This update covers 3 urgent issues.

• Letters for Public Hearing Tues. Feb.25
• Petition: No Tower @ Alma & Broadway
• City-wide Plan Survey Ends Feb.28

1. Letters for Public Hearing Tues. - Passive House Incentives

Passive House incentives should not be used as a further incentive to demolish heritage and character houses. This undermines existing City programs for their retention.

The public hearing Tues. Feb. 25 @ 6:00 pm proposes Passive House 16% increased FSR for detached houses and 18% for duplexes would be roughly greater or equal to retention options incentives for FSR, plus other relaxations proposed, thereby making the character house retention options completely ineffective.  

Therefore, Passive House incentives should not apply on properties listed on the Heritage Register and qualified Character Houses, unless those houses are retained as part of redevelopment.

If you agree, please send a short email before the hearing, preferably today, to City Council to reflect these points and any other comments you may have. You can copy from above or put into your own words.

To: Mayor and Council

Re: Public Hearing Tues. Feb.25 @ 6 pm - Passive House Incentives

Emails: kennedy.stewart@vancouver.ca;  adriane.carr@vancouver.ca; melissa.degenova@vancouver.ca; lisa.dominato@vancouver.ca; pete.fry@vancouver.ca;  colleen.hardwick@vancouver.ca;          CLRkirby-yung@vancouver.ca;  jean.swanson@vancouver.ca; michael.wiebe@vancouver.ca;  rebecca.bligh@vancouver.ca; christine.boyle@vancouver.ca;   publichearing@vancouver.ca

Links for reference:   Agenda   Report

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2. Rezoning Broadway at Alma St. - Petition & Urgent Action!

Please sign the petition:  No Tower @ Alma & Broadway

Read WPGRA Letter to the City on Rezoning Alma - Broadway

Send Emails to the City: The City wants feedback for rezoning Broadway - Alma St. to 14 storey tower (effectively equivalent to 17 storeys) that would undermine the character of Kitsilano & Point Grey.

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3. City-wide Plan Survey Ends Feb.28

The City is looking for feedback on the city-wide plan, now called Vancouver Plan. It is urgent that the City's survey hears from you before it ends Feb. 28.

Go to vancouverplan.ca and take the survey now!

Some suggestions for survey responses:

• Accommodating growth through incentives to retaining character houses through adaptive reuse.
• Keeping new development within the character of each neighbourhood.
• Using neighbourhood-based planning that respects community plans and visions.
• Avoid upzoning that replaces more affordable older housing with new more expensive housing that displaces local people.

Thank you!