Is the City of Vancouver taking it too far? The debates go both way for the proposal to expediate the redevelopment process for non-profit development. Vancouver is working really hard to secure more social housing to help with homelessness and those who are suffering due to the pandemic such as purchasing hotel and using city owned land to develop more affordable/social housing. It bought to attention of the public when we discovered that the considering is going as far as removing public rezoning process for mid-rise non-profit development.

The intent is to make it faster, easier and less expensive to build social housing in “certain” mid-rise zones. The proposal would allow non-profit organization to build social housing up to six-storey (mid-rise) in the “specific” area (Mount Pleasant, Grandview-Woodland, Kitsilano, and Marpole) to skip the public rezoning process altogether. Further inquiries regarding whether to allow non-profit rental or co-op developments to go two additional storeys higher without rezoning.

Non-profits are least desired redevelopment and suffers from financial restriction. It usually requires additional incentive and financial assistance to make it happen. Non-profit sectors show support and urge the city to go even further.

However, we cannot ignore the importance of public consultation. Removing public rezoning process means the neighbourhood can no longer express its voice. The development could potentially change the composition of the neighbourhood and its value.

What are your thoughts, do you agree or disagree with eliminating the rezoning process for these “specific areas”?