This week at city council, topics such as smoking restrictions, the Onni development in Steveston and the Richmond Centre redevelopment are on the agenda.
Richmond's city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, April 9 in council chambers at 6911 No. 3 Rd. The public is welcome to attend or watch an online broadcast of the meeting. Here’s a deeper look at these three agenda items:
Onni Development
Onni Development (Imperial Landing) Corp. has applied to the City of Richmond to rezone its property in Steveston from maritime use to commercial use.
While Onni Group has accepted city council’s demand of $5.5 million in amenity contributions in exchange for rezoning the area, the company’s ambiguous hotel proposal has made councillors hesitant to move forward.
Unlike conventional hotels which have permanent staff on-site, Onni had proposed a remote operation model, wherein customers would arrange a way to gain access to their room using a barcode or another method – which some are suggesting sounds like an Airbnb rental.
If approved at council, the matter may move forward to a public hearing on May 22.
Smoking policy
City staff are asking council to consider changes to include cannabis, vapour products of all type and e-cigarettes to the definition of “smoke” or “smoking.” Staff also wants to increase the no-smoking buffer to nine metres in some public areas, including enclosed or partially enclosed transit or taxi shelters, transit or taxi signs or posts, customer service areas, doors, windows, air intakes or opening of any building.
Staff also want to specifically include no smoking on school grounds.
“Although smoking is already prohibited on school grounds, the inclusion of school grounds in the proposed bylaw amendments will provide an additional level of clarity to members of the public who are unfamiliar with provincial legislation and local school district policy,” the staff report to council says.
Richmond Centre’s redevelopment and community consultation
City staff are asking to be directed to oversee a public consultation process over the changes coming to the community as a result of Richmond Centre’s redevelopment.
According to the staff report, this area is the “traditional heart and civic focus of Richmond's downtown and supports its revitalization with a high density, high-rise, mix of commercial, residential and civic uses centred on No. 3 Road and the Brighouse Station transit exchange.”
The proposed redevelopment includes replacing the former Sears building, nearby shops, the existing parkade and adjacent surface parking with a high-rise, urban neighbourhood. This “urban neighbourhood” will include approximately 2,000 residential spaces, new parking, public streets and open spaces and 440,000 square feet of additional retail space.
Since these changes will affect nearby residents, businesses and organizations, it’s council policy to hear the community’s feedback on these proposed changes. The consultation would likely take place in May.
With files from Daisy Xiong and Kacy Wu
