Kensington-Cedar Cottage CityPlan Committee
Meeting Notes
September 6, 2001
Trout Lake Community Centre
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
In Attendance: Anne Roberts (Chair), Kim Nulty, Paul Calderhead, Uli Rasenhorn, Sharole Taylor, Karen Larcombe, Heather Imrie, Barbara McGeough, Kelly Read, June Slash, Tom Lttle, Mary Boulanger, Theresa McAuley, Lenny Moy, Thomas Woo, Gerald Longson and Margaret Marquardt (Recorder)
Also in Attendance: Cathy Buckham, Planner, Patricia St. Michel, Planner
1. Proposed Development on the Southern Portion of Kingcrest
To date, no official development application has been submitted to the City by the developers. Discussions with the community have been underway since July. The KingCrest Committee gave feedback on preliminary concepts in August. The architect, Keith Hemphill, once again described the proposal noting that:
- The present parking lot (the site to the north), is not part of the proposal and will be developed by someone else in the future.
- The zoning is "C-2" - mixed-use (residential and commercial).
- The proposal includes retail along Knight Street curving around the lane.
- The principle entrance will be off of King Edward (for mail delivery and fire access); the functional entrance will be off of the lane (with access to underground parking).
- The proposal includes a special space of "architectural interest" at the corner of Knight and King Edward. The vision is for a shared community meeting space (to be explored further with the strata council).
- The proposal has been revised to include access to outdoor space (a courtyard) from one or two retail spaces.
- The residential portion of the proposal has been revised to include a variety of housing types - two-storey "townhouse" units with grade access (pathways and gates on King Edward). The third and fourth floor as well as second floor along Knight Street will be apartment units. Units will be strata and range in size from 465 sq.ft. To 1,300 sq.ft. In size.
- More greenery has been added to the proposal, especially along the lane and in the courtyard.
Residents raised concerns about traffic, ways to avoid congestion and the need for wider sidewalks and pedestrian amenities along Knight Street. Parking for customers of retailers was also raised as a concern.
Residents asked the developer what positive impacts the proposal may have on future development in the area.
Concerns were raised about the location for garbage pick-up. The architect noted that garbage pick-up and a loading zone is located next to the entrance to underground parking and in close proximity to the commercial units.
Residents asked if the architect had considered adding a sidewalk to the southern side of the lane. Keith felt this was a good idea and could make the lane more inviting for pedestrians.
In addition, Keith noted that the inner courtyard will feel semi-private, but open to the public. It will include a playground.
The underground parking will be controlled by a security system with daytime access to a special area for customers visiting the retailers. Residents noted that they would like the developer to have a vision for the whole project (including potential tenants for the retail portion). They would like to see more thoughtful use of the commercial spaces.
The developer said that he is waiting to hear back from the library on the proposal. If the library is interested, he will look at appropriate tenants for the remainder of the commercial space.
Residents discussed how the committee could help to move the library proposal forward for this site. Residents also questioned the role of City staff in assisting them. City staff said they would discuss options and get back to the Committee.
2. Neighbourhood Centre Delivery Program - Patricia St. Michel
In CityPlan, neighbourhood centres were identified as important to the health and vitality of the community, the city and the environment. Neighbhourhood centres were identified as an opportunity to focus change in the neighbourhood - to accomodate future growth and the evolving needs of the community. In the KCC Community Vision, the Knight and Kingsway area was identified as an important neighbourhood centre - as KCC was a pilot vision community, also pilot for a proposed neighbourhood centres program.
Staff have been laying the groundwork internally for a program to deliver on neighbourhood centres. The program is a work in progress, and will establish terms of reference,funding, and resources as well as process. The program is about delivering on neighbourhood centre related directions - it is intended that the program be comprehesive and address all related directions.
There will be both a general neighbourhood centre program for centres across the city, and a specific program for the Knight and Kingsway area. The Knight and Kingsway neighbourhood centre program will focus on the area identified in the Vision, not a single site or development, and will deliver on directions related to shopping area improvements, and new housing types in the neighbourhood centre area.
Reports on the general program and the specific Knight and Kingsway program will likely go to Council at the end of the year. At Council, staff will be seeking commitment to the program and funding structure, and the recognition of neighbourhood centres as a city-wide priority. Presently meeting with people from Engineering, Parks, other sections of the City and those involved in the capital plan process.
After Council approval, the Knight and Kingsway program would start - staff anticipate the K+K program would need an 18 month time frame to create overall concept plans, and develop priorities and funding strategies for improvements that require capital funding. Before that time, and during the creation of overall concept plans, some funding may be available for early improvements that can be completed in advance of more major initiatives - (ie) greening of one of the Kingsway triangle spaces.
Current thinking is to undertake several neighbourhood centres at the same time. Some will require more capital funding than others. Knight and Kingsway is a priority. Part of the funding question that the general report will deal with is what kind of funding is needed and how should it be allocated.
The Committee needs to give input on both the general neighbourhood centre program and the Knight and Kingsway program before taking the reports to Council. This will be outside of the regular CityPlan meetings. A sign-up sheet was circulated for those people interested in participating.
3. Presentation - Anne Roberts
Anne shared material from her presentation to a conference in Brazil this past June. She prepared and presented a paper entitled "Vancouver's City Plan in Practice".
4. KCC City Plan Committee
Meeting Guidelines were given to members.
5. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday, October 4, 2001, 7 p.m. at Trout Lake Community Centre.
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