Public Hearing — January 27, 2026
January 27, 2026 · 03:00 pm–05:38 pm
Summary
Vancouver City Council held a reconvened public hearing on January 27, 2026, chaired by Acting Mayor Lenny Zhou, to complete agenda items from the January 22 session that had lost quorum.
- Mayor Ken Sim, Councillor Lisa Dominato, and Councillor Mike Klassen declared conflicts of interest for both items and did not participate; Councillor Peter Meiszner was absent throughout.
- Item 3 – CD-1 Rezoning, 2260–2266 West 2nd Avenue: Proposal to replace two older rental buildings with a 22-storey, 176-unit rental tower (20% below-market units) in Kitsilano; approved by Council.
- Item 4 – CD-1 Rezoning, 2233 West 3rd Avenue: Proposal to replace an older rental building with a 17-storey, 131-unit rental tower (20% below-market units) on the same block; approved by Council.
- Both applications are by the same architect (DA Architects and Planners) and are the maximum two towers permitted on their shared block under the Broadway Plan.
- Meeting adjourned after both items were completed.
Attendance
Present: Lenny Zhou, Rebecca Bligh, Pete Fry, Brian Montague, Lucy Maloney, Sarah Kirby-Yung, Sean Orr
Absent: Ken Sim, Lisa Dominato, Mike Klassen, Peter Meiszner
Partial attendance:
- Mike Klassen : absent 5:00 PM onward
Motions
CD-1 Rezoning 2260-2266 West 2nd Avenue – Approve recommendations and yellow memorandum dated January 15, 2026
Carried- Proposed rezoning a site at 2260–2266 West 2nd Avenue (currently two four-storey rental buildings with 40 units) to allow a 22-storey, 176-unit secured rental building with 20% of floor area at below-market rents, a height of 70.8 m, and an FSR of 6.5.
- Staff supported the application as consistent with the Broadway Plan (Kitsilano North sub-area); estimated public benefits included ~$2.4 million in DCL and public art contributions, plus 36 below-market units; all 38 existing tenants are protected under the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy or the Residential Tenancy Act.
- Speakers in favour highlighted the city's severe housing affordability crisis, the site's proximity to transit, the need to increase rental supply in desirable neighbourhoods, and the project's compliance with existing policy.
- Speakers in opposition raised concerns about loss of natural light and increased shadows to neighbouring low-rise apartments, impacts on neighbourhood character, and potential health effects of reduced sunlight.
- Council discussion clarified that this block is limited to two towers under the Broadway Plan, neighbouring sites will be restricted to six-storey mid-rises, the tower floor plate is smaller than the typical maximum, and the 80-foot tower separation requirement is met.
- Motion carried (Dominato, Klassen, and Sim declared conflict; Meiszner absent).
CD-1 Rezoning 2233 West 3rd Avenue – Approve recommendations and yellow memorandum dated January 15, 2026
Carried- Proposed rezoning a site at 2233 West 3rd Avenue (currently a three-storey, 31-unit rental building) to allow a 17-storey, 131-unit secured rental building with 20% of floor area at below-market rents, a height of 52.5 m, and an FSR of 6.5.
- Staff supported the application as consistent with the Broadway Plan; estimated public benefits included ~$1.5 million in DCL contributions plus 26 below-market rental units; eligible existing tenants are protected under the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy.
- Speakers in favour cited Vancouver's global ranking as one of the least affordable cities, the need for rental supply in walkable transit-rich neighbourhoods, and the importance of retaining younger residents and community vitality.
- Speakers in opposition expressed concerns about high-rise towers not meeting family housing needs, loss of affordable low-rise units, insufficient infrastructure planning, shadow and wind impacts, and the Broadway Plan extending beyond the immediate corridor.
- Council discussion focused on tower separation between this project and the previously approved West 2nd tower (same block, same applicant team); staff confirmed the 80-foot minimum tower separation is met due to the staggered, kitty-corner positioning, and that this is the second and final tower permitted on the block.
- Motion carried (Dominato, Klassen, and Sim declared conflict; Meiszner absent).
Motion to Adjourn
Carried- Procedural motion to adjourn the meeting, moved by Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung and seconded by Councillor Sean Orr.
- No discussion; carried unanimously by those present.