CVN requests delay of council decision so residents can review plan
The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods sent the following letter on July 25, 2016, to the Mayor and Council regarding the proposed Grandview Woodland Community Plan.
CVN shares the concerns of the Grandview Woodland Area Council (GWAC) and joins GWAC in their request for a delay of the council decision regarding the proposed plan.
CVN represents a diverse set of nearly 30 neighbourhood associations all across the City of Vancouver.
This letter is also available for download as a PDF:
CVN Letter to council – Grandview Community Plan-Final
July 25, 2016
City of Vancouver Council
Dear Mayor Gregor Robertson and Councillors,
Re: Grandview-Woodland Community Plan, July 26, 2016
The Coalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) supports the Grandview Woodland Area Council (GWAC) in their stated concerns about the proposed Grandview Woodland Community Plan and supports their request for a delay of the City of Vancouver Council decision on the plan. GWAC is a member group of CVN.
GWAC has made a very reasonable request of delay. As stated in their press release:
“Among the top concerns of residents” said GWAC President Dorothy Barkley, “is having only one summer month to read, digest, and respond to a 250-page document.” Both the Citizens’ Assembly and the planners had almost a year to think about the plan for the neighbourhood. Residents need at least a few months. “GWAC is calling on the City to delay the decision on the Draft Plan to at least November 2016 and to provide a clear mechanism by which resident feedback will be incorporated into the plan.”
Even for those residents who did manage to make it through the 250 page draft plan there were other complications. Further we note that the proposed Plan was changed from DRAFT to a revised final document with only five business days before the council meeting, and that no change bars were included to assist residents in digesting the material and any changes.
A delay as proposed would be consistent with the CVN document Principles and Goals for Collaborative Neighbourhood-based Planning in the City of Vancouver as supported by neighbourhood groups across the city. We urge Council to grant them this reasonable request.
Sincerely,
Larry Benge, 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 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
Raycam
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 AssociationReference Documents
Council Meeting July 26, 2016 and Reports
http://council.vancouver.ca/20160726/20160726ag.htmGrandview Woodland Area Council (GWAC) press release
http://www.gwac.ca/news/media-advisory-grandview-woodland-area-council-does-not-endorse-the- draft-grandview-woodland-neighbourhood-planCoalition of Vancouver Neighbourhoods (CVN) Principles and Goals for Collaborative Neighbourhood- based Planning in the City of Vancouver
https://coalitionvan.org/principles-and-goals/
