Council approves tower that will partly block Vancouver’s mountain views, with rental condition
Posted July 24, 2018 9:54 pm.
Last Updated July 25, 2018 7:02 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A controversial 400-foot tall tower is one step closer to becoming a reality after Vancouver council voted in favour of the development Tuesday afternoon.
Council approved the project in a 6-3 vote, but added one condition: all units would have to be rental housing.
If PavCo does not agree to the terms, the tower will only be allowed to be 300 feet high, which is the current limit.
The amendment was introduced by Councillor Raymond Louie from Vision Vancouver.
The tower would partially block the so-called “view cones,” which are areas of the city’s skyline that have been protected from developers by a 1989 policy.
But Melody Ma with “Save Our Skyline YVR” says council has set a dangerous precedent.
“It is a loss for Vancouver because this council for the first time said ‘yes towers can intrude into our public views if there is some sort of financial trade-off,’” Ma said.
RELATED: Critics worry proposed tower would set dangerous precedent for Vancouver’s skyline
She said this sends the message that Vancouver’s protected skyline is now for sale.
“Once you let one tower go through then other real estate developers will want to pressure the city to do the same.”
The group has gathered almost 2,000 signatures from people against the project.
She called the amendment “political posturing,” noting the city didn’t have to allow the tower to be so tall in exchange for rental units.
“We have been able to deliver both affordable housing and view cones since 1989 and beyond, and we can continue doing that without going down the slippery slope of allowing buildings to go and intrude into the view cones,” Ma said.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to remove reference to PavCo as the developer.
