CVN sent the following letter to Mayor and Council as official input on Agenda Item #2 for the Public Hearing scheduled for July 18, 2018.
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July 15, 2018
City of Vancouver Mayor & Council
Dear Mayor Gregor Robertson and Councillors,
Re: Public Hearing July 18, 2018, Changes to Laneway Home Regulations
- TEXT AMENDMENTS: Amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law – Laneway Home Regulations. https://council.vancouver.ca/20180619/documents/rr1c.pdf
The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods opposes the above changes without a proper planning process that includes meaningful public consultation with the affected neighbourhoods.
This report proposes making changes to all zones with laneway housing across Vancouver, but has only consulted with industry and users rather than pursuing a planning process that also includes the affected communities.
Adding outright provisions for larger laneway houses without design guidelines will mainly benefit demolition and full site redevelopment. One option that has not been considered is that this could instead only be used in combination with the retention of character houses, as part of a broader discussion of housing policy through a proper planning process.
This report should be referred back to staff for a meaningful public consultation process before consideration by Council after the fall election.
Sincerely,
Larry Benge, Co-Chair
Dorothy Barkley, Co-Chair
On behalf of the 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
Chinatown Action Group
Citygate Intertower Group
Community Association of New Yaletown
Crosstown Residents Association
Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council
Dunbar Residents Association
False Creek Residents Association
Grandview Woodland Area Council
Granville Burrard Residents & Business Assn.
Joyce Area Residents
Kitsilano-Arbutus Residents Association
Kits Point Residents Association
Marpole Residents Coalition
Norquay Residents
NW Point Grey Home Owners Association
Oakridge Langara Area Residents
Residents Association Mount Pleasant
Riley Park/South Cambie Visions
Shaughnessy Heights Property Owners Association
Strathcona Residents Association
Upper Kitsilano Residents Association
West End Neighbours Society
West Kitsilano Residents Association
West Point Grey Residents Association
