THAT staff be instructed to advise other applicants seeking similar approvals to the Family Sports and Entertainment Centre, that Council is unwilling to consider such applications until an evaluation has been completed on this project after 12 months. This report recommends that Council refuse a CD-1 text amendment application for the former Public Library site at 750 Burrard Street which would, if approved, allow a facility similar to the Family Sports and Entertainment Centre under development at the Plaza of Nations. The applicant disagrees with staff s interpretation of the policy and has submitted this rezoning as a means of broaching the issue with Council.
Staff recommend that the text amendment application be refused.
The second Public Hearing narrowed the scope of the CD-1 for the Plaza of Nations, but provided for the Family Sports and Entertainment Centre to proceed, as the operator is only a lessee and not connected to the owners of the Plaza of Nations. The principal issue surrounding both the Plaza of Nations development and the current former Public Library proposal is the sizeable arcade component. Hence, the Plaza of Nations project is seen by Council and staff as a pilot to test a possible expansion of the latitude of existing arcade regulations, or alternatively creating a use separate from arcades, such as family entertainment centre. The applicant for the former Public Library proposal indicates that the 100 or so arcade machines are essential to the success of the operation. Some delay was caused in awaiting the outcome of legal action taken against the City s decision on the rezoning which argued the decision contravened the Criminal Code of Canada regarding gambling.