This petition calls for character houses to have incentives for retention through adaptive reuse, especially in RS zones.
The proposed RS rezoning is opposed without regulation amendments to ensure character and heritage houses have viable retention options by removing the biases favouring demolition and new construction over retention.
Take Action Now!
1. Sign this petition and pass it on;
2. Send a letter to City Council by email and online form before Sept.14 for the public hearing; and
3. Sign up to speak by phone or in person at the public hearing.
For more public hearing background and instructions on how to send letters and speak to Council :
Some of the many concerns regarding character and heritage retention are:
- This proposed plan will undermine character house and heritage building retention incentives and should be revised to be equal to or greater than new construction to be an incentive.
- Properties listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register should be exempt from new multiplexes, and instead have viable incentives for increasing density and multifamily through retention options.
- For character house retention, with a renovated addition or suite, density is reduced from the current 0.75 to proposed 0.65. The current 0.75 FSR should be retained.
- Character houses with infill only are at 0.85 FSR while multiplexes are proposed at 1.0 FSR. Make character house and heritage incentives equal to or greater than new construction.
Other additional concerns that affect sustainability and liveability:
- Almost all 60,000 current RS lots citywide are proposed for up to 4 units on standard lots, 5 units on mid-sized, 6 units of strata on large lots, or up to 8 units on large lots for rental.
- No required on-site parking that puts more pressure on street parking and undermines the shift to electric vehicles with no place to park for charging
- Loss of trees and green space, both onsite and for street trees due to reduced front yards that impacts street tree roots
- Lack of infrastructure to serve growth including sewers, water supply, electrical grid, schools, daycare, community centres, recreation facilities, medical services, social services, etc.