Archive
Category: Planning & Development
The Vancouver Plant and Seed Exchange Network (VPSEN) aims to connect local gardeners with an enthusiasm for plant diversity. While one might ask what gardener, be it someone who has a yard, a community garden plot, a small balcony, or a sidewalk strip wouldn’t appreciate having a variety of plants in his or her garden, a number of barriers may exist: cost, access to suppliers, and lack of plant and gardening knowledge, to name a few. This project seeks to help alleviate these challenges by providing a space in which easy access to information will hopefully translate to tangible results (of the green kind). In addition to sharing their plants and seeds, we hope that members of this network will contribute to an open and respectful dialogue on the state of food in our city, biodiversity, urban land use, and to a collective knowledge which is only too vital for sustaining a healthy community. The VPSEN is an initiative of the Environmental Youth Alliance.
VPSEN
sample of some of values folk in the West End voted on in a dot democracy excercise
Residents pack community forum to demand new West End plan
WERA President in was quoted in an article in Xtra West, by Shauna Lewis in regard to
proposed new developments in the West End through the City of Vancouver Stir program:
“We’re not against density and we’re not against development,” says WERA’s current president, Brent Granby. “But [development] should conform to the urgent needs of the city.”
Granby says the only way WERA would support the STIR program was if it was reviewed and mandated to consider eco-sustainability, affordability and livability within the development and rezoning process. “We don’t support any development that doesn’t create affordability and ecological sustainability.”
For the full article:Xtra West
The deadline to offer comments on the proposed rezoning of St. John Church is to today. There is an online feedback forum atfeedback forum
or
-By regular mail: City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Y 1V4
-By fax: 604-873-7060
For more info on the proposed rezoning:1401 Comox St.
Last night Vancouver City Council went late into the night to hear all the 40 some citizens who wanted to speak to the rezoning application for 1215 Bidwell Street.
While it seemed that Council would have to sit all night as one resident appeared to be prepared to filibuster on the proposed project. Councilor Meggs saved all the attendees at the public hear some sleep by gruffly asking the resident to conclude his presentation and sum up. Thankfully the gentleman agreed to wrap up his comments after repeatedly having his name added to the speakers list.
At a public hearing the speaker list cannot be closed till everyone in attendance who wants to speak has a chance to.
Councilor Chow chaired the meeting. Interestingly there was no motion to close the speakers list only a motion to adjourn and to refer the debate to the Council meeting on Tuesday afternoon at 2 pm on December 15.
Action Plan From WERA Community Forum
1. Attend open house on Nov. 24 for rezoning application of 1401 Comox St.:
Coast Plaza Hotel, Nelson Room, 1763 Comox St., 4 to 7 pm
Jackie Wong article
open house notification letter
For more info:
2. Sign up to speak at public hearing on Tuesday Dec 1. On the rezoning application of 1215 Bidwell. St., Council Chamber City Hall call 604 871 6355 to put on the speakers list.
3. Email Mayor and Council and let them know what your views of the proposed rezoning application
mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca
or
Vancouver City Hall
453 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Y1V4
or call
311
More info available at:
WERA president Brent Granby was busy on November 14 getting the word out about the upcoming WERA-sponsored public meeting about West End rezonings. See http://wera.bc.ca/archives/886 for details.
The public hearing on the rezoning of Maxine’s at 1215 Bidwell will be held on December 1, 2009.
The public open house on the rezoning of St. John’s at 1401 Comox will be held on November 24, 2009.
WERA is committed to facilitating a responsible and critical public dialogue among residents and City Hall when it comes to rezoning and development applications.
We encourage as many residents as possible to be engaged in the public process. WERA has invited folks to attend open houses, fill out comments forums, write to Mayor and Council and attend Council meetings. These are the ways in which you have a chance for your voice to be heard. We also believe residents need a chance to speak and listen to each other.
WERA will host a community forum on Saturday Nov. 21 (1-3pm, Crystal Ballroom, Empire Landmark Hotel at Robson & Broughton) to give residents of the West End an opportunity to share their concerns and thoughts with each other, and to become more informed about the proposed rezoning on Bidwell St. and on Comox St. We’ll review the steps in the rezoning process. We’ll talk about visioning the future of our community.
WERA views Vancouver’s future through three critical lenses: affordability, livability, and ecological sustainability. When we speak at City Council about rezoning applications, we ask these questions:
- Do these projects create more affordability in our community?
- What will this affordability look like?
- How big are unit sizes, is this livable?
- How will this project contribute to a sustainable city for the future? Does the project promote use of cars?
- How will the commercial space contribute to economic vitality of our community?
- What is our equity stake in this building? How much is the community giving up in development levies by the application of the STIR program in these developments? Is the rental stock we receive in return a worthy trade?
WERA presented these articles last year on the issues of housing, affordability, and Vancouver’s future:
Affordability facilitates diversity=economic vitality
What is the most excellent critical mass
Housing Authority for Vancouver
Again, WERA strongly encourages all residents to become involved in their community’s future by engaging in the public process. We also welcome feedback at WERA. See CONTACT US.
