The following letter was sent to Vancouver City Council.
Download PDF: CVN Letter to Council-City-wide Plan 8-Jul-2019
July 8, 2019
City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors,
Re: City-wide Plan Report
Agenda July 9, 2019: https://council.vancouver.ca/20190709/regu20190709ag.htm
Report: https://council.vancouver.ca/20190709/documents/rr1.pdf
The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) is writing to express concerns about the process as proposed in the report for the new City-wide Plan. There are two main issues that should be addressed before proceeding further. These mainly are related to implementation of current city policy and the consultation process.
The current city policies and programs were almost all established prior to the last election. These should not continue to be implemented through the City-wide Plan. There is no point in having a City-wide Plan process if rezonings continue for the next four years. Changes in zoning through policies such as the Broadway Corridor or rental pilot programs could set precedents or alter neighbourhoods for the long term and should be put on hold and revised with public input.
In terms of the consultation process, the residents associations across the city should be specifically mentioned as key stakeholders, but they are not. There is only a vague reference to “associations”. Yet city staff are shown as key people to consult. Staff should be neutral since they are the administrators.
A new City-wide Plan needs to be based on a clear neighbourhood-based process since each neighbourhood is unique. Local groups are made up of the people who live and work there. They know their neighbourhood best and should be primary stakeholders and collaborators.
Please reconsider this report and address these important issues before approving this proposed planning process. If residents are to have trust in a City-wide Plan process and are to invest their time and energy, it must build upon the unique neighbourhoods that, together, make up our wonderful city.
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
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
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
