Public Hearing — July 9, 2024

July 9, 2024 · 07:00 pm–10:38 pm

Summary

A Vancouver City Council public hearing was held on July 9, 2024, chaired by Acting Mayor Rebecca Bligh.

4906–4958 Main Street (CD-1 Rezoning): Proposal to rezone from RT-2 to CD-1 to allow a six-storey mixed-use building with ground-floor commercial space and 72 rental units. Staff presentation was waived. One public speaker opposed the demolition of existing homes and the loss of green space. Council approved the rezoning unanimously.
5455 Balsam Street (CD-1 Rezoning): Proposal to rezone from RM-3 to CD-1 to add a 14-storey residential rental building (145 units) alongside the existing retained 88-unit rental building. Staff presented; applicant team spoke. Thirteen public speakers, mostly current tenants and neighbours, raised concerns about landlord neglect, loss of parking, pool closure, loss of garden space, and displacement of seniors. One speaker supported the proposal. Councillors asked detailed questions about parking, building maintenance, tree retention, the pool, the CAC, and legal options. On advice from planning and legal staff, the public hearing was adjourned to July 23, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. to allow staff to prepare proper legal language around proposed conditions before debate and decision.

Present: Rebecca Bligh, Sarah Kirby-Yung, Lisa Dominato, Pete Fry, Brian Montague, Peter Meiszner, Lenny Zhou

Absent: Ken Sim, Lucy Maloney

Partial attendance:

Ken Sim : absent all day (personal reasons)
Lucy Maloney : absent all day (personal reasons)
Mike Klassen : absent 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (civic business 6–8 p.m., personal business 8–10 p.m.)

Carried

Moved by Brian Montague Vote 0 – 0 ▶ Watch Details →

Councillor Brian Montague moved to waive the staff presentation for the 4906–4958 Main Street rezoning, noting that only two public speakers were registered.
No arguments were made against waiving the presentation.
Motion carried.

Carried

Council moved to approve the CD-1 rezoning of 4906–4958 Main Street, permitting a six-storey mixed-use building with 72 secured rental units and ground-floor commercial space.
The one public speaker opposed the application, citing demolition of serviceable homes, loss of garden setbacks, and strain on parks and healthcare infrastructure.
Staff confirmed one tree would be planted on-site, boulevard trees on Main Street would be retained, and no on-site trees of a size requiring retention or replacement existed.
Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung asked about the future of the public hearing process for similar projects under the interim affordable housing choices policy; staff confirmed future projects fitting within the new CD-1 bylaw would not require a public hearing.
Motion carried unanimously.

Carried

Moved by Pete Fry Vote 0 – 0 ▶ Watch Details →

Councillor Pete Fry moved for a second round of questions to staff and the applicant team for the 5455 Balsam Street rezoning, given the volume and complexity of issues raised.
No arguments were made against a second round.
Motion carried.

Carried

Following advice from planning and legal staff, council moved to adjourn the public hearing on the 5455 Balsam Street rezoning to July 23, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. in Council Chambers, with participation by electronic means authorised.
The adjournment was proposed by planning staff to allow time to develop legally sound condition language addressing four key issues raised during the hearing: tree retention, standards of maintenance compliance, community amenities, and parking for existing tenants during construction.
Legal counsel clarified that adjourning (rather than referring) would not automatically trigger a new public hearing, provided staff do not communicate with the applicant about conditions in the interim.
Councillors confirmed that no discussion of the application with the public, staff, or each other would be permitted before the reconvened hearing.
Moved by Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung, seconded by Councillor Lenny Zhou; motion carried.