Casino Rezoning—New Public Hearing
Staff report recommending a new Public Hearing for a casino parking lot rezoning application due to the amount of elapsed time since the original 2009 hearing.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT
TO: Council DATE: March 27, 2014 FROM: Lindsay Chase, RPP MEETING DATE: April 1, 2014 FILE NO.:
Casino Rezoning—New Public Hearing
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT this report be received for information;
AND THAT third reading of Bylaw 759, 2009 be rescinded;
AND FURTHER THAT new Public Hearing be held on April 15, 2014 for Bylaw 759, 2009.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER'S COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
To update Council on an outstanding rezoning application relating to the surface parking lot located at 1680 Island Highway. A public hearing for this application was held on December 1, 2009. Staff recommend that a new public hearing be held due to the amount of elapsed time.
TIME CRITICAL:
This application has been on hold for four years.
BACKGROUND:
The Casino has made multiple applications over the years, many of which were used to secure amenities such as the highway improvement project, parkland and land swaps to address alignment issues on Wilfert Road. A rezoning application for 1680 Island highway was made in 2009. The original staff report is attached for information (Attachment 1) Council requested that the rear of the parcel e dedicated to the Town as parkland and the Great Canadian Casino agreed to this request. An initial public hearing was held on December 1, 2009. The application then stalled for a variety of reasons including ongoing concerns with respect to other un-addressed land issues that impact the parcel.
Since that time, all outstanding land issues have been resolved and plans have been registered at the Land Title and Survey Authority. All works relating to the Casino Highway Improvement Project have been completed.
PROJECT INFORMATION:
Due to the amount of time that has elapsed since the public hearing, it is likely that new information has been heard by Council (there have been a number of staff reports related to the project site over the years). In order to ensure that all interests are satisfied and to minimize the risk of future legal challenge with respect to process, staff recommend holding a new public hearing. To facilitate that, third reading of the bylaw must be rescinded, and a new public hearing scheduled.
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
Additional maintenance funds will be required for the parkland in future years. The applicant has provided a deposit to pay for the public hearing and notification.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
The application is consistent with the Official Community Plan. This area is targeted for commercial development. Development Permits have already been considered with respect to this site, and the adjacent main casino site.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
If Council should choose to not proceed with this application an appropriate resolution would be to table the report.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT this report be received for information;
AND THAT third reading of Bylaw 759, 2009 be rescinded;
AND FURTHER THAT new Public Hearing be held on April 15, 2014 for Bylaw 759, 2009.
SUBMITTED BY: Lindsay Chase, Director of Development Services
REVIEWED BY: Kim Anema, Chief Administrative Officer
Attachments:
- November 5, 2009 COW Report
- Proposed Plan of Subdivision
- Draft Bylaw 759, 2009
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