They approved more density for your West End block

There was a public hearing this past week that quietly pushed through a significant change for a familiar West End block. On March 12th, City Council voted in favour of a CD-1 Rezoning for 2028-2038 Barclay Street. This means more density for that stretch.

Mayor Kennedy Stewart and Councillors Melissa Klassen, Pete Meiszner, Lisa Zhou, and Rebecca Bligh all voted in favour, ensuring the measure carried. This isn't just a tweak; it's a reclassification that allows for different types of development than what was previously permitted. It’s part of a broader trend, really, to get more housing in.

* A CD-1 Rezoning is a "Comprehensive Development" zone, giving council more specific control over a site's development.

* The vote for 2028-2038 Barclay Street means the city is moving forward with plans to increase housing options there.

* All five council members listed voted in favour, indicating a unified front on this particular rezoning.

Then, just this past Thursday, on March 19th, the city issued a permit for a new 34-storey mixed-use building at 3380 Vanness Avenue. That's a $144 million project. They also issued permits for two new three-storey multiple dwellings at 520 and 522 W 59th Avenue, near Marine Drive. These are the kinds of changes that start small on paper but reshape neighbourhoods block by block. Beautiful out here. Complicated in here. That's the coast.

What does this mean for you? Well, keep an eye on how these rezonings actually manifest. The permits are issued, but the cranes are just getting started.

Kenji Nakashima, MiTL Sports Desk, Vancouver.

You can hear more about what's happening at City Hall with the crew every morning, just head to mornings.live.