Son of STIR rising at Vancouver City Hall
(This article by Elizabeth Murphy was published in the Straight online on May 15, 2012.)
Two related controversial reports are to be considered by Vancouver city council today: the Secured Market Rental Housing Policy and the 1401 Comox Street rezoning. Both should be referred back to staff for public consultation and amendments.
The Secured Market Rental Housing Policy—or the Son of STIR—is a new program which would replace the recently cancelled Short Term Incentives for Rentals Program (STIR). There has been no public consultation on this policy.
However, unlike its predecessor STIR, the new policy will not be a temporary stimulus program, but will be a permanent program that is eventually written into a number of zoning bylaws affecting neighbourhoods citywide. It includes broad discretionary power to be given the director of planning. Large increases in density could be allowed without requiring rezoning.
Read the full article online here.
NSV letter to Council – Secured Market Rental Housing Policy
Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable (NSV) agrees that building new rental housing is important, however, NSV is opposed to the Secured Market Rental Housing Policy as proposed.
There has been no public consultation on the proposals in the report even though this will set the policies affecting properties city-wide.
Approval of the report would also set directions for future work that includes changes to many zoning bylaws across the city and give broad discretionary power to the Director of Planning without requirements for public hearings.
Read the full letter here.
Son of STIR: New rental policy proposed for Vancouver
New program has same problems as old STIR program and more
(This article by Elizabeth Murphy was published online in the Vancouver Courier on May 11, 2012.)
Next Tuesday afternoon, Vancouver Council will consider approving a report on a Secured Market Rental Housing Policy. There has been no public consultation on this policy, which has huge implications for land use city-wide including changes to many Zoning and Development Bylaws.
The proposed market rental policy is to replace the failed Short Term Incentives for Rentals (STIR) program, which was approved without public consultation in 2009 and recently cancelled after massive opposition. There were many problems with STIR, most of which will not be addressed by the new policy, Son of STIR, proposed to replace it. Son of STIR will be worse than its predecessor, and should be referred back to staff for further public consultation.
Read the full article online here.
Rize exposes flaws in Vancouver’s planning process
(This article by Elizabeth Murphy was published in the Vancouver Courier on May 2, 2012.)
The Rize at Broadway and Kingsway in historic Mount Pleasant was approved April 17 by Vancouver city council, opposed only by Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr. Minor amendments approved by council will not meaningfully address the issues raised by 139 speakers over six nights of public hearings.
The city’s lack of response to the groundswell of Mount Pleasant community concern is a sign of systemic failure. As one resident at the hearing commented, council’s approval of the Rize is like a one finger salute to the East Side of Vancouver.
Most of the pushback came from the local community, but Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver (NSV) also backed the community opposition. This project has the potential to set a city-wide precedent at a time when four other community planning processes are beginning—in Grandview, Marpole, the West End and the Downtown Eastside.
Read the full article online here.
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MEDIA RELEASE November 24, 2011
Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver (NSV) issues post-election statement: Significant Achievements in 2011 Civic Election
Vancouver, Nov. 24, 2011
Randy Helten, mayoral candidate in the 2011 Vancouver civic election, commented today on the election outcome: “We at Neighbourhoods for a Sustainable Vancouver thank all who supported us. Considering the odds against NSV, we made significant achievements. I came in third as mayoral candidate in a field of 12, and our Council candidates all broke into the same order of magnitude as the top ten elected. We are proud that we brought to the forefront of public debate the serious problem of election campaigns being funded by interests that officials are supposed to regulate, and the need to restore meaningful public involvement in decision making at City Hall and in our neighbourhoods. NSV will continue to help and encourage neighbourhoods to make their voices heard at City Hall and to promote grassroots city-wide networking for strong and inclusive communities.”
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We stand for… Neighbourhood-based Real Democracy
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