[Sheba]

Vancouver rejects councillor's proposal to fast track future social housing towers

Another multi-day council debate over a Vancouver housing proposal ended with the status quo prevailing.

On a 7-3 vote, council rejected a motion by Christine Boyle that would have asked staff to come forward with a future motion that could allow social housing buildings of up to 12 storeys to be built in certain neighbourhoods without a rezoning application.

Councillors Boyle, Jean Swanson and Mayor Kennedy Stewart voted in favour, with the rest voting against except for Michael Wiebe, who declared a conflict of interest.

"I'm disappointed that [rezoning], one of the strongest tools we have in our toolbox, the majority of council chose not to use last night," said Boyle on The Early Edition the next day.

"People can't live in imaginary housing, people need real housing, and it's our job to do everything in our power."

But Coun. Pete Fry, who voted against the motion, believed Boyle's motion wouldn't actually achieve those goals.

"I certainly acknowledge that there's a problematic history to how a lot of zoning is created, and the public hearing process is broken, and if we can expedite rezoning processes … then we should find ways to do it," he said.

"I don't think this, per se, was a tool to do it."

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