The City of Vancouver Council will receive a staff report this week providing an update and high-level strategy to deal with the long-term land leases covering much of the False Creek South neighbourhood. What will likely follow is a multi-year planning process that will pave the way for redevelopment of some portions of the land.

False Creek South covers 136 acres extending along the waterfront from the Burrard Street Bridge to the Cambie Street bridge (excluding Granville Island), and it includes 23 acres of parks. About 80% of the land is owned by the City and was developed primarily in the 1970’s as either market strata, rental apartments, or co-ops.

Most of the housing on City-owned land are on ground leases, the majority of which are set to expire between 2036 and 2046 (with one co-op expiring as early as 2022. This includes 669 residential strata units and 48 commercial strata units.

The City is now proposing to work over the balance of 2016 to establish a foundation before a new community plan is developed in the coming years. Overall work includes:

Champion Development Group Inc. has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop a 18,128 SF site at 151 West 5th Avenue, on the NOrth side of West 5th between Columbia and Manitoba Streets. The plan is for  a new 4-storey mixed use building consisting of:

• Manufacturing uses on the ground floor and mezzanines;
• General Office uses on the 2nd through 4th floors;
• 95 parking spaces in an underground parkade; and
• total density of 3.00 FSR (54,291 sq. ft.).

Under the site’s existing I-1 zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Director of Planning.

The application describes the design concept:

The architect for the project is DYS Architecture.

Cressey has applied to the City of Vancouver to rezone a 4-lot assembly sold by our team in 2015 for $20.4 Million.

The plan for the 36,637 SF site at the Northwest corner of Cambie and West 31st Avenue is for two 6-storey residential buildings that include:

• 74 residential units;
• 26 one-bedrooms, 27 two-bedrooms and 21 three-bedrooms
• maximum building heights 69 ft. and 71 ft. from grade;
• a total density 2.36 FSR; and
• 157 vehicle parking spaces and 101 bicycle spaces.

The application is being considered under the Cambie Corridor Plan.

Amacon‘s proposed rezoning of a 40,000 SF site in the Brentwood Town Centre area of Burnaby is seeking approval to move to public hearing. The site at 2285 Willingdon is comprised of an assembly of four older industrial buildings, and is located at the Northwest corner of Willingdon Avenue and Juneau Street. The proposed project anticipates rezoning under the RM4s designation. The plan calls for a 23-storey condo tower above underground parking including:

• 147 condo units
• 39 one-bedrooms, 92 two-bedrooms & 16 three-bedrooms (including 5 townhouses)
• total density of 3.6 FAR
• amenities including rooftop deck, game room, gym, spin room, yoga studio
• 5,181 SF of amenity space
• 201 parking spaces
• 21 electric vehicle charge stations

The City of Coquitlam is likely to approve an expansion to their Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) program, as a result of several findings by City planning staff since late 2015 when they began exploring the idea of a policy regarding city-wide CACs.

Discussion topics from City staff included:

• Impact on Housing Affordability – it was determined based on previous studies that a new Citywide CAC would not have significant impact on housing affordability
• In-kind Contributions – this will be the standard approach at council’s discretion
• Citywide CAC versus Area-specific CACs – City doesn’t want to have different target rates in different areas thereby creating an uneven playing field for development. CACs are intended to be used in each area.

The new fixed target CAC rates will be as follows:

1. $3.00 per SF for the gross floor area of all new multifamily;
2. $5,500 per parcel for all new one-family residential lots over 375 m2;
3. $4,800 per parcel for all new one-family residential lots under 375 m2.

The new CAC program is set to take effect July 1, 2016, though project applications already in process will be exempt.