Hello Petition supporters, emails to Council needed by the end of the day June 1st.
Council meeting June 2 to discuss the Staff Referral Report for "CD-1 Rezoning: 1905 Ogden Avenue" and decide whether to refer the HAVN/Maritime Museum Rezoning Application to a Public Hearing or to a Council Meeting. Please send an email to Mayor and Council to stating why you object to this location for the massive 150 ft barge spa. and asking them to approve the staff referral to a Public Hearing so you get a chance to speak. There is no way to speak to Council on June 2 or to submit comments via the City Council website. FYI, I've been told that a Public Hearing on this would likely occur at the end of July.
Write Mayor and Council directly at the emails below with the subject heading "CD-1 Rezoning: 1905 Ogden Avenue".
Ken.Sim@vancouver.ca, Sarah.Kirby-Yung@vancouver.ca, Lisa.Dominato@vancouver.ca, Lucy.Maloney@vancouver.ca, Mike.Klassen@vancouver.ca, Peter.Meiszner@vancouver.ca, Brian.Montague@vancouver.ca, Lenny.Zhou@vancouver.ca, Pete.Fry@vancouver.ca, Sean.Orr@vancouver.ca
Be sure to cc. Chee Chan, Rezoning Planner <chee.chan@vancouver.ca> and VMM Director David Jordan <david@vanmaritime.com>
FYI, I will be emailing them the Petition, now at 2251 signatures. Let's get it to 2500!
NOTE: ON PAGE 28 AND 29 OF THE REPORT STAFF ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY THE PUBLIC.
"Environmental impacts: The proposed spa operator will be required to obtain the necessary environmental permits from other regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over the marine environment, such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
According to the proposed spa operator, no dredging is required to accommodate the floating barge. Should dredging be necessary to maintain safe navigation to and from the marina, it will be addressed through subsequent permitting and review processes under the jurisdiction of federal authorities, including NavCanada and DFO."
MY NOTE: Anyone familiar with Heritage Harbour knows that dredging will be required, as the above petition update photo by boat owner Duane Elverum so aptly illustrates. The front of the barge will be where the boat with the brown cover is, and, as you can see will be grounded at low tide. At the same time the back of the barge will grounded on the sand bar that you can see in the photo near Vanier Park rocky shore. Keep in mind that any dredging will likely mean that TeeTotaler Beach will no longer be a safe or even an allowable swimming beach.
FYI, there is a Counter Proposal to HAVN's now on the table. This proposal is by Cassidy Bast and Robert Spring from Salt and Sauna. They are interested in putting in a competitive bid for a sauna operation in the harbour, but in a much smaller and more community friendly and environmentally conscious way.
I've included excerpts from the Staff Referral Report below that illustrate how many hoops HAVN and the Maritime Museum will have to jump through to make their project viable. It doesn't appear very viable given the expense and environmental impact.
Thanks for your support.
Elvira Lount
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"SUBJECT: CD-1 Rezoning: 1905 Ogden Avenue
Recommendation to refer
THAT the rezoning application and plans, described below, be referred to Public Hearing together with the recommendations set out below and with the recommendation of the General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability to approve the application, subject to the conditions set out below; FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary zoning by-laws, in accordance with the recommendations set out below, for consideration at the Public Hearing.
Section 559.02 (3) of the Vancouver Charter provides that a Public Hearing is not required to consider the zoning by-law amendments in this report because this proposal is consistent with all relevant official development plans including the Vancouver Official Development Plan. Staff are recommending that this application be referred to a Public Hearing because of the unique nature of the proposal and high public interest. However, Council has the discretion to refer the by-law to a Council meeting.
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Land Trust
"The site is within lots that were granted to the City at the request of the Park Board in 1935 from the Province under a public trust. The public trust stipulates that the lots are for the “for the use recreation and enjoyment of the public”.
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A few excerpts from the report that illustrate how many hoops HAVN and the Maritime Museum will have to jump through to make this project viable.
Site Servicing, Transportation and Parking
Parking, loading, bicycle and passenger loading spaces are finalized at the time of development permit per the Parking By-law. To service the floating barge at the marina, new water and sewer lines are proposed to be constructed from the existing lines at Ogden Avenue to the marina generally following Chestnut Street and the existing park pathway. These services will be owned, operated, maintained and decommissioned by the future operator of the spa, as the services are provided solely for their use. Electric, gas and telecommunication lines will also be installed to service the spa, but they will be owned by their respective utilities. Conditions are included in Appendix B to require that the parklands be restored to the Park Board’s standards following construction, as well as from any subsequent impacts from operations, maintenance or decommissioning.
Hadden Park Impacts
The proposed land use change has the potential to impact park users, park amenities and park operations. As the proposed rezoning site has limited interface with a road right-of-way, typical function of a road right-of-way, including service and emergency access and utility siting, would need to be supported from within Hadden Park. Potential impacts include public safety risks from non-park service vehicles on park pedestrian pathways; ongoing operational requirements and wear and tear on park pedestrian pathways and foreshore for service access, for which the Park Board has no additional operational resources to address; potential encumbrances on future park amenities or park use from the siting of non-park utilities; site disturbance and limited park access during construction and visual and experiential impacts on park users. A fire-fighting strategy for the floating barge is still being developed by HAVN Saunas and will be finalized at the development permit stage. Staff expressed a preference that the floating barge pursue a marine-based fire-fighting strategy (e.g. self-sufficient like a vessel), as this would have a significantly reduced impact on park amenities including the park pathway. Conditions are included in Appendix B that seek to minimize and mitigate some of the potential impacts to ensure the CCM park lands within this rezoning continue to provide meaningful public park space and enjoyment by the public. This will be advanced via the new VMM Lease and through the development permit stage.
Conditions are included in Appendix B that seek to minimize and mitigate some of the potential impacts to ensure the CCM park lands within this rezoning continue to provide meaningful public park space and enjoyment by the public. This will be advanced via the new VMM Lease and through the development permit stage.
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Other Regulatory Authorities:
This application must be evaluated by Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for impacts to fish and marine habitat at the Development Permit application stage. The proposal is situated near a navigation channel for pleasure boats and the False Creek ferry accessing the marina. The applicant is directed to seek permits and approvals from other regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over navigation and transportation in this area, including NavCanada, to ensure that the proposal meets their requirements and/or will not interfere with navigation. These permitting and approval processes are not within the City’s jurisdiction.
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Real Estate, Environment and Facilities Management Utilities, Services and Site Access
All utilities installed to be designed and executed in conformance with all governing regulations. Engineered Civil drawings of all service installation work to be provided to the City for review and approval prior to commencement of work. All new infrastructure should be located as far away from the high-water mark as possible. Infrastructure in proximity to the marine environment should be located and designed to avoid impacts to marine habitat in the event of a failure.
The sublessee should retain a Qualified Environmental Professional to review potential impacts from the development in riparian and in-water areas and incorporate mitigation measures, and provide a high-level site assessment summarizing site conditions, potential development impacts, mitigation and restoration efforts, and regulatory processes.
Note to Applicant for DP: The project is within a foreshore environmentally sensitive area (ESA) and should demonstrate extra care taken to minimize ecological impacts. Provide detailed drawings showing code compliant access routes for Fire Department, other emergency vehicles and service vehicles. Drawings will indicate the types of service vehicles proposed to be used in servicing the facility to confirm adequacy of path upgrades. Also see Parks conditions for additional direction on mitigating impacts to park conditions, amenities, and use.
Floating Barge
1.5 Architectural drawings should demonstrate compliance with bird friendly design guidelines given the project’s location in the foreshore ESA. Architectural drawings should demonstrate how light pollution will be minimized to avoid impact to aquatic species.
Note to Applicant for DP: Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) review/permit application will be required in the course of the proposed development. It is recommended that the Applicant initiate engagement of DFO in the short term to ensure their authority and regulations are considered as they are not party to these Conditions. The Applicant for DP should be aware that activities such as dredging, piling installation, extension of existing docks, and shoreline vegetation removal under the DFO process could come with additional requirements (including specific in-water work windows, environmental monitoring, habitat improvements, etc.). Early identification of requirements can help avoid delays at the Development Permit stage.
Additional Studies
Provision of the following studies, to be prepared by a Marine Planner:
Navigation Study, to include, but not limited to, the following items:
(i) Determining impact to navigation; and
(ii) Engaging with ferry companies to determine any operational impacts.
Provision of the following studies, to be prepared by an Engineer:
(a) Mooring Assessment Study; and
(b) Utility Feasibility Study.
Note to Applicant for DP: A qualified Engineer should be involved if the utility connections are either floating or under water. The Applicant for DP is responsible for exercising due diligence to avoid damage to any unrecorded archaeological sites, which are still protected under the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA).
Note to Applicant for DP: The land onsite and adjacent to the site are within or near an archeologically sensitive area. All archaeological sites, whether on Provincial Crown or private land, and regardless of condition, are protected by the HCA. HCA-protected archaeological sites or objects cannot be disturbed or altered without a permit issued by the Archaeology Branch (Ministry of Forests, Lands Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development). Archeological review/studies will be required prior to construction on public land.
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96187_01#section2
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Pg 28 and 29 Public Feedback Areas of concern:
• Scale and visual impact: Respondents expressed concern that the proposed barge is out of scale with the Heritage Harbour and surrounding park and would obstruct views of the water, mountains, and Stanley Park, reducing public enjoyment of the waterfront.
• Commercial use: Respondents were concerned that a private commercial spa does not align with the Heritage Harbour’s intended purpose, The Vancouver Maritime Museum Society’s mandate, or the park’s role as a public cultural and recreational space, and contribute to the privatization of public waterfront space through a fee-based activity.
• Environmental impacts: Respondents raised concerns about potential environmental effects on the harbour and beach, including dredging, impacts to marine habitat, noise, water quality, and the lack of supporting environmental studies.
• Traffic and parking: Respondents noted that the proposal could increase traffic and parking pressures in the area.
Response to Public Comments
• Scale and visual impact: There are no applicable Council-adopted policies for form of development for this type of proposal at this location, nor are there any protected public views impacted by this proposal. Views of the surrounding landscape are still available from many locations in Hadden Park, including on the breakwater to the north of the marina and Hadden Beach, as well as from Vanier Park.
• Commercial use: The proposed spa would provide financial contributions to the museum, a publicly-owned facility operated by The Vancouver Maritime Museum Society, a non-profit society.
• Environmental impacts: The proposed spa operator will be required to obtain the necessary environmental permits from other regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over the marine environment, such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
According to the proposed spa operator, no dredging is required to accommodate the floating barge. Should dredging be necessary to maintain safe navigation to and from the marina, it will be addressed through subsequent permitting and review processes under the jurisdiction of federal authorities, including NavCanada and DFO.
• Traffic and parking: The site is accessible by foot, water taxi, and bicycle. Vehicle parking is available in the parking lot next to the museum as well as other off-street parking lots in the area.