Public Hearing
March 10–11, 2026
Sessions
Session 1 Tue, March 10, 2026 · 06:00 pm–10:03 pm Watch
- Vancouver Official Development Plan (ODP): Council heard staff presentations and extensive public comment on the city's first statutory citywide land use plan, required by provincial legislation (Bill 18) by June 30, 2026.
- The ODP consolidates existing city policies into a single generalized land use map covering all ~100,000 parcels; it does not itself rezone any property.
- Staff confirmed: no additional development entitlements are created by adoption; neighbourhood-level area planning processes continue; all ODP amendments require public consultation and a public hearing.
- Key public concerns raised: adequacy of consultation, loss of public hearing rights for ODP-compliant residential applications, school land protections, infrastructure funding gaps, renter displacement, heritage conservation gaps, and population projection methodology.
- Speakers in support cited housing crisis urgency, provincial legal requirement, and the plan's role in providing clarity and streamlining approvals.
- Meeting ran past 10 pm before the speakers list was exhausted; a motion to extend the full meeting was defeated, and the hearing was referred to the following evening (March 11) to complete speakers, questions, debate, and decision.
- ODP Amendment – 320–360 West 2nd Ave: A motion to amend the Regional Context Statement ODP bylaw to change the land use designation for this site (from industrial to general urban) was brought forward as a prerequisite to enacting the previously approved CD-1 bylaw for a mixed-use secured rental and creative industrial project.
- Vancouver Official Development Plan Adoption: The ODP bylaw was adopted, repealing the prior Regional Context Statement ODP and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction ODP.
Session 2 Wed, March 11, 2026 · 06:00 pm–09:46 pm Watch
- The reconvened public hearing continued from March 10, with Acting Mayor Mike Klassen presiding and several councillors absent on leave.
- Approximately 45 additional public speakers (numbered 39–81) presented, the majority opposing the ODP; key concerns included inadequate public consultation, questionable population projections, loss of neighbourhood-level public hearings, insufficient infrastructure and park planning, demolition of existing affordable housing, and excessive high-rise emphasis.
- Supporters argued the ODP is provincially mandated under Bill 18 (deadline June 30, 2026), builds on years of Vancouver Plan engagement, does not change any zoning, and provides a needed consolidated framework for distributed housing growth.
- Staff provided closing remarks clarifying: the ODP formalizes existing policy into one document; it does not enable development beyond what council has already approved; future area plans and rezonings will continue to involve community engagement; and school site protections are strengthened, not weakened, by the ODP.
- An amendment to the regional context statement was moved to reflect a recently approved rezoning at 320–360 West 2nd Ave, changing the land use designation from industrial to general urban.
- All councillors present spoke in support of adoption, citing the legal obligation, the plan's role as a living document subject to five-year review, and its function as a high-level framework rather than a zoning instrument.
- Councillor Rebecca Bligh was ruled ineligible to vote, having missed the previous evening's proceedings and being unable to review the full speakers record before the vote.
- The ODP was adopted with all eligible councillors voting in favour.
From official documents
- Vancouver Official Development Plan (ODP) adopted: Council approved the city's first ODP, a statutory land use plan required under recent provincial amendments to the Vancouver Charter. The plan sets out long-term policy for housing, transportation, ecology, climate, childcare, and other policy areas. It introduces Generalized Land Use designations city-wide and will guide all future rezoning decisions. Rezoning applications consistent with the ODP may have public hearings waived or prohibited under provincial legislation.
- 320-360 West 2nd Ave amendment: An amendment was added to the ODP designating 320-360 West 2nd Avenue as Mixed Use High Rise 2 and updating its Regional Context Statement classification from Industrial to General Urban.
- Older ODPs repealed: The Regional Context Statement ODP and the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction ODP were both repealed as part of adopting the new ODP, which incorporates updated versions of both.
- Public hearing extended to March 11: The hearing began March 10 but could not be completed that evening. A motion to extend past 10 pm fully was defeated; a narrower motion to extend only to set a reconvening date carried, and the remainder of the item was referred to March 11.
- Public response: 51 submissions in support, 294 in opposition, and 11 with other comments were received. Opposition themes included concerns about reduced public hearings, infrastructure gaps, displacement of renters, population projection methodology, and neighbourhood character. Supporters cited housing affordability, transit-oriented growth, and streamlined approvals.
Motions
ODP Amendment – 320-360 West 2nd Ave
320-360 West 2nd Ave Carried Details
- Amendment to the regional context statement to change the land use designation of 320–360 West 2nd Ave from industrial to general urban.
- Arose from a rezoning approved at the January 27 public hearing, which was conditional on an RCS designation change being addressed at a subsequent ODP public hearing.
- Councillor Meiszner moved the amendment; staff confirmed this was the appropriate occasion to address it, avoiding the need for a separate future public hearing.
- Councillor Bligh was ruled ineligible to vote on this item.
Vancouver Official Development Plan Adoption
Carried Details
- Adopted the Vancouver Official Development Plan as a statutory document, fulfilling the provincial requirement under Bill 18 of the Vancouver Charter by the June 30, 2026 deadline.
- The ODP consolidates the Vancouver Plan with 20 area plans, 16 policy statements, and 12 existing ODPs into a single parcel-based generalized land use map.
- Does not change any existing zoning or development entitlements; sets high-level land use designations by height and use, to be refined through future area plans and rezonings.
- Includes policies on housing affordability, social and rental housing, ecological corridors, tree canopy targets, age-friendly design, and parks; will be reviewed and updated every five years.
- Public hearings will still be required for rezonings needing an ODP amendment; ODP-consistent rezonings will proceed with public notification, written comment opportunities, and council decision, but without a formal speakers hearing.
- Councillor Bligh was ruled ineligible to vote; all other councillors present voted in favour.
Agenda documents (9)
ROLL CALL
1. City of Vancouver Official Development Plan
- Summary and Recommendation
- Referral Report dated January 20, 2026
- Draft By-law to repeal the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Official Development Plan By-law No. 10041
- Draft By-law to repeal the Regional Context Statement Official Development Plan By-law No. 10789
- Draft By-law to adopt the Vancouver Official Development Plan
- Yellow Memorandum dated March 6, 2026
- Yellow Memorandum dated March 10, 2026
- Staff Presentation
- Download the agenda
Vote matrix
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Sim🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Mike Klassen🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rebecca Bligh🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||
| Lisa Dominato🥜 | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pete Fry🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Sarah Kirby-Yung🥜 | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lucy Maloney🥜 | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Peter Meiszner🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Brian Montague🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Sean Orr🥜 | Y | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Lenny Zhou🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |