West End waterfront plan approved by Vancouver Park Board
The Vancouver Park Board approved a 30-year plan to transform the city's West End waterfront Monday night, but not without some opposition.
The "Imagine West End Waterfront" plan, which will now be sent to council after passing 4-2 at the Park Board, is for a 95-acre stretch from English Bay to the Burrard Street Bridge. The concept includes transforming the waterfront to help combat rising sea levels as part of a proposed revitalization project.
Part of rethinking those spaces includes increasing biodiversity along the waterfront, as well as creating a pair of human-made islands offshore from the base of Chilco Street, which are said to address wave-induced flooding.
The plan will also return two lanes of car traffic on Beach Avenue, where cyclists currently have a separated bike lane.
Several people showed up at Monday's meeting to address the plan, including a former park board commissioner who said the lack of outreach to inform the public of the upcoming changes concerned her.
"I wanted to speak for all the people of Vancouver who had no idea this was coming forward," Trisha Barker said during Monday night's meeting. "For the last week I have talked to tons of people. Three people knew this vote was happening tonight. They had no idea that such a huge plan was coming for a vote and that they wouldn't have the opportunity to come like a few of us."
Barker called for the park board to defer at least part the plan until more public consultation could happen.
Teri Smith, the executive director of the West End Business Improvement Association called the project an exciting opportunity, but agreed there needs to be greater community consultation.
"The devil is always in the details," Smith told CTV News Vancouver before the vote. "There's a lot of concerns around this being a 30-year plan and the funding that isn't quite in place yet."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Isabella Zavarise
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.