CD-1 Rezoning 531-595 West 27th Reconsidered
Motion 27 · Council Meeting, May 5, 2026
Summary
- Zail Properties proposes to rezone seven parcels at 531–595 West 27th Avenue (between Ash and Cambie Streets) from RM-8A to CD-1 to allow two six-storey rental apartment buildings.
- The development would deliver 222 market rental units at a density of 3.0 FSR and a height of 26 m (85 ft.), with underground parking accessed from the rear lane.
- The site is within 400 m of King Edward SkyTrain Station and falls within Tier 2 of the Transit-Oriented Areas (TOA) policy, which permits up to 12 storeys and 4.0 FSR — the proposal is well within those limits.
- The application is consistent with the Vancouver Official Development Plan but departs from the TOA Policy's affordability requirement, which calls for 20% of floor area to be secured as below-market rental; this project does not include below-market units.
- Staff reviewed urban design conditions including a partial sixth-floor step-back on the west building to ease the transition to nearby homes; 23 on-site trees would be removed and approximately 52 new trees planted.
- The General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability recommends approval in principle, subject to conditions including a Housing Agreement to secure the rental tenure.
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Do we need a seconder? Great. Sorry, Councillor Zhou. Thank you. Any discussion?
Okay, so we have to get someone else to move reconsideration. Councillor Zhou, thank you. Seconded by Councillor Maloney. Is there any discussion? Great. All in favor of reconsideration, say aye. All opposed, say nay. Great. We will reconsider. So we bring this back to the vote now. Is that correct? Thank you. And Councillor Claston, do you want to vote assist in favor again?
Yes, please, Mayor. Thanks. Great. Thank you.
voting on Councillor Orr, Meisner, and Bly.
Statement Watch
Sandra Singh, Deputy City Manager. I'm afraid I'm not in a position to speculate on what could happen in terms of this, but certainly council has access to data on this.
Similar question to this chair. Are there any reported cases of fatal overdoses at these overdose prevention sites?
I would have to follow up with these.
The answer is no, no, not a single one. Is the reduction of prevention of overdose deaths in alignment with Ministerial Order 488?
I would need to review that Ministerial Order. I don't have it in front of me.
It's not. Would the anticipated increase in overdose deaths be in opposition to or in contravention of Ministerial Order 488? Counselor, if you could...
me a moment to review order 488 I could certainly do so.
Do we need a recess then?
I would like to know from the deputy city manager if they need a recess in order to review that section.
If council would like me to provide an opinion on alignment with that ministerial order I would need some time to review it. It's been some time since I've looked at it.
Okay, and Councillor Orr, you're wishing to, yeah. And what length of recess would be roughly required, Deputy City Manager?
Five minutes.
Five minutes, okay. Okay, we'll take a five-minute recess, and we'll return at 4.25. Thanks.
Okay.
Thank you. Thank you, everyone, for your patience. So I understand that the Deputy City Manager has a response to Councillor Orr's question, so I'll turn it over to Sandra Singh.
Thank you for the time to review the ministerial order from December 9, 2016. So this is a very brief ministerial order that is directed toward the regional health authorities and BCEHS. It is not directed toward municipalities, so it's not directed to us.
Thank you, Sandra, for clarifying that question. Councillor Orr.
Thanks. Thanks for that answer. One more question to the deputy city manager through the chair. Does the city's responsibility to maintain the appearance of public order supersede its responsibility to follow all applicable issued health directives by the province and its responsibility to protect the health, well-being, and lives of its residents?