Letter to Council for (22-Jul-2020): Strong support for ‘Establishing the Office of the Auditor General for the City of Vancouver’

July 19, 2020
City of Vancouver Council

Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors,

Re: Item 3. Report Back on Establishing the Office of the Auditor General for the City of Vancouver

Agenda: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200722/pspc20200722ag.htm
Report: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200722/documents/pspc3.pdf
Appendix A: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200722/documents/pspc3appendixA.pdf

The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) is in strong support of the recommendations in this report and Appendix A for establishment of the Independent Auditor General Office for the City of Vancouver.

Thanks to Council for bringing forward this report and we are pleased to see the City of Vancouver coming into compliance with governance best practices.
However, CVN would like to point out that another report for Council’s consideration the day before on July 21, report item 1. Amendment to the City’s Audit Committee appears to be in conflict with the recommendations regarding the necessary independence of the Report Back on Establishing the Office of the Auditor General for the City of Vancouver. https://council.vancouver.ca/20200721/documents/r1.pdf
We strongly encourage you to instead approve the recommendations in the Independent Auditor General Office for the City of Vancouver report in the report and Appendix A by the Canadian Audit & Accountability Foundation. Continue reading →

Letter to Council for 21-Jul-2020: Opposed to Item A.3. Regulation Redesign – Amendments to Land Use Documents

July 20, 2020
City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors,

Re: Item A.3. Regulation Redesign – Amendments to Land Use Documents
Agenda: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200721/regu20200721ag.htm
Motion: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200721/documents/a3.pdf
(see Appendix A for list of Plans & Guidelines for amendment.)

The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) is opposed to proceeding with the proposed amendments. This motion proposes to amend many Community Plans, Area Plans and Guidelines for zoning by-laws across the city. See motion attached and linked below. However, there were initially no attached documents of what was proposed to change.

Then late this evening, the night before the Council meeting to consider this, the City has posted 38 major land use planning documents, including Community Plans, Area Plans and Design Guidelines for zoning by-law schedules, without any redlined document nor staff report to show what has changed or why.

Council or the public cannot consider this without knowing what is being proposed.

The only a link in the motion is to the redline to the zoning by-law changes approved last month. This is not what Council is being asked to amend by this motion.

The public and Council need the redlined proposed amended Community Plans and Guidelines, with an explanatory staff report, in order to comment or make an informed decision. That information is missing and there has been no public consultation on these proposed changes.

Therefore, this motion should not be approved. Please refer this back to staff to report back with more information, including redline documents of all proposed amendments to Community Plans and Guideline, with a staff report, after community consultation, for Council consideration Continue reading →

Letter to Council (July 9 Public Hearing): Petition, Opposed to CD-1 AMENDMENT: 2538 Birch Street (formerly 1296 West Broadway)

July 9, 2020

City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors,
Re: Petition Opposed to1. CD-1 AMENDMENT: 2538 Birch Street (formerly 1296 West Broadway)

Agenda: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200709/phea20200709ag.htm
Amendment: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200709/documents/phea1SandR.pdf

The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) voiced our opposition to this amendment in a previous letter to Council. Further to yesterday’s letter that outlined the many reasons for our opposition, this letter provides an additional relevant petition. We continue to support the building of affordable rental units in the city with proper planning and good urban design.

The new petition was initiated by concerned citizens a week ago, with 1472 signatures at the time of this writing and growing hourly, signed by many members and non-members of this Coalition from across the city, which “aims to move the City of Vancouver away from arbitrary rezoning policies and back to meaningful public participation in neighbourhood-based planning.”

See petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/city-of-vancouver-council-officials-our-communities-our-plans-99961c91-4a17-497d-86c8-b385b3c0f315

The petition specifically names the MIRHPP program as a problematic City policy that is “causing major damage to the City, its neighbourhoods, and its citizens” with precedent-setting spot rezonings. This project is one of the more egregious examples of this program.

The petition is consistent with the stated goals of the Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods in our Principles and Goals document that calls for meaningful neighbourhood-based planning processes.

We continue to urge Council to oppose this amendment. The developer already has 16 storeys of rental under the recently approved CD-1 rezoning and can proceed with that, which the local community supports. Continue reading →

Letter to Council (for July 7): Opposed to “Missing Middle” motion, with reasons

July 5, 2020
City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors,

Re: Motion B6 –  “Missing Middle” Housing Pilots    

Agenda: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200707/regu20200707ag.htm

Motion: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200707/documents/b6.pdf

The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) agrees with the aim of this motion to provide more affordable, innovative housing options, and it is timely to think about creative choices to fill that need. But we have concerns that the motion as proposed will not accomplish the intended goals. Therefore, CVN opposes this motion.

Achieving the stated goal through citywide rezoning would contradict the intent of developing a citywide plan and could potentially produce unintended consequences leading to the development of more intensive high-end market housing in the areas affected. Additionally, allowing higher density spot rezoning everywhere would increase speculation and demolition of older, more affordable housing, causing displacement while also undermining the few character house retention incentives currently existing in zoning and City policy. To date, spot rezoning has been notably ineffective in meeting the housing needs of local residents. Neighbourhood-based planning processes integrated into a citywide plan will deliver substantially better results.

There are other options that could be considered to better maximize affordable housing availability working within current zoning and neighbourhood plans. It seems that many modifications could be put into place with no delay without costing the city a great deal of money. These would also have the benefit of not actually changing any zoning in a major way. For example, an approach could be to simplify renovation requirements to ensure retaining current housing, including heritage housing. Fast track the designation of heritage housing for retention. Such changes would be minor and effective. Consideration could be given to supporting co-ops, co-housing, and land trusts. There are other equally effective changes that could be made without having to rezone wide swaths of the city prior to the development of a full citywide plan.

We would be prepared to work with the City on identifying other options that could be put in place to increase affordable housing options.  Any of these approaches should recognize the unique characteristics and needs of each neighbourhood so as to best adapt any actions to that neighbourhood, thus following the intent of zoning by-laws and local community visions and plans.

Seeking truly effective solutions to the need for affordable housing, we oppose this motion. Continue reading →

Letter to Council (June 25 Public Hearing): Opposing omnibus rezoning – Regulation Redesign – Amendments to Zoning & Development and Parking By-laws

June 24, 2020

City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors,

Re:  Public Hearing – 1. Regulation Redesign – Amendments to Zoning & Development and Parking By-laws

June 25 Public Hearing
Agenda: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200625/phea20200625ag.htm
Report: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200625/documents/phea1referralreport.pdf

The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) opposes this omnibus rezoning.  While the intention of streamlining and improving the permitting process is a good one, this report goes much further than simply improving processes by suggesting alterations to many sections of the Zoning Bylaw. This is a very controversial rezoning that should especially not be going to a virtual Public Hearing during a pandemic.

Among our concerns:

  • The city is combining a large number of amendments on unrelated issues as an omnibus change to the Zoning and Development By-law for various zoning schedules, for various Official Development Plans, for the Parking By-Law and other land use documents.
  • The changes to various different zoning types (C, I, RS, RT, RM etc.), By-laws or Plans are too complex to be all in one report and should be separated into multiple reports that could provide detailed information and explanation on the impacts of the various changes.
  • Although there now are ‘red-line’ documents provided to show what is changed in context with the original by-law, there still is no detailed explanation of what each amendment means in practical terms to the built forms or development process. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for Council and the public to really know what is changing.
  • Suggested changes are substantive alterations to zoning and regulations, with a variety of impacts, not just minor text amendments, which simplify the language or streamline the process.
  • There are substantive new powers proposed for the Director of Planning to vary zoning bylaws without going through the Board of Variance. The current Council should maintain checks and balances on the powers of the Director of Planning, and know it has a big responsibility to future-term Councils to ensure good governance.
  • There was no substantive public consultation which dealt with the specifics of the many changes to various sections of the Bylaws. Public Hearings are not a substitute for full, public engagement. They are one tool in a bag of many that together complete a proper engagement process. It is typical for the public to provide input prior to the staff’s recommendation for referral to a Public Hearing.

This rezoning, without adequate detailed explanations, all lumped together in one report, is very difficult to understand. It needs those relevant documents and more details to be included, or at least referenced with links, and further clarifications as to its effects, divided into related zoning types in separate reports, with separate presentations at Public Hearings.

And adequate public input needs to be included in the drafting of this smorgasbord of changes, sufficient to be understandable to a lay public, before they are referred to public hearing. Until this occurs, CVN opposes these amendments. Continue reading →

Letter to Council (for June 23): Opposed to ‘Amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law to Increase Rental Housing in the C-2, C-2B, C-2C, and C-2C1 Commercial Districts’

June 22, 2020

City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors,

Re:  Referral to Public Hearing –10. Amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law to Increase Rental Housing in the C-2, C-2B, C-2C, and C-2C1 Commercial Districts

June 23 Council Agenda: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200623/regu20200623ag.htm
Report: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200623/documents/rr10.pdf

The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) is opposed to this controversial rezoning amendments going forward as proposed. The process used to bring this proposal forward to Council was flawed, and it is not appropriate to refer controversial rezoning amendments such as this to Public Hearing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the many concerns we have with the current proposal are as follows:

  • At the November 26, 2019 City Council meeting, Council gave direction to staff to protect existing rentals by bringing forward a report to consider “to amend the Rental Housing Stock Official Development Plan to extend rental replacement requirements to C-2, C-2C, C-2b and C-2B-1 zoning districts city-wide. There are many existing rental units in the C2 zones that should be protected by this policy amendment first.
  • This proposal is in conflict with the Interim Rezoning Policy for Kitsilano and West Point Grey that requires a “collaborative neighbourhood-based process” which has not, as yet, taken place. Additionally, the IRP restricts rezoning to projects already approved to proceed, and to future collaborative neighbourhood-based processes that focus on rental-only zoning along Broadway and West 10th The other area covered by Interim Rezoning Policy east of Vine for the Broadway Plan is exempt from the proposed C2 changes.
  • No neighbourhood-based context has been considered.
  • There are two parts to the proposed rezoning:
    • The proposal increases outright development for strata by:
      • raising the height of the commercial level that also increases the views of the residential above, increasing both value of units and land,
      • decreases or eliminates setbacks, front and back, that allows more FSR to be landed than would be allowed under current zoning.
    • It adds conditional rental development with relaxations to heights of 72ft. and six-storey without any differentiation between major and minor arterials or consideration of neighbourhood context.
  • No notification has been given to affected or adjacent properties for advanced consultation prior to referral.
  • It increases development pressure, land values and property taxes for small businesses, which undermines those businesses that were already struggling even before COVID.
  • It implements a citywide, complex and controversial rezoning proposal in July in a pandemic with audio only (Council and speakers) in a virtual public hearing.

CVN opposes this referral to Public Hearing and we request that instead the report be referred back to staff for more work and revisions to address the concerns we have raised and to engage in further public consultation. Continue reading →

Letter to Council (June 9): Opposed to Item 1. Changes to 2020 Council Meetings Schedule – Increasing Public Hearings in July

June 7, 2020

City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors,

Re: Item 1. Changes to 2020 Council Meetings Schedule – Increasing Public Hearings in July

June 9, 2020 Agenda: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200609/regu20200609ag.htm
1. Changes to 2020 Council Meetings Schedule
https://council.vancouver.ca/20200609/documents/comm1.pdf

The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) is opposed to the addition of so many Public Hearing dates for the month of July during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is proposed that Public Hearings be added for July 7, 9, and 28, plus a reserve on July 16, 2020.

The calendar of Public Hearings would then show dates scheduled for June 23, 25, July 7, 9, reserve on 16th, 21, 23, 28, then Sept. 15, plus potentially other reserve dates.

If this goes ahead, in July alone there will be 5 public hearing dates plus reserve of one or more, as well as 2 public hearings in the last week of June. And this doesn’t include the numerous Council and Standing Committee meetings that will be taking place during the same time frame, or the potential inclusion of ‘controversial’ rezonings within some of these hearings.

This places enormous pressure on Council, staff, and the public. For a Council elected on the premise of improving public engagement, this is highly problematic. Even in normal times it is too much, far less in a pandemic. Please reconsider adding these public hearing dates to July. Continue reading →

Letter to Council (June 9): Referral to Public Hearing on CD-1 Amendment: 2538 Birch Street (formerly 1296 West Broadway – Denny’s site)

On June 5, 2020, CVN sent the following letter to Vancouver Mayor and Council.

City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors,

Re: Referral to Public Hearing -1. CD-1 Amendment: 2538 Birch Street (formerly 1296 West Broadway – Denny’s site)
June 9 Council Agenda: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200609/regu20200609ag.htm
Report: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200609/documents/rr1.pdf

The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) is strongly opposed to this controversial rezoning going forward as a referral to Public Hearing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The restrictions on public participation in order to deal with the pandemic crisis should not be used opportunistically on projects like this that have substantial opposition both city-wide and from the local community. If approved, this project would set a huge precedent for the Broadway Corridor.

We remain concerned about the virtual electronic Council meetings and Public Hearings. The technology has not been reliable and it is not the same as having Council present in chambers as required under the Vancouver Charter that is now temporarily suspended for the pandemic crisis.

City Hall Council chambers were created so that government business could be conducted in plain sight, before the public, transparently and out in the open as per the Vancouver Charter.

We appreciate that Council raised concerns about referring this project to Public Hearing when Council considered the referral back in March and that staff withdrew the report from the Council agenda in April.

CVN continues to oppose this referral to Public Hearing during the pandemic. We request that the report be held and not be referred at this time. Continue reading →

2 letters to City Council for May 26 & 27: ‘Social housing’ definition, development and permit processes

The following letters were sent to Vancouver Mayor and Councillors pertaining to agenda topics for meetings this week of May 25, 2020 at City Hall. Please see the list at top, with actual text of the letters further below.

  1. Motion B.4 (May 26): Defining Social Housing Consistently and Transparently in the City of Vancouver
  2. Agenda Item 1 (May 27). Development and Permit Process Improvements

**********

LETTER 1

Re: Motion B.4: Defining Social Housing Consistently and Transparently in the City of Vancouver
May 26 Motion B.4: https://council.vancouver.ca/20200526/documents/motionb4.pdf

The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) supports this Motion.

This proposal is an important first step to redress the current situation, which misrepresents the actual social housing being developed by including primarily market rental housing within the designation. As a result, benefits such as CAC and DCL waivers are awarded where they are not deserved, while the actual need for social and affordable housing remains largely unmet.

Further, the City’s definition of social housing is completely out of step with all other levels of government, leading to confusion in the minds of the public and potential lack of coordination with government partners.

There is a clear need to have more actual social housing developed for lower income and homeless people in Vancouver. We urge Council to support this Motion as a needed first step to more fully addressing this issue. Continue reading →

4 letters to City Council for May 12: Cambie Corridor, rental housing, development applications, Housing Vancouver Strategy

The following letters were sent to Vancouver Mayor and Councillors pertaining to agenda topics for meetings this week of May 11, 2020 at City Hall. Please see the list at top, with actual text of the letters further below.

  1. Motion B.3 (May 12) – Working for More Housing Affordability in the Cambie Corridor
  2. Motion B.4 – Rescinding Motion to Include C-2 Zones in Rental Housing Stock Official Development Plan
  3. Motion B.6 – Improving the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Development Application Processes
  4. Motion B.7 – Recalibrating the Housing Vancouver Strategy post COVID-19

**********

LETTER 1

Re: Motion B.3- Working for More Housing Affordability in the Cambie Corridor
May 12 Council Item B.3: https://council.vancouver.ca/documents/b3.pdf

The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) supports this Motion. It is very clear, as the Motion states, that in the Cambie Corridor, the development of new units that are built, under construction, approved or under review, will not meet the Cambie Corridor Plan’s goals for affordability. And this reflects the problem which exists in Vancouver, that of housing affordability for people of lower incomes, and the need to solve that problem.

The City needs to address the shortcomings of the Cambie Corridor Plan, and move to increase the percentage of ‘social housing’ called for in the Plan.

The core problem is that under the City’s current definition of social housing, the majority of units provided are not actually affordable. Prior to 2014, the City defined ‘social housing’ as: “…residential units, purchased by a government or a non-profit housing group using available government funding, for housing senior citizens, handicapped persons or individuals or families of low income”. The current definition defines it as any “rental housing where 30 per cent of the units are affordable to households with incomes below Housing Income Limits (HIL)”. Add to that the current City policy that considers any building in which 30% of its units are affordable to people with incomes below the HIL to be 100% social housing, and you find a policy that needs re-evaluating. This also produces a condition where the city is appearing to be gaining many more units of affordable housing than is actually the case. Continue reading →