On October 17, 2016, the Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods sent the following letter to Mayor Gregor Robertson and the Vancouver City Council. This letter is in support of Motion B.1, Ensuring Vancouver Development Levies are Not Used to Fund Transit.
As explained in the letter, CVN is strongly opposed to the use of development taxes or property taxes to fund transit, or policies that make increased development a requirement to receive transit funding.
CVN represents a diverse group of nearly 30 neighbourhood associations all across the City of Vancouver.
This letter is also available for download as a PDF (146kb):
Motion 1B-Oct.18-2016-CVN letter.pdf
October 17, 2016
Mayor Gregor Robertson and Councillors City of Vancouver
Re: Motion B.1 – Oct. 18, 2016 – Ensuring Vancouver Development Levies are Not Used to Fund Transit
http://council.vancouver.ca/20161018/documents/motionb1.pdfThe Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) is strongly in support of Motion B.1 – Ensuring Vancouver Development Levies are Not Used to Fund Transit.
We have only one suggested change to the resolution, item #3 as follows (addition in yellow):
3. The City of Vancouver opposes making provincial transit funding contingent on the City’s use of Community Amenity Contributions (CACs) or Development Cost levies (DCLs) to fund transit as that would infringe on the City’s authority and responsibility to implement public amenity strategies as embedded in local area plans and would make it impossible for the City to adequately fund affordable housing and other essential public amenities.
While we support increasing affordable transit in Metro Vancouver, we are opposed to the use of development taxes (CACS or DCLs) or property taxes to fund transit or policies to make increased development a requirement of transit funding. Provincial insistence on this course would seriously undermine the civic tax base, jeopardize the municipal democratic process and infringe on municipal authority.
To avoid further provincial downloading of transit costs onto the City of Vancouver, we encourage you to pass this motion with this amendment and to write to the Province of BC as proposed.
Sincerely,
Larry A. Benge, Chair
On behalf of the Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods.
Contact: info@coalitionvan.orgMember 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 Association
Joyce Area Residents
Kitsilano-Arbutus Residents Association
Kits Point Residents Association
Marpole Oakridge Community Association
Norquay Residents
NW Point Grey Home Owners Association
Oakridge Langara Area Residents
Ray-Cam
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
