My story in the Globe here and the full motion here. More to come.

A. THAT the application by BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) to rezone the following:

a portion of 777 Pacific Boulevard (PID: 008-332-614, Lot 153 False Creek Plan 20421 (“BC Place Site”);

a portion of Terry Fox Way to be closed and conveyed to the registered owner of the BC Place Site (the “Surplus Road Area”);

a portion of 10 Terry Fox Way (PID: 025-540-866, Lot 288 False Creek Plan BCP1977) to be dedicated as road (the “Smithe Street Extension”);

portions of 10 Terry Fox Way (PID: 025-540-866, Lot 288 False Creek Plan BCP1977) east of the Smithe Street Extension (the “Triangle Site”); collectively, the “Rezoning Site” and shown within heavy bold outline on an Explanatory Plan attached as Map 1, (Appendix D) from BCPED (BC Place/Expo District) to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District, to permit development of a mixed-use hotel/entertainment complex, that includes the relocation be Approved, together with:

(i) plans prepared by IBI/HB Group received August 9, 2010;
(ii) draft CD-1 By-law provisions, generally as presented in Appendix A; and
(iii) the recommendation of the Director of Planning to approve, subject to conditions contained in Appendix B;

B. THAT, subject to approval of the rezoning after Public Hearing, Council approve the
relocation of the casino operated by Paragon Gaming (Paragon Holdings [Smithe
Street] ULC) at the Plaza of Nations (750 Pacific Boulevard), known as the Edgewater
Casino, to the Rezoning Site on the terms set out in this report.

C. THAT Council approve the relocation of the casino operated by Paragon Gaming (Paragon Holdings [Smithe Street] ULC) at the Plaza of Nations (750 Pacific Boulevard), known as the Edgewater Casino with 600 slot machines and 75 gaming tables and as a condition of approval, Paragon will make legal commitments, to the satisfaction of staff, to provide priority hiring for any workers displaced or laid off from Hasting Park Race Track as a result of closure or permanent downsizing of that operation; and implement, to the satisfaction of the city’s legal department and the VPD, a system for the provision of the highest possible standards to protect against money laundering, fraud and other criminal activity based on an assessment of best practices in the gaming industry.

E. THAT the application from PavCo to amend the Sign By-law to establish regulations for this CD-1 in accordance with Schedule E (assigning Schedule “B” [DD]) be Approved

F. THAT the Noise Control By-law be amended to include this CD-1 in Schedule B, as set out in Appendix C;

FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary
by-law to amend the Noise Control By-law at the time of enactment of the CD-1 By-law.

G. THAT the BCPED (BC Place/ Expo District) By-law be amended to delete sub-area 10 from the by-law, as set out in Appendix C;

FURTHER THAT the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary by-law to amend the BCPED (BC Place/Expo District) By-law at the time of enactment of the CD-1 By-law.

H. THAT Council approve in principle the proposal to stop-up, close and lease a volumetric portion of the Smithe Street Extension (to be dedicated as road) to the registered owner of the BC Place Site to accommodate the underground parking structure proposed to be within the Smithe Street Extension, and the Director of Real Estate Services be instructed to report back to Council on the terms of the lease;

FURTHER THAT the General Manager of Engineering Services be instructed to bring back to Council, prior to occupancy of the development, a report to seek Council approval to stop-up, close and lease this volumetric portion of the Smithe Street Extension.

I. THAT Recommendations A, B, C, E, F, G and H be adopted on the following conditions:

(i) THAT passage of the above resolutions creates no legal rights for the applicant or any other person, or obligation on the part of the City and any expenditure of funds or incurring of costs is at the risk of the person making the expenditure or incurring the cost;

(ii) THAT any approval that may be granted following the Public Hearing shall not obligate the City to enact a by-law rezoning the property, and any costs incurred in fulfilling requirements imposed as a condition of rezoning are at the risk of the property owner; and

(iii) THAT the City and all its officials, including the Approving Officer, shall not in any way be limited or directed in the exercise of their authority or discretion regardless of when they are called upon to exercise such authority or discretion.

J THAT if required the Director of Legal Services be instructed to prepare the necessary by-laws to amend the ODP at the time of enactment of the CD-1 by-law.

K. THAT a moratorium shall be imposed on any and all applications to expand gambling and/or gaming venues in the City of Vancouver. Specifically that while the moratorium is in effect the City will not accept either of (1) applications to develop, use or operate a facility as a new gaming facility as described in section 18 (1) (a) of the Gaming Control Act or (2) applications to substantially change the extent of lottery schemes at existing gaming facilities under section 18 (1) (c) of the Gaming Control Act. This is not intended to affect applications to relocate an existing facility under section 18 (1) (b) of the Gaming Control Act, or applications to the City to change the mix of lottery schemes within existing facilities.

AND THAT this moratorium shall be in effect until such time as the Province of British Columbia, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation and/or their agents:

(I) undertakes a comprehensive public consultation on the issue of expanded gambling in the City of Vancouver, and the results of this consultation are deliberated on by Vancouver City Council and

(II) implements internationally recognized best practices in:
– promotion of responsible gambling
– prevention of problem gambling
– treatment for problem gamblers
– protection against money laundering, fraud and other criminal activity