Villages Program – A to J Lost K to N Carried
Motion 15 · Council Meeting, July 28, 2026
Summary
- Clauses A–J (village rezonings): Rejected. The core village rezoning of approximately 13,000 properties across 17 neighbourhoods was defeated with only four councillors in favour (Maloney, Orr, Fry, Bligh).
- Clauses K–N (single-egress stair enabling): Passed. Updated R3 zoning to allow the single-egress stair (SES) building typology, enabling more flexible, smaller-lot apartment designs city-wide wherever R3 applies, without requiring lot assemblies.
- Supporters of the rejection cited lack of social licence, inadequate community engagement, one-size-fits-all approach across diverse neighbourhoods, infrastructure concerns, and land speculation risk.
- Supporters of the village plan noted it would have provided more attainable housing forms in areas dominated by detached houses, and that staff had been explicitly directed to accelerate this work by council in 2023 and 2024.
Vote
In favour 9
Opposed 1
Abstained 1
Public comments
Read all 5 statements
Transcript
20 segments
Okay, so we're going to vote on A through J first.
Is that clear, everyone? We're voting on items A through J.
Yes, unless you want to sever it further.
It's too late, actually.
Okay, and that fails with myself, councillors Kirby Young, Dominato, Bly, Fry, Montague, Klassen, Meisner, Joe, and or in opposition.
So now if we can go to the voting panel and vote on the rest of the motion.
It's everything outside of A versus 3J. So the motion as amended.
Just a point of clarification, Mayor, that just looking for affirmation from staff that this enables the single egress stairs piece only, as was previously advised. Just looking for clarification on that.
Stacey McFarland, Legal Services. The reference to Section 6F in the zoning bylaw amendment is the single egress error amendment that's required.
I'm not clear. I'm going to need clarification before voting as a point of privilege.
Okay. Stop the vote, like cancel the vote we just did. Okay.
Yeah, I'm just looking for clarification. I'm not looking to relitigate I just want clarification that the amendment was moved as as advised by staff that it would enable the single egress to Arizona and that was That specific recommendation along with other causes. I'm looking for clarification that what is left to vote is Needed solely to enable that
I think what's up on screen is the final recommendation as amended. You already voted on the amendment, as far as I understand.
Can I have that answer as a yes or no to my question?
Sorry, can you rephrase the question, please?
Yes. If we vote yes on what is on screen and remaining, does that enable the single egress stairs only? That's all we're approving.
Thank you.
No, that's a holdover. Thanks.
Okay. Thank you very much. Okay, so we're going to go back to the voting panel, and this is the motion as amended. And we've already voted on A through J, and that has failed, which was the villages plan. So we're voting on everything else.
Make sense? Okay, awesome. So if we can please go to the voting panel.
Statement Watch
Yeah. Thanks very much. It's quite an honor for this to be marked. It's quite important for us to mark Emancipation Day as a community. I think it's wonderful that the City of Vancouver and the Mayor of Vancouver are marking Emancipation Day. I don't think we do enough in Canada to actually mark Emancipation Day. Juneteenth is very important for Americans, and we seem to latch on to some of that. But there's obviously a lot of work to be done. The history of the relationship between the city of Vancouver and the Black communities has been, at best, a complicated one. And we hope that there will be improvements. There's a reason why the United Nations decided to have another decade to mark black presence, black dignity, addressing anti-racism against black people. And some of this is reflected in the work that is done and hasn't been done in the city of Vancouver. So this is an important day. It's an important celebration. And we hope that the work does go with the words. Thank you.
Statement Watch
I'd like to say a few words. Good day. My name is Neville Thomas.
I would like to say thanks for having us here. The group has reduced considerably, but I'm happy to be here.
Also, the presence of Dr. Andrew Wright, nice meeting you. I would like to start by saying thanks to group for your contribution, participation over all these years. This occasion is a historic one.
And at the end of all year, 26, 27, I would like you to be assured that we, the members of the anti-racism group, greatly appreciate the contribution you have made, as well as the greater population. Thank you, and we look forward to continued relationships and your contribution as we move forward.
Statement Watch
First of all, I'd like to thank all the councillors in the city of Vancouver for recognizing the contributions of my father. He's quite humble, and he didn't even know about this. We just surprised him. He just found out right now. Yeah, so Connor's been very working with us on that end. But thank you very much, and I want to thank all the family members that are here today. You all mean a lot to my dad and us, and it's a great day for him. Thank you. I just told him he was coming for lunch at City Hall. And it would be a quick 15 minutes. And yeah, I don't know if he was playing along or if he actually knew, but I don't think he knew. Are you surprised? I think it is a great surprise for me. I would like to thank for recognizing me as the founder of the Punjabi market. So I'm very thankful for the city hall and all the city Councillors for recognizing my services for the senior society and as well as for the Punjabi market. Thank you.
Statement Watch
First of all, I'd like to thank all the councillors in the city of Vancouver for recognizing the contributions of my father. He's quite humble, and he didn't even know about this. We just surprised him. He just found out right now. Yeah, so Connor's been very working with us on that end. But thank you very much, and I want to thank all the family members that are here today. You all mean a lot to my dad and us, and it's a great day for him. Thank you. I just told him he was coming for lunch at City Hall. And it would be a quick 15 minutes. And yeah, I don't know if he was playing along or if he actually knew, but I don't think he knew. Are you surprised? I think it is a great surprise for me. I would like to thank for recognizing me as the founder of the Punjabi market. So I'm very thankful for the city hall and all the city Councillors for recognizing my services for the senior society and as well as for the Punjabi market. Thank you.
Statement Watch
Well done. Thank you.
Do we get, like, the group photo?
Yeah, for sure.
We've got one more. We've got somebody else who'd like to speak. Gentlemen, it's my pleasure to know Mr. Sutakale for a long time. And I found him such a nice person, so amicable, so friendly. And I have learned a lot from him. I have read some of his books. They were very inspiring. They reflect what the community is here. So it gives me inspiration as well as good guidance. And with his inspiration, I have also written two books. One is Life and Act of Art. and today I have another poetry in daily life. The first I have presented to your worship, Damir, and today I will again, if I meet him, I will present him the other book. So Mr. Suchas is still going well. He's so energetic, even, you know, all these, you know, health problems. So it is something which is working inside him, behind him, and of course, when we say behind him, Unfortunately, his better half is not there, but his family, it's a pillar for him. So I wish Mr. Sucha all the best in his life, and I wish all the best for the family. They must continue taking care of him. Thanks a lot.