The food bank’s longtime home is slated for redevelopment so it’s appealing to city hall for assistance in finding a new location.
In a letter to council, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society said several local churches have expressed interest in possibly hosting the food bank, and officials are making site visits to assess their potential.
“We would like to ask mayor and council to assign city staff to help the Greater Vancouver Food Bank explore whether any civic buildings may be possible sites for a New West Food Bank location,” stated the letter. “It’s our understanding that we may have up to six months to secure a new location.”
The food bank is seeking a location that is wheelchair accessible, has enough space, has access to kitchen space and a loading area, aligns with its goals of creating a dignified, warm and welcoming environment, is close to transit and neighbourhoods with a larger concentration of rental housing and is run by an organization that’s already connected to the community.
The food bank has been located at 1111 Sixth Ave. for many years, but Shiloh Sixth Avenue United Church was sold earlier this year. Council referred the request to staff.
Stop the noise
A downtown resident is urging the city to amend bylaws to better protect residents from construction noise.
Douglas Whicker, who has 38 years of acoustical consulting experience, said the current bylaw allows construction noise from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. six days a week.
“This means that many residents are awakened to the sounds of saws, hammering, or worse, each morning and, while they are having their dinner and anticipating a relaxing evening, they still have to listen to this noise,” he told council Sept. 12. “I would recommend reducing the permitted hours for noise-producing construction activities to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays only.”
While this would give construction crews ample time to work, Whicker said the city could extend those hours if necessary. In addition, he’d like the city to restrict pile-driving in non-industrial areas to the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Friday.
“The noise from pile driving is so loud that nearby residences and businesses desperately need quiet time,” he said.
Council recently asked staff to report back on pile driving and directed them to consider Whicker’s request as part of that report.
Little objection to borrowing plan
Most Royal City residents seem comfortable with the city’s plan to borrow up to $28.3 million to fund capital infrastructure improvements.
In order to prevent city council from proceeding with the loan authorization bylaw, the city required 10 per cent (4,587) of electors to complete an elector response form indicating they’re opposed to the bylaw. By the July 25 deadline, the city had received 55 responses from electors opposed to the plan to borrow the funds.
The city will use the funds to pay for city hall upgrades ($6 million), library upgrades ($4.8 million), a fibre optic network, ($9 million) and land purchases for a future electrical substation and district energy plant ($8.5 million.)
Bricks coming to Hyack Square
Installation of dedication bricks in Hyack Square will get underway in October.
As part of the Wait for Me Daddy monument, the city sold dedication bricks as a way of allowing people to commemorate others. A staff report states the city has sold about 110 bricks to people who want to honour a family member, birth of a child, a person serving in the emergency services field or military, or an anniversary, birthday or other celebration.
Council recently approved revised plans for the installation of the bricks, as this plan would minimize the site preparation and installation costs. The city will use red bricks already owned by the city and city staff will install the bricks rather than hire a contractor.
All totalled, the bricks are expected to generate a net revenue of $14,900.
More development planned in ‘Borough
An extension to the Queensborough Perimeter Trail is proposed as part of a 78-unit residential development on Salter Street.
Council has directed staff to process an official community plan amendment and rezoning application for 1102, 1110, 1116 and 1122 Salter St. The project would include a 0.42 acre (0.17) hectare dedication to the city for an extension of the Queensborough Perimeter Trail.
The plan would see the construction of a mix of ground-oriented, family-oriented housing.
Heritage agreement cancelled
A New West home is being returned to its single-family status after work done on the site was contrary to a heritage revitalization agreement.
In 2014, the city approved a heritage revitalization agreement for 709 and 705 Cumberland St., which provided for variances and relaxations on a new house on a new parcel in exchange for restoration and protection of the 1911 house at 709 Cumberland.
In response to work done that was a breach of related bylaws and the heritage revitalization agreement, staff has been working with the owner on a resolution. Staff recommend that the property be consolidated back into a single lot with a single house and remove the heritage revitalization agreement and heritage designation from the property.
Council approved the staff recommendation.
