Public Hearing May 9, 2023. Six items: Zoning changes for town/rowhouses (Cambie Corridor), density bonus contribs, rezonings at 855-865 W10th, 208 E54th/7018-7078 Main/211 E55th, 1040-1080 Barclay (60 storeys, West End), more

Above: Two more towers at 57 and 60 storeys proposed for the West End, at the corner of Barclay and Thurlow, enabled under the West End Community Plan.

There are six items on the Public Hearing agenda for May 9, 2023, starting at 6 p.m. (Note that the May 11 public hearing has been cancelled.)

1. City-Initiated Zoning Changes for Townhouses and Rowhouses in the Cambie Corridor
2. Recalibration of Density Bonus Contributions
3. CD-1 Rezoning: 855-865 West 10th Avenue
4. CD-1 Rezoning: 208 East 54th Avenue, 7018-7078 Main Street, and 211 East 55th Avenue
5. CD-1 Rezoning: 1040-1080 Barclay Street
6. Heritage Designation: 852 Seymour Street
7. Heritage Revitalization Agreement Amendment: 6161 MacDonald Street – WITHDRAWN

As of noon on the day, there were 30 items of correspondence in total for all six items.

Here is the agenda with links to related documents, correspondence, and instructions on how to write or speak to Council: https://council.vancouver.ca/20230509/phea20230509ag.htm

Below is a screen grab of a notice in the Vancouver Sun from May 2. Further below are some concise summaries, with links to the Shape Your City public input pages.

Below, click links for the relevant Shape Your City pages.

Item #1 – City-Initiated Zoning Changes for Townhouses and Rowhouses in the Cambie Corridor:

The staff proposal is for a City-initiated rezoning of 220 parcels from RS-1 and RT-1 to the RM-8A or RM-8AN zones for specified sites in the Cambie Corridor Plan area. It proposes a bulk rezoning of many parcels in the Cambie corridor, from RS and RT to a newly-updated RM8. This sets a new precedent. The RM8 zoning schedule has been recently updated. Here is the recently updated RM8: https://council.vancouver.ca/20230425/documents/a4a_000.pdf. [This para has been revised.]

A pertinent public comment expressed concern about how this might trigger more land assembly: “We already have numerous properties sitting dormant for years due to speculation purposes in this area. Must be hundreds of units vacant or bulldozed with no development occurring. This includes existing multi-family and apartment buildings. In addition, infrastructure has failed to be developed for the anticipated area growth. Council needs to take action on the existing land assemblies before creating more damage to existing housing stock.” A good point for Council to discuss in the Public Hearing.

Item #2 – Recalibration of Density Bonus Contributions.

The staff proposal is to adopt the recalibration of four density bonus contribution rates (“affordable housing shares” and “amenity shares” in the Zoning and Development By-law) with new rates Sept 30, 2023. Also to adopt density bonus exemption for secured market rental development in the Joyce-Collingwood RM-10N district schedule and an expanded definition of Amenity and Affordable Housing shares across all density bonus zones effective upon enactment.

Item #3 – 855-865 West 10th Avenue. 12 storey office building.

See image below.

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Item #4 – 208 East 54th Ave, 7018-7078 Main St, and 211 East 55th Ave 

This is for a six-storey mixed use building with 131 secured market rental units, commercial retail space at grade, and floor space ratio (FSR) of 3.62. There was at one point a petition against this development, but opposition has apparently dissipated.

See image below.

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Item #5 – 1040-1080 Barclay Street 

Two residential towers (57 storey West, 60 storey East) over ten levels of underground parking. 506 secured market rental units, 130 below market units (East), 365 market strata-titled units and 99 social housing units (West). Retail space at grade in both towers. 37-space childcare facility. Current FSR is 2.75. Proposal is overall floor space ratio (FSR) of 21.87 (consisting of 20.7 FSR West and 25.0 East). A building height of 174.5 m (572 ft in East) and 173m (567 ft in West). 832 vehicle and 2,256 bicycle parking spaces. Proposed by

An amendment (Criteria for 100% Secured Rental and Below-Market Housing as an Alternative to Inclusionary Social Housing in the Burrard Corridor of the West End Community Plan) to the West End Community Plan allowed the original proposal at this site to change from two strata towers proposed in 2018 to the current proposal.

See image below.

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Item #6 is about preserving the Great War Veterans’ Association Hall at 852 Seymour. The proposal is to add the existing building at this address to the Vancouver Heritage Register “B” and bring forward a by-law to designate the facade as protected heritage property.