The downtown Tim Hortons restaurant will be getting a facelift – without having to pay for city upgrades costing nearly as much as the renovations.
The proposed renovations, similar to those at the uptown Tim Hortons, will cost an estimated $364,730. However, construction over $150,000 triggers the city’s subdivision and development servicing bylaw, meaning the cost of accompanying upgrades to Fourth Street NE and Hudson Avenue NE would be about $350,000.
Upgrades required in the subdivision bylaw would include such features as concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk; street trees; ornamental street lighting; and burial of hydro and telecommunication services.
Proprietor Kelly Moores of the TDL Group/Dillon Consulting Limited applied for a variance, proposing that he pay five per cent of the building permit value – or $18,236. City staff, however, recommended that the applicant pay $36,742, or 10 per cent of the building permit value.
Staff noted the District of North Vancouver uses 15 per cent as a method to calculate a contribution for off-site improvements. At the March 2 city planning meeting, Moores noted that Hudson Avenue is something of “a benign border” that does nothing for the restaurant.
At the March 9 council meeting, Coun. Chad Eliason spoke in favour of an $18,000 contribution, noting that if Moores had waited a couple of years, the city would be taking on the upgrading of the streets.
Coun. Kevin Flynn pointed out that owners of such franchises are mandated to do upgrades; it’s not something that’s taken on “by some big head office.”
Coun. Alan Harrison said if Hudson is taken out of the equation, 10 per cent of the Fourth Street upgrade would be about $18,000. He noted the subdivision bylaw works in a lot of instances, but needs a variance in this case.
“If it was a $2-million development, it would be a whole different ballgame.”
Harrison also noted the city has applied for a grant for the upgrades.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the variance.
Chicken barn
A wish to make an 83,000 chicken operation a healthier place for poultry led to the request for a variance to the city’s building setback requirements.
Amyn Alibhai of Zaitamyn Poultry Inc. at 250-40th St. (Trans-Canada Highway) SW, told council the poultry farm, which has operated since 1985, would like to construct another building for poultry raising.
The variance would allow them to build 15 metres from First Avenue SW, rather than the 30 metres required. He said the siting of the new building is the one that makes the most sense in terms of the relatively small 3.19 hectare property.
Alibhai said throughout the flock cycle, the young birds are vaccinated via water with a live vaccine. The way the buildings are now situated, the air flows from the growing facility into the layer building, meaning the other birds can potentially get stressed by the vaccine.
He also said planned changes to venting and how the manure is stored will improve odours released. Currently, manure is taken onto the field, either weekly or biweekly, as birds grow older.
Alibhai said the long-term plan is to shut down one of the buildings, not to increase density.
The Agricultural Land Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture were not opposed, but the city’s Agricultural Advisory Committee was, suggesting different siting. No neighbours expressed opposition.
After a lengthy discussion, council approved the application, with Coun. Ken Jamieson, council’s rep on the Agricultural Advisory Committee, opposed.
