Vancouver council votes down Villages Plan

Vancouver city council voted Tuesday to reject the Villages Plan, a proposed rezoning framework that would have allowed low-rise apartments and mixed-use retail buildings in parts of 17 neighbourhoods. Councillor Lucy Maloney was the sole vote in favour.

Mayor Ken Sim said the proposal lacked sufficient public engagement and did not adequately balance housing growth, infrastructure and community confidence. ABC Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung pointed to extensive opposition at the public hearing, which drew hundreds of speakers and about 2,000 pieces of correspondence.

Supporters said the plan would have legalized more affordable housing forms than single-detached homes. Opponents raised concerns about the tree canopy and real-estate speculation, although the City's director of community planning said staff did not expect significant speculation or land-value increases from the dispersed opportunities and inclusionary-zoning measures.

Council instead approved Kirby-Yung's motion on single-egress stairs, which she described as a gentler form of infill that could enable better-quality small apartments on single-family lots.