Richmond city council starts its week off with a discussion on how to move forward with the Phoenix Net Loft, which, according to a city staff report, has been taken down with the plan being to rebuild it as a historical site.
About two years ago, city council approved $19.4 million to restore the 1943 building, but its condition had deteriorated to the point where it couldn’t be fully saved.
As many pieces of it as possible have been salvaged and will be used in the new construction.
The next phase of consultation on the Phoenix Net Loft will be discussed at Monday’s general purposes committee meeting, which starts at 4 p.m.
The committee will also consider a fill application for a lot on the 17260 block of River Road. The property is located in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), and city staff are recommending council forward the application to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) to decide whether to allow fill to be brought in.
The property is owned by Harry Sahota.
Lastly on the committee agenda is an appeal from CHIMO Community Services to not allow crisis lines to be run by for-profit companies.
CHIMO originally wrote to the mayor, asking him to advocate to the province to stop a request for proposals to operate the crisis lines, saying it could go to a private company.
Later on Monday, at 7 p.m., city council will hold a public hearing on raising its affordable housing requirements of developers, something that was supported by all of council.
The public is now invited to comment on the item before it goes for a final vote.
The first item on the public hearing agenda, however, is to consider whether to give the Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS) a permanent permit to continue operating its animal hospital at Richmond Auto Mall.
RAPS has been operating there for four years with a temporary permit.
Speed limit could be lowered
The speed limit on Barnes and Flury drives could be lowered to 30 km/h if approved by city council. This is a circular road in an area just east of No. 5 Road between Bridgeport and Cambie roads.
This is on the agenda for Tuesday’s public works and transportation committee meeting.
And on the issue of traffic control, redirecting traffic – largely at the recycling depot – and signage during the first year of the pandemic cost the city half a million dollars more than originally budgeted.
And the bill is expected to be above budget over the next two years as well, so city council will consider raising its three-year contract with Ansan Traffic Group from $1.5 million to $2.4 million.
The committee is also being asked to approve $2.5 million for pumping and drainage equipment.
On Wednesday, the planning committee will look at whether to increase maximum fines for those who illegally cut down trees. The maximum fine is currently $10,000 but this could go up to $50,000.
And Richmond keeps densifying.
Also on the planning agenda is a proposal to subdivide a lot on No. 3 Road - just north of Blundell - with a house built in 1966 on it. If subdivided, each lot would have a house with a suite in it.
