Dear parents, families, friends,
We need your immediate attention! Today.
What's Happening?
On September 6th, 2023, the City of Vancouver published the agenda for the upcoming City Council meeting scheduled for September 12th, 2023. Hidden deep within this agenda (points 11 & 12 under bylaws) are the two items for a council vote to enact the rezoning bylaw for 7th/8th and Arbutus site, following last year's public hearing.
Here's why this is important:
Legal Implications: Although the Council previously voted "in principle" in favour of rezoning during the public hearing last year, the rezoning bylaw needs to be voted on and is not yet complete. Council has the legal right to vote against it.
Unmet Conditions: Several "Conditions of Approval" from the 2023 Public Hearing, such as traffic mitigation plans and funding alternatives unit mixes and on site health services that remain unaddressed. See Page 23 of the above link for details. No documentation of the completion of these conditions is provided.
Development Permit: The City approved a development permit for this site on August 21st, 2023, before enacting the rezoning bylaw. This is a departure from the usual process (rezonings must be enacted before Dev Permits are considered). The vote to enact this now, after a DP has been done compromises the integrity of this vote.
Bill 26 Challenge: The City has argued that a Council vote is unnecessary due to Bill 26 legislation enacted by the Provincial Government in May 2023, which they claim overrides Vancouver Council's authority. However, the Kitsilano Coalition has challenged Bill 26's constitutionality in a separate legal case.
New Council: The current Council, led by Ken Sim and 7 ABC Party Councillors, was not in office during the Public Hearing. They need to review the content from the Public Hearing before voting. We are concerned all the pertinent info will not be provided accurately to them.
Campaign Promises: Ken Sim and other ABC Council members stated during their October 2022 election campaigns they would not have voted for this site. They spoke to many community members saying if elected, they would oppose the 7th/8th and Arbutus rezoning and promised to work towards a change.
Your action is needed TODAY
To make the voices of parents and vulnerable children and families heard, email the Mayor and Council members and urge them to VOTE AGAINST THE BYLAW ENACTMENT on September 12th, 2023. Please send your emails before the end of the day on Monday, September 11th, 2023, ideally by 5pm. It's crucial that they hear from you!
For detailed information and instructions on how to write your letter, please visit:
While there won't be an opportunity to speak at the September 12th Council Meeting, you can watch it via livestream. Click the Livestream button when the meeting starts at 9:30 am on Tuesday.
Thank you for standing in the gap for those that right now don't have a voice.
Yours in loving this city,
Parents4TCP