Public Hearing
April 25, 2023 · 07:00 pm
Summary
- 657-685 East 18th Avenue (Mount Pleasant): Rezoning approved to allow a four-storey market rental building on a currently vacant lot; neighbours were divided, with some citing parking and neighbourhood fit concerns and others welcoming density on an underused site.
- 5995-6015 Dunbar Street: Rezoning approved to allow a five-storey market rental building, replacing three older single-detached homes; strong community support, with one neighbour raising concerns about privacy, sunlight, and traffic.
- 3205 Arbutus Street (Arbutus Ridge/Kitsilano border): CD-1 rezoning approved to allow a four-storey mixed-use building with 54 secured market rental units and ground-floor commercial space, replacing an existing gas station; supporters cited transit access and rental supply; one correspondent raised concerns about traffic, environmental remediation of fuel tanks, and cumulative development pressure on Arbutus Street.
Motions
Approve Rezoning: 657-685 East 18th Avenue
657-685 East 18th Avenue Carried Details
- Council approved in principle the rezoning of 657-685 East 18th Avenue from RS-1 (Residential) to RR-2A (Residential Rental) District, subject to a Public Hearing and conditions of approval.
- The rezoning would allow a four-storey purpose-built market rental apartment building on the currently vacant three-lot site near East 18th Avenue.
- A Housing Agreement By-law is required to be enacted prior to the zoning amendment, securing the rental tenure of the future building long-term.
- The proposal aligns with the Vancouver Plan (2022) and the Secured Rental Policy, which aim to increase the supply of purpose-built rental housing in the city.
- The detailed building design will be reviewed through a future development permit process, with additional opportunity for public review at that stage.
- Standard conditions apply clarifying that approval does not create legal obligations on the City, and all costs incurred by the applicant are at their own risk.
Approve Rezoning: 5995-6015 Dunbar Street
5995-6015 Dunbar Street Carried Details
- A rezoning application by Strand Holdings Ltd. proposes to change the zoning of three consolidated parcels at 5995–6015 Dunbar Street from RS-5 (Residential) to RR-2B (Residential Rental) District, enabling construction of a five-storey market rental apartment building.
- The site totals approximately 2,048 sq. m with 51.8 m of frontage on Dunbar Street; it currently contains three single-detached homes built in 1946, none of which are on the Vancouver Heritage Registry.
- The proposal aligns with the City's Secured Rental Policy (SRP), which supports up to five-storey residential apartments on arterial roads in low-density zones that are close to public transit and local shopping.
- One existing rental tenancy is present on the site, meaning the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy applies and protections must be provided to the current tenant.
- A Housing Agreement By-law is required to secure the rental tenure of the building long-term, and the detailed building design will be reviewed through a future development permit process.
- Staff assessed the application as meeting the intent of the SRP and recommended approval in principle, subject to conditions outlined in the referral report.
Approve CD-1 Rezoning: 3205 Arbutus Street
3205 Arbutus Street Carried Details
- A rezoning application by Yamamoto Architecture proposes to rezone 3205 Arbutus Street (at the southwest corner of 16th Avenue and Arbutus Street) from C-1 (Commercial) to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District, replacing an active gas station with a four-storey mixed-use building containing 54 secured market rental units and ground-floor commercial space.
- The rezoning would increase the floor space ratio (FSR) from 1.20 to 2.56 and raise the maximum building height from 10.7 m (35 ft.) to 19.2 m (63 ft.), consistent with the Secured Rental Policy framework.
- The 1,558.5 sq. m site is situated in the Arbutus-Ridge neighbourhood, adjacent to a four-storey mixed-use building to the north (The Ridge/Loblaws City Market), with RS-1 single-detached houses to the east, south, and west.
- Nearby amenities include the Arbutus Greenway (50 m away), several parks within 1.3 km, Kitsilano Community Centre, and multiple childcare facilities; local schools (Trafalgar Elementary and Prince of Wales Secondary) are projected to be operating under capacity by 2031.
- The proposal requires amendments to both the Sign By-law and the Noise Control By-law to establish appropriate regulations for the new CD-1 district.
- Staff recommended approval in principle, finding the application consistent with the Secured Rental Policy and the broader Vancouver Plan goals for expanding rental housing supply.
Agenda documents (12)
ROLL CALL
1. Rezoning: 657-685 East 18th Avenue
2. Rezoning: 5995-6015 Dunbar Street
Vote matrix
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebecca Bligh🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Christine Boyle🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adriane Carr🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lisa Dominato🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pete Fry🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sarah Kirby-Yung🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Mike Klassen🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Peter Meiszner🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lenny Zhou🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Ken Sim🥜 | ||||||
| Brian Montague🥜 |