by Sal Robinson
This week, public hearings on several contentious rezonings within the Broadway Plan area have drawn eloquent submissions from unlucky neighbours detailing their concerns about the towers proposed for their communities. But in an increasingly common phenomenon these days, many living outside the area flooded council with submissions supporting the projects, often with identical comments for each.
For example, over this past weekend and up to 5pm on Tuesday, 248 persons, of whom 8% live in the area, submitted mostly single-sentence statements of support for a tower in the 2100 block of West 14th Avenue. The phrase “we need more housing” appeared 78 times in the 27 pages of comments. During the same period, 77 residents filled 49 pages with thoughtful explanations for their opposition. It is to be hoped that councillors deem quality more important than quantity.
One Kitsilano resident, former mayor and premier Mike Harcourt, wrote of this tower proposal, "It’s totally inappropriate and out of scale to this fine old neighbourhood. A similar proposal was put forward a few years ago. Council turned it down. Instead the neighbours were consulted and involved. The outcome is the site at 12th and Arbutus, the old O'Keefe Brewery site." (In 1972, Mr. Harcourt was elected to Vancouver city council as a candidate with the original TEAM, The Elector's Action Movement. Citizen consultation was foundational for TEAM, which formed because of a battle against neighbourhood obliteration by freeway.)
In my own comments, I didn’t list the negative impacts already so well covered by others. Instead, I attempted to appeal to the humanity of our city councillors by reiterating what Vancouverites have expressed all summer at events where TEAM has been there to listen. I wrote to the mayor and council:
For the same valid reasons its neighbours have articulated in their submissions, I oppose the rezoning for this tower. And I have a further reason.
Project after project goes to public hearing and is approved despite overwhelming local opposition from residents fearful for the character of the neighbourhood they cherish. Ever unheard by our elected representatives, we have learned to expect nothing from this process, yet we persist because we can’t just do nothing and there’s nothing else to be done.
The magic words “Broadway Plan” do not justify the resulting neighbourhood-bashing and cost to the quality of life for the people who live on the wrong side of an arbitrary boundary. They, and not any hypothetical future resident, must endure the mindless application of a flaw-filled scheme free of nuance and empathy.
These are your constituents, living here now, feeling threatened by a bad policy. Why is their distress not more important?
I urge you to reject this proposal and not impose a tower where, in any reasoned plan, it manifestly does not belong.
Tuesday evening’s public hearing was adjourned at the end of speakers for Item 4, a tower proposed for 523-549 East 10th Avenue. The hearing is scheduled to resume tonight at 6 pm for debate and decision by council. Further down the agenda are rezonings for 701 Kingsway, 2156-2174 West 14th Avenue, and 2175 West 7th Avenue.
It's not too late to share your views with the people who will decide the fate of the residents they were elected to represent. Perhaps the rubber stamps will get a rest, for once.
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Update and status after November 14 public hearing:
523-544 East 10 Avenue
Questions to staff, debate and decision referred to November 26 Council Meeting as unfinished business:
107 Kingsway
2156-2174 West 14th Avenue
2175 West 7th Avenue
Update November 26:
107 Kingsway
2156-2174 West 14th Avenue
2175 West 7th Avenue