Recent council decisions

The public hearing on July 28 was the last before the election.

Aug 9, 2022

Vancouver city council held its last public hearing on July 28. There’s no more council meetings until after the October 15 election (except for a special council meeting in September).

A couple difficult decisions in recent weeks:

The Vancouver Plan (gentle density in residential areas, mid-rises near local shopping areas, high-rises near rapid transit) - approved 9-2 on July 22, with Colleen Hardwick and Melissa De Genova voting No. Full motion with amendments. Daily Hive. Vancouver Sun. Globe and Mail.

Rezoning for social housing at Arbutus and 8th - approved 8-3 on July 26, with Colleen Hardwick, Melissa De Genova, and Sarah Kirby-Yung voting No. This is a 13-storey building, close to a new SkyTrain station, with 130 studio apartments, half low-income and half shelter-rate, fully funded by BC Housing. This was an epic battle: 300 people signed up to speak to council (more than for the Broadway Plan), and it took five days to hear them all. This was in sharp contrast to the similar social housing project at King Edward and Knight, in East Van: approved 9-0 on June 14, with Colleen Hardwick and Melissa De Genova absent. BC Housing. Daily Hive. Globe and Mail.

Big decisions that were less difficult:

Master plan for Skeena Terrace social housing, north of the Rupert SkyTrain station - approved unanimously on July 19, in less than half an hour. This is a BC Housing project. The site currently has 230 social-housing apartments. After redevelopment, it’ll have 1700 apartments, including low- and mid-rise buildings as well as three high-rises. 30% will be market rentals, and 70% will be social housing. BC Housing. Daily Hive.

Rezoning for the Heather Lands, between 33rd and 37th - approved unanimously on May 24. It’ll include 2600 apartments, with about 1700 condos, 300 market rentals, 100 below-market apartments, and 500 social-housing apartments. Like the Jericho Lands, this is a joint project of the MST Nations and Canada Lands Corporation, but it’s faced far less opposition. Daily Hive.

Also noteworthy: on May 25 the city and the Squamish Nation signed a services agreement for the Senakw project, on Squamish reserve land at the foot of the Burrard Bridge. The project will include 6100 rental apartments, 1200 below-market, in 12 high-rises up to 60 storeys tall. Because it’s on reserve land, it’s not subject to city zoning. Daily Hive.