EDITION MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 UPCOMING Urban design panel DATES TWO RICHARDS TOWERS AUGUST 12 Development permit board, 3 p.m. UP FOR REVIEW AUGUST 14 Urban design panel, 4 p.m. AUGUST 26 Vancouver’s urban design panel this approved by city council this spring and Development permit board, 3 p.m. week gives second reviews to both tower are now appearing before the panel at AUGUST 28 projects designed by DIALOG in the the development-application stage, both Urban design panel, 4 p.m. 1300-block Richards. slightly taller than proposed at their public SEPTEMBER 4 Th e two projects, at 498 Drake (formerly hearings. Vancouver city planning commission, 12:15 1300-1320 Richards), for Wall Financial, Th e panel gave both projects enthusias- SEPTEMBER 9 and at 1396 Richards, for the Onni tic and unanimous support during their Vancouver heritage commission, 11 a.m Group, had their rezoning applications fi rst reviews last year. CONTINUED PAGE 6 > Development permit board, 3 p.m. SEPTEMBER 11 Urban design panel, 4 p.m. SEPTEMBER 16-20 Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, Vancouver SEPTEMBER 18 Vancouver city planning commission, 12:15 SEPTEMBER 23 Development permit board, 3 p.m. Vancouver Park Board, 7 p.m. SEPTEMBER 24 Vancouver city council, 9:30 a.m. Public hearing 6 p.m. SEPTEMBER 25 Vancouver city council fi nance and services committee, 9:30 a.m. VANCOUVER EDITION The Wall tower at Richards and Drake. NRU PHOTO The Onni tower at Richards and Pacifi c NRU PHOTO Ian A.R. Graham, Publisher, CIRCULATION/ADVERTISING NRU Vancouver Edition is NRU Publishing Inc. Billings Department [email protected] [email protected] not to be redistributed without Vancouver Editorial Offi ce 34B McMurrich Street 416.260.1304 the written consent of the 1350 Burrard Street, Suite 368 Toronto, ON M5R 2A2 Karenn Krangle, Writer/Editor publisher. Vancouver, BC V6Z 0C2 Tel: 416.440.0073 [email protected] Annual subscription rate is T: 604.779.6135 Fax: 416.440.0074 $335 + GST(BC). NRU Vancouver Edition is TF: 1.855.360.1304 Jeff Payette, Layout published 45 times a year by F: 416.979.2707 [email protected] Complimentary trial subscriptions are available. NRU Publishing. Follow us on Twitter @NRUpublishing Advertising rates available upon request. 3 VANCOUVER EDITION MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 Community plans GRANDVIEW TIMELINE EXTENSION LIKELY City staff are likely to recommend an extended timeline for the Grandview Woodland community plan, and are examining the other three, Brian Jackson, the city’s general manager of planning and development said recently. At an open house two weeks ago on the Grandview Woodland plan, Jackson told NRU that staff are reviewing the processes for the West End, Marpole, Grandview Woodland and Downtown Eastside community plans and will report to council next month. “It’s almost certain there will be an extension here,” Jackson said of Grandview Woodland. Vancouver city council decided last month to wait until Sept. 25 to review the timelines for the West End, Marpole, Grandview Woodland and Downtown Eastside community plans aft er community groups asked for extensions. New rainbow crosswalks at Davie and Bute are part of the West End’s plan to celebrate Th e “emerging directions” shown at open houses in June Davie village as the city’s LGBTQ centre. NRU PHOTO upset residents in Grandview Woodland over tall towers proposed at Broadway and Commercial and Marpole residents urban frame on two edges and a nature frame — Stanley Park over a proposed “thin street” with new housing on Ash Street. and English Bay.” Th e emerging directions for the Downtown Eastside were Sovdi also talked about adding less intrusive density by presented at open houses in July, and staff are still examining developing infi ll along West End lanes, which he described as feedback, Jackson said. the “big move.’ Th e plans, which had been given an 18- to 21-month “Th e West End has the widest lanes in the city,” he said, timeline when work began in April 2012, were to come to and explained that new townhouses or other forms of housing council in October and November in draft form. built in the lanes behind existing apartment buildings could Jackson said a revised timeline for the Grandview supply aff ordable accommodation for families. Woodland planning process would focus on the entire area, Panel members discussed whether the character of the West not just Broadway and Commercial, and that Marpole’s thin End could be retained in the face of demographic change. street was off the table. “I’m convinced that over the next 10 to 20 years people like He said the only likely controversial area in the West End me will fl ood into downtown,” Darryl Condon said. plan is a proposal for taller towers at the western end of Davie. But panel chair Norm Shearing said the city needs to think City planners on July 31 gave Vancouver’s urban design beyond that, to where future development will occur. panel a presentation on the West End plan, focusing on urban “Th e dialogue is not going to be new,” he said. “It’s going to design and the community’s “villages” on Denman, Davie and build from the last community plan.” Robson, as well as its neighbourhoods and major corridors. West End residents are planning a community meeting for “We wanted to use design principles on how to shape the later this month. growth,” planner Holly Sovdi said, and noted that a “domical” Th e Grandview Woodland Area Council has scheduled a shape is seen for the West End skyline. public meeting for tonight (Monday) at 7 p.m. in Gym D at the He said the West End has two types of physical frame: “An Britannia community centre, 1661 Napier. nru 4 VANCOUVER EDITION MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 Vehicles limited POINT GREY BIKE ROUTE APPROVED By Doug Ward Aft er fi ve days of fi erce debate at Vancouver city council, the Underlying the Vision vote was the party’s determination to Vision majority on July 31 approved a new bike route along meet the goal set last year in its Transportation 2040 plan of Point Grey Road, arguing that the city’s long-term goal of having half of all trips in Vancouver made by transit bike, or increased bike trips outweighs passionate local opposition foot by 2020. to the closure of the seaside road to high-volume commuter Deal said Point Grey Road is unable to accommodate both traffi c. motor vehicles and cyclists. “Something needs to be done and Th e proposed diversion of about 10,000 cars daily away that was known decades ago,” she said. “Th e population is from Point Grey Road and on to nearby arterial streets divided growing rapidly. We need to get people around the city with public opinion on the Vancouver’s West Side. Local residents, the same road space that we have now. We can’t continue commuting motorists and cyclists were split over the wisdom doing it in single-occupancy vehicles.” of turning Point Grey Road into a local neighborhood street. Th is view was backed by Carr who, while lamenting the Vision councillors agreed with engineering staff that the divisions over the plan, said the city needs fewer motorists current bikeway through Kitsilano is unsafe and that forcing and more cyclists, walkers and transit users. “If we are going commuters to turn south down other arterial roads will not to take climate change seriously, we absolutely have to look at result in the congestion and havoc predicted by the naysayers. how we transport ourselves.” Vision Councillor Heather Deal, who put forward the Affl eck unsuccessfully moved to have the plan deferred, decisive motion, said westbound commuters using Point Grey called the changes policy “made on the fl y” and argued that Road already have to turn left at Alma in order to proceed the majority of people who spoke at council were opposed to further west.