People from Commercial Dr, Marpole to march to city hall
Posted September 22, 2013 8:02 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Expect to see hundreds of people outside Vancouver city hall on Tuesday.
They’ll be representing the Marpole, West End and Commercial Drive neighbourhoods, which are being earmarked for changes meant to increase population density.
The city proposes to rezone in those areas to allow for highrises and stacked townhouses.
But because of the public backlash, the city’s head of planning is recommending a few months’ delay for rezoning in Marpole, and an indefinite delay for Commercial Drive.
Jak King of the Grandview Woodland Area Council, which includes Commercial Drive, says it’s not a satisfactory move.
“Just an extension of time means nothing. An extension of time without a change of process is a waste of taxpayers’ money, a waste of time for planners and waste of time for the community,” he insists, referring to the sense of frustration the communities have over what they consider a lack of meaningful consultation.
King was one of a number of people who were in shock after discovering plans for highrise towers at Commercial Drive and Broadway. The neighbourhood’s community plan began to take shape two years ago, with the city conducting open houses and collecting questionnaires.
The rally at city hall happens at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, a day before city council receives a report from the city’s planner with his latest recommendations.
