April 14, 2021
City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors,
Re: Public Hearing Item 4. Amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law to Increase Social Housing in the RM-4 and RM-3A Zoning Districts
Agenda: https://council.vancouver.ca/20210415/phea20210415ag1.htm
Report: https://council.vancouver.ca/20210309/documents/rr6.pdf
The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) is opposed to the recommendations in this report to rezone RM3 and RM4 to allow outright 6 storey rental projects without a public hearing.
While purportedly only for social housing projects, the City defines social housing as only requiring 30% of the units to be subsidized, while 70% can be market priced, but all is counted as 100% social housing.
This could lead to these mostly market rental projects putting increased development pressure on older affordable rental buildings, many of which have lower rents than the new “social housing” that would replace it. This will lead to displacement, gentrification and demolition of character buildings.
It also undermines neighbourhood character and liveability by allowing much bigger buildings that block views, overshadow yards and buildings for gardens and potential solar panels.
The rezoning is in conflict with community plans, including the most recent in Grandview Woodland.
Please do not approve this rezoning as proposed.
Thank you,
Larry A. Benge, Co-chair
Dorothy Barkley, Co-chair
Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods
Member Groups of the Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods
Arbutus Ridge Community Association
Arbutus Ridge/ Kerrisdale/ Shaughnessy Visions
Cedar Cottage Area Neighbours
Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council
Dunbar Residents Association
Fairview/South Granville Action Committee
False Creek Residents Association
Grandview Woodland Area Council
Granville-Burrard Residents & Business Assoc.
Greater Yaletown Community Association
Joyce Area Residents
Kitsilano-Arbutus Residents Association
Kits Point Residents Association
Marpole Residents Coalition
NW Point Grey Home Owners Association
Oakridge Langara Area Residents
Riley Park/South Cambie Visions
Shaughnessy Heights Property Owners Assoc.
Strathcona Residents Association
Upper Kitsilano Residents Association
West End Neighbours Society
West Kitsilano Residents Association
West Point Grey Residents Association
