19 Jun 2023 Council meeting Transportation

Proposed Road Closure and Approval in Principle to Lease - Unnamed Laneway Between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street

Motion
That Council: 1. authorize the road closure of an unnamed laneway between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street; 2. Direct Staff to proceed with public notice for the closure of the unnamed laneway between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street; 3. Provide approval in principle to enter into a 60-year lease for the resulting titled lot between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street to BC Housing; 4. Direct Staff to publish a Notice of Disposition for the lease upon adoption of Bylaw 2023 No. 7364; and, 5. Direct Staff to return to a future Council meeting following the publication of a Notice of Disposition for formal approval of the Lease Agreement. That "Highway Closure and Dedication Removal Bylaw 2023 No. 7364" (a bylaw to provide for highway closure and dedication removal of an unnamed laneway between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street), pass first reading. That "Highway Closure and Dedication Removal Bylaw 2023 No. 7364", pass second reading.
Sources
Agenda itemCity agenda
Staff reportPage 1
Purpose
To provide Council with background information on a request received from BC Housing to lease an unnamed laneway between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street to provide outdoor amenity space for the residents of 355 Nicol Street after the supportive housing project is constructed. Staff are seeking Council’s approval to remove the road dedication status for the unnamed laneway and to obtain Council’s approval in principle to the granting a 60-year lease for the resulting titled lot to BC Housing.
Staff report, page 1
Staff recommendation
That Council: 1. Authorize the road closure of an unnamed laneway between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street; 2. Give first reading to “Highway Closure and Dedication Removal Bylaw 2023 No. 7364” (a bylaw to provide for highway closure and dedication removal of an unnamed laneway between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street); 3. Give second reading to “Highway Closure and Dedication Removal Bylaw 2023 No. 7364”; 4. Direct staff to proceed with public notice for the closure of the unnamed laneway between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street; 5. Provide approval in principle to enter into a 60-year lease for the resulting titled lot between 334 and 364 Haliburton Street to BC Housing; 6. …
Staff report, page 1
DocumentsStaff report about Housing

Questions and answers

Councillor Hilary Eastmure, Councillor Ben Geselbracht or Councillor Erin Hemmens

asked
I'm not seeing any counseling Guest. Silver Rock. Sorry. Thank you Worship. Um, so this roadway is actually the first food forest and then I'm Oh, it's the South and community formed food for us with signage. . Um, and it was planted as a perennial food forest with I think there's a couple of fig trees in there a plum tree to apple trees and medal archery elderberry tree. . I walked through there recently and picked freshly ripened gumi Berries. . And it's been a community asset for pool. Maybe around 10 years now, , um and, , uh I think that BC housing has reached out to the community and they walked through, and I do believe they do want to use it as green space because the, , um Development they proposed is doesn't really have much area to utilize. . Uh, , the The food force, however, is utilized by the community and people walk through there quite often. It went through a bit of a rough patch about four years ago when there was a lot of camping in the site, but that's cleared up and, yeah, people do go and, you know, keep the weeds at bay and the city was mowing the lawn there which made it quite nice, and I think you know since the BC housing request Has been interesting looking at it, Um, I I think you know, it would be nice to maintain some access to the community to it, and I know there's some provisions in the lease agreement that would allow it. And so my question is, is that when this comes back to counsel the conditions Um, are we able to negotiate something? Uh, , could we Keep you know, even just the bottom. Ah, fifth of the space access to the community that walked by Halliburton. Um there was a park bench. . In that spot there was heavily utilized. . Earlier on it was removed because of the homelessness situation. Which has, you know, in the last year and a half two years has cleared up, but I'm curious. . What type of, , um Leeway and the lease agreement for public access exists.
Bill Corsan answeredDirector, Corporate and Business Development
Please. This is your your property, So it's Up to you as to how you wish it to be. . Um, the conditions are with PC housing. And certainly we can have that conversation with them about access. We do know the idea is it would be open to the public. . I think the idea was at nighttime. They were thinking of limiting access to it. . But the golden moment is that it's it's a public space during the day and then Just from a public safety perspective that might be closed off in the evening. . So if there's a portion of the property you feel that would be best. . Suited for the to be open. All the time to the public, then We could consider that in the lease agreement. Um, just to follow up. I you know,
followed up
I I don't. I'm not opposed to it being closed off in at nighttime. I think there could be some benefits from it. I'm just curious. Uh, , At what stage with sort of the detailed negotiations go on, in terms of what would be accessible and what and what time and with the With the finalized lease agreement once all those sort of discussions occur. . Is that what comes back to council or, um, you know, when is there sort of input into the details? ?
Bill Corsan answeredDirector, Corporate and Business Development
Yes. So through your worship 1st 1st step is to go through the road closure process which will take A couple of council meetings, actually three council meetings and then we'll work on the lease agreement with BC Housing will Come to you with a draft for your consideration. . You can give us some feedback and then We take it back for one more final, So you're going to see this agreement multiple times. .