Planning, Development & Community Services Decisions in Brief
March 7, 2016 Meeting
6.3.2 Kaela Tennent – Residential Backyard Fires
Decision
*Letters from Kaela Tennent were received as information and forwarded to the Administration to be included in the review of the bylaw (Fire and Protective Services Bylaw No. 7990).
Background
*Kaela Tennent of the 1400 block of Avenue C North wrote letters to Council concerning residential backyard fires. Tennent’s son has asthma and believes “the right to breathe and live a healthy life outweighs the right to enjoy backyard fires”. Tennent would like City Council ban backyard fires.
*Fire Chief Morgan Hackl addressed the Committee and said the Fire Department will review the bylaw this year.
7.2.1 Application for Funding Under Heritage Conservation Program – Bottomley House (1118 College Drive)
Decision
*The Committee supported forwarding a report to City Council recommending approval of the funding, up to a maximum of $3,337.50, through the Heritage Conservation Program for the restoration of the front verandah column bases and guardrails at Bottomley House and preparation and signing of the necessary agreement.
Background
*The Bottomley House at 1118 College Drive features a two-storey wood frame house built in 1912. The heritage significance of the property lies in its Queen Anne Revival architectural style with its bell-cast domed roof, curved windows, corner turret, and wrap-around verandah with Doric columns. The property’s original owner, Richard Bottomley, was a real estate developer who owned large tracts of land, and as such, required a prominent and distinct home that evoked a sense of affluence. The Bottomley House was designated as a Municipal Heritage Property in 2006 under City Bylaw No. 8485.
*The Heritage Conservation Program, under Civic Heritage Policy No. C10-020, provides funding for designated Municipal Heritage Properties for the conservation and rehabilitation of the character-defining elements of a heritage property. Financial incentives include a tax abatement for 50% of the eligible costs of a project to a maximum of $150,000.
7.2.3 Status Report on the Ten-Year Housing Business Plan 2013-2022
Decision
*The Committee will be forwarding a report to City Council to recommend it be received as information, for the Administration to report back at the time of the 2017 Business Plan and Budget deliberations on funding requirements and housing targets for 2017, and for the Administration to report back on the potential stabilization of funding through the establishment of a reserve.
Background
*In December 2014, City Council revised the 2015 housing target to 500 units across the attainable housing continuum. In November 2015, City Council allocated $500,000 to the Affordable Housing Reserve and set a target of 400 new attainable housing units for 2016.
*The 2015 housing targets have been achieved with the creation of 560 new attainable units. The City is also on track to achieve its 2016 housing targets.
*The housing need for low-income residents remains high.
*Moderate-income households now have adequate choices in both the rental and ownership markets.
*Progress is being made toward locating attainable housing in all areas of the city.
*A new Community Action Plan to address homelessness, created by the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) and the United Way, is expected to be presented to City Council in the second quarter of 2016.
*Housing targets and funding levels for 2017 will be determined at the Business Plan and Budget deliberations in December 2016.
7.2.5 Chief Whitecap Park Master Plan Update
Decision
*The Committee received the update report as information.
Background
* The detailed design process for Chief Whitecap Park is currently underway and will be completed in 2016. Prior to the final plan being approved in 2016, and construction completed in 2017 or 2018, the land will continue to be used as an active and passive recreation area.
*Construction of a gravel parking lot at the north access of CWP is to begin in 2016, weather permitting.
7.2.7 Update on Saskatoon Minor Football Field Project
Decision
*The Committee forwarded the report to City Council for information.
Background
*The report is an update on the 2015 operating season at the Saskatoon Minor Football Field, the name of the new clubhouse, construction of Phases 1-3, and an update on the Friends of the Bowl Foundation fundraising campaign
*The Saskatoon Minor Football Field (SMF) at Gordon Howe Park operated from mid-April to mid-November, 2015, for its first very successful full season.
*The Friends of the Bowl Foundation announced the first two phases of construction upgrades to the SMF Field, including the field, lighting, sound system, and clubhouse, will be completed this spring.
*With the construction of the new clubhouse nearing completion, the FOTBF Board has approved the name, Gordie Howe Sports Centre, for the clubhouse.
*The FOTBF has announced the third phase of the upgrade project, which is the plaza and ticket booth. Funding has been secured and the project will be completed this spring.
*The FOTBF has successfully achieved its fundraising goal to complete the three phases of upgrades at SMF Field.
7.2.9 Vacant Lot and Adaptive Re-use Program – Development Incentives – Parcel YY – River Landing
Decision
*The Committee will forward a report to City Council supporting the recommendations outlined in the report.
Background
*In March 2011, City Council approved the Vacant Lot and Adaptive Re-use Incentive Program (VLAR). The VLAR Incentive Program includes incentives to encourage more housing within the Downtown. The VLAR program was recently amended to also include new incentives for offices and structured parking, in accordance with the City Centre Plan.
*Because a portion of Parcel YY is to be developed as a public plaza open for community use, the developer (Triovest) of Parcel YY requested the same incentives which are offered within the Downtown. They have further requested an annual grant equivalent to the property taxes for the area of Parcel YY that will be developed as a public plaza.
*Recommendations are:
1) That a five-year tax abatement of the incremental taxes for the residential building, office buildings, and a structured parking facility located on Parcel YY, be approved;
2) That the five-year tax abatements take effect in the next taxation year following completion of each of the phased projects;
3) That the property taxes associated with the public plaza be granted back to the owner in exchange for construction and maintenance of the public plaza and guaranteed, reasonable public access;
4) That the City Solicitor be requested to prepare the appropriate agreements, and that His Worship the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to execute the agreements, under the Corporate Seal; and
5) The above recommendations be subject to the submission of a comprehensive site development concept plan and the proponent obtaining approval of the development concept from all approving authorities in accordance with the DCD1 regulations.