Public Hearing
July 21–28, 2026
Sessions
Session 1 Tue, July 21, 2026 · 06:00 pm–10:46 pm Watch
- Agenda reorder (Item 1 of business): The Kingsway/East 33rd Avenue ODP item was moved to last on the agenda because the city is the applicant; councillor Pete Fry declared a conflict of interest and stepped out for that vote.
- Molson Brewery ODP Amendment (carried): Council approved changing the former Molson Brewery site's land use from industrial/employment to mixed-use high-rise, and directed staff to seek Metro Vancouver approval to change the regional designation from industrial to general urban. Guiding principles and rezoning guidelines for the site were also approved. The actual rezoning and building details remain to be determined in a future application.
- Meeting extension motions (defeated): Multiple procedural motions to extend past 10 p.m. to hear speakers on additional agenda items and defer debate to July 28 were attempted; only the motion to finish Item 1 passed. Motions to also cover Items 2 and 4 (Prior Street and Kingsway) failed to reach the required two-thirds threshold, so those items were not heard and will be scheduled for a future date.
- Prior Street CAC Modification (Items 2 and 6/7 on carried motions list): An amendment by Councillor Fry was incorporated, and the modified community amenity contribution approval was carried.
- 1905 Ogden Avenue CD-1 Rezoning (carried): A rezoning application for 1905 Ogden Avenue was approved.
- Public input on Molson Brewery: 29 speakers were heard. Supporters cited the site's obsolete industrial use, proximity to Sanak, and opportunity for walkable mixed-use development. Opponents and those with conditions raised concerns about lack of binding commitments on affordable housing percentages, job quality, community benefits agreements, school and childcare capacity, and infrastructure readiness before the land use change is granted.
Session 2 Tue, July 28, 2026 · 06:00 pm–08:58 pm Watch
- 450–496 Prior Street (False Creek Flats) – CAC modification: Council approved replacing a council-approved 6,500 sq ft in-kind artist production space with a $5 million cash community amenity contribution (CAC). The applicant, developing 321 market rental units beside the future St. Paul's Hospital, said CMHC mortgage insurance approved for the project excluded the non-revenue-generating cultural space and could not be amended without significant delay. Opponents argued the cash falls short of the $6 million current replacement cost, sets a bad precedent for renegotiating CAC commitments, and will not guarantee equivalent cultural space in the neighbourhood. Council amended the motion to direct staff to prioritize spending the funds on arts and culture projects in the False Creek Flats and Strathcona neighbourhoods.
- 1905 Ogden Avenue – CD-1 rezoning (Haven Sauna barge): Council approved rezoning the Vancouver Maritime Museum site at Haddon Park to add a "beauty and wellness centre" use, enabling a floating hydrotherapy barge operated by Haven Sauna to moor at Heritage Harbour. The museum presented the $250,000 annual moorage revenue as a critical earned-revenue stream amid flat government funding. Supporters cited waterfront activation, tourism benefits, and the museum's long-term sustainability. Opponents raised concerns about the barge's size relative to the shallow harbour, potential dredging impacts on Teetotaler Beach as a public swimming area, lack of a competitive procurement process, and the city's obligations as trustee of the public water lot.
From official documents
- Former Molson Brewery site (1550 Burrard St / 1655 West 1st Ave): Council approved in principle changing the land use designation from industrial to mixed-use high-rise, opening the door to future rezoning for housing, jobs, and public amenities on the 7.7-acre waterfront site. The amendment also goes to Metro Vancouver for approval of a regional designation change.
- Prior Street arts space swap (450-496 Prior St area): A developer's request to replace a promised 6,500 sq. ft. artist production space with a $5 million cash payment was approved, over strong objections from arts groups and Strathcona residents. Council added a direction that the funds be prioritized for arts and culture projects benefiting False Creek Flats and Strathcona.
- 1905 Ogden Avenue (Vancouver Maritime Museum / HAVN Saunas): Council approved rezoning to allow a floating wellness barge (sauna and hydrotherapy spa) to operate at Heritage Harbour alongside the existing Maritime Museum. The decision was contentious, with significant public opposition about commercialization of public waterfront and visual impact.
- Meeting extension motions: Two motions to extend the meeting past 10 pm and refer items to a future date were defeated; the meeting ultimately recessed and reconvened July 28 to complete remaining business.
- Kingsway/East 33rd Avenue rezoning (Item 3): Withdrawn before the hearing.
Motions
Molson Brewery ODP Amendment
1550 Burrard Street and 1655 West 1st Avenue Carried Details
- Approves amending the Vancouver Official Development Plan to change the Molson Brewery site's generalized land use from industrial/employment to mixed-use high-rise 2, and changes the regional context statement designation from industrial to general urban.
- Directs staff to refer the regional context statement amendment to the Metro Vancouver Board for acceptance or refusal; if approved, the amended ODP returns to council for enactment.
- Also approves site-specific guiding principles and rezoning guidelines covering reconciliation commitments, a minimum one-for-one replacement of existing industrial floor area with broader employment uses (light industrial, office, tech, hotel, retail), housing tenure and affordability targets, urban design, sustainable transportation, public amenities, and phased delivery.
- The site's zoning remains M2 (heavy industrial) until a future rezoning application is submitted; no buildings or densities are determined at this stage.
- Key issues raised by speakers included the need for binding affordable housing minimums before land value increases, mandatory community benefits agreements, job quality standards beyond floor-area replacement, school and childcare capacity, and security considerations for the adjacent Seaforth Armory.
Prior Street CAC Modification Amendment (Fry)
450-496 Prior Street, 550 Malkin Avenue, 1002 Station Street and 1050 Gore Avenue Carried Details
- Amendment moved by Councillor Pete Fry to the Prior Street CAC modification approval, directing staff to allocate the $5 million cash CAC to a reserve consistent with city policy and expressing council's intention that funds be prioritized for eligible cultural public benefit investments in the False Creek Flats and Strathcona neighbourhoods.
- Included a clause explicitly stating the resolution is not intended to fetter a future council's budget or expenditure decisions under the Vancouver Charter.
- A further clause directed staff to preserve and bring forward the funds for arts and culture projects principally benefiting those two neighbourhoods unless a future council decides otherwise.
- Passed unanimously by members present.
Prior Street CAC Modification Approval
450-496 Prior Street, 550 Malkin Avenue, 1002 Station Street and 1050 Gore Avenue Carried Details
- Approved replacing the in-kind 6,500 sq ft artist production space CAC at 450–496 Prior Street with a $5 million cash CAC, payable by August 7, 2026, to be held in the Vancouver Cultural Space Reserve.
- Applicant cited CMHC mortgage insurance approval as the constraint; the cultural space was excluded from the financing application as non-revenue-generating, and reopening the CMHC application would risk construction delays for 321 rental units.
- Staff noted the cash value reflects 2022 construction costs; current replacement cost is approximately $6 million.
- Community speakers opposed the change, citing net loss of artist space, a precedent for renegotiating CAC commitments, and uncertainty that cash will produce equivalent local cultural infrastructure.
- Speakers in support emphasized housing urgency and the practical constraints of CMHC financing.
- Passed unanimously as amended by Motion 6.
1905 Ogden Avenue CD-1 Rezoning
1905 Ogden Avenue Carried Details
- Rezoned 1905 Ogden Avenue from R1-1 Residential Inclusive to CD-1 Comprehensive Development District to make the Vancouver Maritime Museum a conforming use and add a "beauty and wellness centre" use for a floating hydrotherapy barge.
- Haven Sauna's barge is a repurposed 1943 historic vessel, three storeys above the waterline (up to 40 ft); identical in size to Haven's existing Victoria Harbour facility.
- Museum leadership described the $250,000 annual moorage revenue as essential earned income to fund staffing, exhibits, and programs, noting government operational funding has been flat for over 20 years.
- No protected public view cones are affected; the barge height is customized in the CD-1 bylaw for its specific location only.
- Opponents raised: physical fit of a large barge in a shallow heritage marina; potential dredging impacts threatening Teetotaler Beach as a public swimming area; absence of a competitive RFP process; the city's trustee obligations over the public water lot; and the revenue-sharing terms favouring the private operator.
- Federal permits (DFO, Nav Canada) required for any dredging or navigation changes; city conditions require the proponent to obtain those permits before proceeding.
- No DCL collected (floating barge not subject to building permit); no CAC applicable; no amenity contribution secured from the operator.
- Passed unanimously by members present.
Agenda documents (17)
ROLL CALL
1. Vancouver Official Development Plan and Regional Context Statement Amendments for Former Molson Brewery Site
- Summary and Recommendations – Vancouver Official Development Plan and Regional Context Statement Amendments for Former Molson Brewery Site
- Referral Report dated May 19, 2026
- Draft By-law to amend Vancouver Official Development Plan By-law No. 14660 regarding Regional Context Statement and 1550 Burrard Street and 1655 West 1st Avenue
- Yellow Memorandum from the Director of Special Projects Office, Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability dated July 13, 2026
- Staff Presentation
2. Modification to Conditions of Approval and By-law Enactment for 450-496 Prior Street, 550 Malkin Avenue, 1002 Station Street and 1050 Gore Avenue
4. CD-1 Rezoning: 1905 Ogden Avenue
- Summary and Recommendations – CD-1 Rezoning: 1905 Ogden Avenue
- Referral Report dated May 19, 2026
- Draft By-law to amend Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575 to rezone an area to CD-1
- Draft By-law to amend Sign By-law No.11879
- Additional Renderings
- Yellow Memorandum from the General Manager, Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability dated July 14, 2026
- Staff Presentation
- Applicant Presentation
- Download the agenda
Vote matrix
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Kirby-Yung🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Mike Klassen🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Rebecca Bligh🥜 | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lisa Dominato🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pete Fry🥜 | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Peter Meiszner🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lucy Maloney🥜 | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Brian Montague🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sean Orr🥜 | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lenny Zhou🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Ken Sim🥜 | |||||||||
| Adriane Carr🥜 | |||||||||
| Christine Boyle🥜 |