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
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.