Housing developments in Queensborough and downtown New West are among the items up for discussion at tonight’s public hearing.
Bylaws aimed at helping the city to “be nimble” so it can quickly respond to crises are on tonight’s public hearing agenda. Staff have bundled together a series of actions aimed at providing a quick response to emergencies or crises.
The public hearing begins at 6 p.m., and will be followed by the regular council meeting when council will consider the bylaws. Asked how many people had signed up to speak at tonight’s public hearing, city officials would not say, saying the practice is not to make the speakers list or the number of people who have signed up to speak known until 5 p.m. on the day of a public hearing.
Here’s what’s being considered at tonight’s public hearing:
*A 52-unit supportive housing project at 60 to 68 Sixth St. BC Housing has purchased the site and is proposing to build a four-storey modular housing building that is staffed 24/7 and includes supports for adults who are at-risk of or experiencing homelessness, such as meals programs, life skills training, employment skill training, access to health supports and referrals to other community services. It requires a rezoning and an amendment to the official community plan.
*A 58-unit long-term affordable housing project on city-owned land at 350 to 366 Fenton St. in Queensborough. In partnership with the Vancouver Native Housing Society, the city is working on a non-market affordable housing project for Indigenous individuals. This project would require a rezoning and an amendment to the official community plan.
*Bylaw amendments that would allow the city to respond more rapidly to projects that address an identified emergency or crisis. This would be done by “pre-approving” specific land uses on publicly owned/leased land that could respond to these emergency situations.
A previous article in the Record outlined the proposals, as well as some feedback it had received during the public consultation process.
Follow Theresa McManus on Twitter @TheresaMcManus
Email tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
