Public Hearing — March 5, 2026

March 5, 2026 · 06:00 pm–10:47 pm

Chaired by Ken Sim

Summary

Vancouver City Council public hearing, March 5, 2026, chaired by Mayor Ken Sim.

Heatherlands (Item 1): A large mixed-use rezoning proposal by the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh nations and Aquilini Development for ~4,200 homes on a 21-acre site near Cambie and 37th Ave, including ~2,940 discounted "attainable" homeownership units (40% below market, funded by the province), 610 social housing units, a cultural centre, childcare, park space, and a school site. Debate and decision referred to March 31 council meeting so councillors could get more information.
3295–3333 Commercial Drive (Item 2): A six-storey, 133-unit market rental building near Trout Lake. No below-market units due to no financial uplift on the site. Approved unanimously.
3553–3563 East Hastings Street (Item 3): An 18-storey, 178-unit rental building next to the Kootenay Loop bus exchange, with 20% below-market rental units. Approved unanimously.
2219–2285 Cambie Street (Item 4): A 32-storey, 230-unit mixed-use rental tower with office and retail in the Broadway Plan area near Olympic Village. Includes 20% below-market rental units (rents set at CMHC citywide average under the Rental Development Relief Program). Approved unanimously.

Present: Ken Sim, Sarah Kirby-Yung, Brian Montague, Mike Klassen, Peter Meiszner, Lenny Zhou, Sean Orr, Lucy Maloney

Absent: Lisa Dominato, Rebecca Bligh, Pete Fry

Partial attendance:

Carried

Councillor Kirby-Yung moved to defer debate and the vote on the Heatherlands rezoning to the March 31 council meeting, citing councillors' need for more information.
Supporters noted the complexity of the first-ever Attainable Housing Initiative (AHI) project, unanswered questions about provincial funding certainty, the lack of a mechanism to revert to the 2022 zoning if AHI falls through, and the scale of the application (~4,200 homes).
Some councillors expressed strong enthusiasm for AHI as a tool for middle-income homeownership but said they could not vote without fuller answers.
Opposition to the referral came from Councillors Orr and Maloney, who were prepared to vote that night.
Carried, with Councillors Orr and Maloney opposed.

Carried

Motion to approve the CD-1 rezoning at 3295–3333 Commercial Drive for a six-storey, 133-unit market rental building.
Supporters highlighted the site's walkability, proximity to Trout Lake and transit, creative amenity design (bike shed, hillside slide, sauna), and the increase from ~21 existing units to 133 secured rentals.
Concerns raised by public speakers included: no below-market rental units despite the six-storey height trigger in the Secured Rental Policy; displacement of existing tenants paying ~$1,300/month; tree retention and retaining wall risks for the adjacent southern neighbour; and shadow/grading issues.
Staff explained no below-market units were required because a financial review found no land lift on this east-side site, consistent with emerging city policy for east-side six-storey rentals.
Carried unanimously.

Carried

Moved by Lenny Zhou Vote 8 – 0 ▶ Watch Details →

Motion to approve the CD-1 rezoning at 3553–3563 East Hastings Street for an 18-storey, 178-unit rental building (20% below-market) on a vacant site beside the Kootenay Loop bus exchange.
Supporters noted the site is vacant (no tenant displacement), is well-served by transit, and will add commercial space and vibrancy to a historically underinvested stretch of Hastings.
Concerns raised included: building height and density; shadowing on a nearby elementary school (staff said solar access guidelines are met); traffic and laneway impacts; and a speaker's account of alleged management problems and tenant intimidation at a nearby PCI-built rental building after it was sold (staff clarified the housing agreement securing affordability runs with title for 60 years regardless of ownership changes).
Carried unanimously (all members present in support).

Carried

Moved by Brian Montague Vote 8 – 0 ▶ Watch Details →

Motion to extend the meeting past 10 p.m. to complete Item 4 (Cambie Street rezoning).
No substantive debate recorded; procedural vote to allow the final agenda item to proceed.
Carried.

Carried

Moved by Ken Sim Vote 8 – 0 ▶ Watch Details →

Motion to approve the CD-1 rezoning at 2219–2285 Cambie Street for a 32-storey, 230-unit mixed-use rental tower, including a yellow memo dated March 3, 2026 that amended the housing condition under the Rental Development Relief Program (below-market units set at CMHC citywide average rents rather than a deeper discount, provided a Stage 1 building permit is obtained within 24 months).
Supporters cited the site's proximity to two rapid transit lines (Canada Line Olympic Village station and the future Broadway–City Hall station), $4.2M in public contributions, 47 below-market units, and the Broadway Plan's intent for high-density mixed use in this corridor.
Concerns raised by speakers included: removal of view cone protections that were promised in the original Broadway Plan; the building's scale and character impact on the Cambie Village retail area; shadows and privacy impacts on the adjacent building to the north; laneway and traffic congestion; inadequate parking; school capacity; and late posting of the yellow memo (staff confirmed it was posted publicly on March 3).
Mayor Sim highlighted the area's successful urbanism, proximity to rapid transit, and anticipated growth following the 2027 Broadway line opening as reasons for support.
Carried unanimously (all members present in support).

1. CD-1 Rezoning: 4911-5255 Heather Street, 637-657 West 37th Avenue, and 620-689 West 35th Avenue (Heather Lands)

2. CD-1 Rezoning: 3295-3333 Commercial Drive

3. CD-1 Rezoning: 3553-3563 East Hastings Street

4. CD-1 Rezoning: 2219-2285 Cambie Street