Broadway Plan moves full speed ahead, council votes against pace-of-change policy
Vancouver city council has voted overwhelmingly against a new policy that was meant to slow down the rate of redevelopment for the Broadway Plan.
Dubbed Vancouver’s second downtown, the Broadway corridor has felt growing pressure with a rental vacancy rate of 0.5 per cent, according to a staff report.
Staff recommended a “pace-of-change” policy that would have limited the redevelopment of existing rental buildings in the Broadway corridor to five new proposals each year, which would impact renters in about 180 households.
Robert Moore, a commercial and residential real estate agent, was one of the speakers who presented at city council Wednesday.
He said he felt compelled to speak out because he doesn’t want to see any more red tape.
“The Broadway Plan was approved last June and here we are nine months later still talking about new policy layers,” he said. “Policy burdens the development process – it does not help.”
After hearing public input from residents and developers, councillors voted against the policy.
Many voiced concerns that the region is in a housing crisis and there is a desperate need to increase supply.
“We have a natural pace of change at the City of Vancouver based on what we heard from staff," said Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung.
"They can only process a handful of applications a year. Our processes and timelines to deliver are very slow at this point and they do need to become a lot quicker."
Melissa Bernstein, a renter who lives along the Broadway corridor, said she wasn’t surprised by how council voted and hopes renters will still be protected.
“I really hope that they don't get rid of the agreements that they've set forth in the Broadway Plan, that they don't get rid of what seems to be market guarantees and help for people. I hope that the city actually holds developers accountable in finding temporary, approximately three-year housing for people (being displaced by redevelopment),” she said.
The city touts itself as having some of the toughest renter protections with its Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.