Public Hearing
January 13, 2026 · 06:00 pm
Summary
- Six city by-laws updated with minor corrections: errors fixed in the Zoning and Development By-law, Central Waterfront Official Development Plan, Sign By-law, Subdivision By-law, Parking By-law, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup By-law (to allow zoning flexibility during the tournament).
- Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan implementation approved: roughly 2,580 parcels across about 200 blocks rezoned from R1-1 to R3-1, allowing low-rise apartments up to six storeys (or eight with below-market or social housing); new Groundwater Protection Area established near Still Creek; height flexibility added for industrial sites in the floodplain; landscape setback rules updated on employment lands.
- 4615 Arbutus Street rezoned from CD-1 (26) to RR-3B to allow a six-storey mixed-use rental building with approximately 110 units, 20% secured as below-market rental.
- 6428-6438 Cambie Street and 480-488 West 48th Avenue CD-1 amendment approved for a 25-storey mixed-use rental tower with 182 units, 20% below-market rental, near the Langara-49th Avenue Canada Line station; building height increases from 33 m to 77 m and floor space ratio rises from 3.91 to 10.30.
Motions
Miscellaneous Amendments Various By-laws
Carried Details
- Bundled housekeeping amendments to six by-laws to fix inadvertent errors, outdated references, and terminology.
- Zoning and Development By-law: corrects errors and omissions, updates terminology to current writing standards, and aligns one definition with a recent Vancouver Charter amendment.
- Central Waterfront Official Development Plan: removes an outdated definition of "Existing Sunny Areas" and updates the relevant section to reference current Council-approved solar access guidelines instead.
- Sign By-law: corrects a missing district schedule reference (adds FC-2 to a table).
- Subdivision By-law: removes a reference to a previously repealed district schedule (RT-6).
- Parking By-law: corrects an outdated internal section cross-reference.
- FIFA World Cup By-law: adds a provision allowing the Director of Planning to relax zoning rules on approved sites during the 2026 FIFA World Cup event period, supporting Vancouver's role as a host city.
- No public speakers appeared; no correspondence received in opposition or support for this item specifically.
Rupert Renfrew Station Area Plan Implementation
Carried Details
- Implements the Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan (approved by Council July 2025) through changes to the Zoning and Development By-law, Building By-law, and Subdivision By-law.
- City-initiated rezoning of approximately 2,580 parcels across about 200 blocks from R1-1 to R3-1, enabling low-rise apartments and mixed-use residential buildings up to six storeys (or eight storeys where 20% below-market or social housing is provided in a transit-oriented area); most affected sites are off arterial streets.
- Groundwater Protection Area established near Still Creek: underground structures (parkades, basements) prohibited within 30 metres of the creek; beyond 30 metres, underground parking permitted only if occupiable areas are no deeper than 6.5 metres below grade and the structure is fully waterproofed, to protect fish habitat and reduce groundwater diversion into storm sewers.
- Height flexibility added for I-2 (industrial) zoned sites in the Still Creek floodplain: Director of Planning may allow up to 3.5 metres of additional building height to accommodate flood construction level requirements.
- Landscape setback rules updated on employment lands: setbacks reduced on most arterials, removed on local streets, City infrastructure explicitly permitted within setbacks, and measurement method clarified.
- Three members of the public spoke in support; two written submissions in opposition raised concerns about the scale of blanket rezoning, impacts on schools and community amenities, parking, traffic, and adequacy of public consultation; one written submission in support welcomed increased housing density and commercial opportunities.
Rezoning 4615 Arbutus Street
4615 Arbutus Street Carried Details
- Rezones 4615 Arbutus Street (currently a gas station site at the corner of Arbutus Street and Valley Drive) from CD-1 (26) to RR-3B (Residential Rental) District under the City's Secured Rental Policy.
- Proposed development: a six-storey mixed-use rental building with approximately 110 units, 20% of residential floor area secured as below-market rental, ground-floor commercial space, a floor space ratio of 3.50, and a height of 22.0 m.
- Site is adjacent to a parcel already rezoned to RR-3B in 2024; this application covers only the northeast portion of the existing CD-1 (26) zone.
- Staff concluded the application meets the intent of the Secured Rental Policy; a housing agreement will be registered on title to secure the below-market units.
- Two written submissions in opposition cited building height and impact on sightlines from Quilchena Park; one submission in support praised the design and rental housing contribution.
- No public speakers appeared at the hearing.
CD-1 Amendment 6428-6438 Cambie Street
6428-6438 Cambie Street and 480-488 West 48th Avenue Carried Details
- Amends the CD-1 (730) zoning for 6428-6438 Cambie Street and 480-488 West 48th Avenue, near the Langara-49th Avenue Canada Line station, to allow a significantly larger building than previously approved.
- Proposed development: a 25-storey mixed-use building with 182 rental units (20% below-market rental secured by housing agreement), ground-floor commercial space of at least 200 sq. m, a floor space ratio rising from 3.91 to 10.30, and height increasing from 33.0 m to 77.0 m.
- Application assessed under the Transit-Oriented Areas (TOA) Designation By-law and TOA Rezoning Policy; staff noted the proposal generally meets the intent of both; a January 6, 2026 staff memo updated parking and public art conditions in Appendix B.
- Site is currently vacant; was rezoned in 2019 for a smaller 10-storey building that was never built.
- Two written submissions in support cited housing need and transit proximity; two in opposition argued the proposal exceeds TOA height and density limits and could constrain future development on adjacent properties.
- No public speakers appeared at the hearing.
Agenda documents (23)
ROLL CALL
1. Miscellaneous Amendments – Zoning and Development By-law and Various Other By-laws and Land Use Documents
2. Rupert and Renfrew Station Area Plan Implementation - City-Initiated Amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law and Building By-law
3. Rezoning: 4615 Arbutus Street
4. CD-1 (730) Amendment: 6428-6438 Cambie Street and 480-488 West 48th Avenue (Formerly 478-496 West 48th Avenue)
Vote matrix
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Sim🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rebecca Bligh🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lisa Dominato🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pete Fry🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sarah Kirby-Yung🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Mike Klassen🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Peter Meiszner🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lucy Maloney🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Brian Montague🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sean Orr🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lenny Zhou🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adriane Carr🥜 | |||||
| Christine Boyle🥜 |