1925 SE Marine Dr rezoning application

The three-week virtual open house Q&A period ended on Sunday July 17. Should members of the public have questions regarding this rezoning application, they may contact the planner at pmshi.rezoning@vancouver.ca.

Due to the building’s location on the southeast corner of the intersection of SE Marine Drive and Beatrice Street, an analysis of the shadow performance of the proposed building demonstrates there would be limited impact on the surrounding private properties  Shadow impacts are generally in morning hours before 11 am on a few low-density properties to the northwest. Shadows are expected in the winter months due to the low trajectory of the sun’s path; the duration of that effect is only during morning hours from September to March.

Although the City does not have a city-wide shadow policy, or Council-adopted policies for shadowing of private properties, staff nevertheless take into consideration shadow impacts on both private and public spaces during all seasons.  Furthermore, shadowing is assessed in conjunction with the need to provide affordable and supportive housing, throughout the City.

The proposed building and surrounding areas will be subject to the same inspection and enforcement measures as any other building or area in Vancouver. These measures are contained in Sections 4 and 5 of the By-Law #9535. Any concerns about by-law application can be referred to 311, as is standard practice.

The safety of all city residents – including those living in supportive housing and in nearby neighbourhoods – is a priority for the City.  To imply that future supportive housing residents pose a greater risk to children, youth, seniors and people with disabilities than those living in other housing types furthers negative stereotypes, and stigmatizes people living in poverty.  

Seniors and people with disabilities are a diverse group, with varying levels of mobility, and not all disabilities are visible. The non-profit operator and BC Housing consider residents needs and the degree to which the building is able to meet those needs. Aside from HandyDART services, the proposed site is well-served by transit, including the 20 Victoria and 100 SE Marine Dr. buses. Transit can provide residents with access to shopping and services at Main and SE Marine, and Victoria Drive between 41st and 49th within 15 to 20 minutes. As noted, the site is also in close proximity to outdoor amenity and recreation space.  

Children are allowed to visit the building but not to reside in the building. The units are designed  for single individuals not multiple people because the proposed building is for individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness.

Tenants would be selected through a coordinated process with BC Housing, the experienced non-profit housing operator, Vancouver Coastal Health and the City’s Homelessness Services Outreach team. The process includes individual assessments to understand each person’s unique needs and to ensure they will be supported by the services provided by the operator. Outreach staff partner with local homeless-serving agencies to learn where people experiencing homelessness are staying and connect with them directly. If there is interest in applying for the housing, then support is offered with the process.

• The High-Density Housing for Families with Children Guidelines does not apply to this proposed development because this proposal does not include units for families with children.
• This proposal is for individuals who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness. This includes young people, seniors, people with disabilities and people who have experienced trauma or poverty.
• The safety of all city residents – including those living in supportive housing and the nearby neighbourhoods – is a priority for the city.  
• Homelessness exists in all parts of the city, and requires a city-wide response. The City of Vancouver’s Housing Vancouver strategy and community plans call for housing affordability and accessibility for all people in all communities.
• This rezoning application can be considered by Council because it meets policy and multiple City objectives to meet the urgent housing needs of people experiencing and at risk of experiencing homelessness.
• Rezoning applications are reviewed by many departments, including Urban Design, Engineering, Housing Policy & Projects, to make recommendations to Council.
• In alignment with our principles of equity and anti-discrimination in planning, area plans and policies do not include maximums or exclusionary bounds for housing for lower-income renters and/or residents who are formerly homeless.
• Your concerns about safety have been recorded and will be considered through the application review process and summarized in a Council report along with other public comments received through the rezoning application process.
• For information on community benefits of supportive housing, please visit https://www.bchousing.org/publications/Community-Benefits-Supportive-Housing.pdf.

Staff Referral Reports regarding rezoning applications, and containing recommendations and conditions to be fulfilled at subsequent permitting and development stages are considered by Council at Public Hearings. Should Council approve the rezoning application, applicants will need to  comply with any provision or conditions of approval of their rezoning application before permits would be issued.

As previously mentioned, the Rezoning Policy within the Victoria-Fraserview/Killarney Community Vision allows for consideration of rezoning applications such as this for social or affordable housing developments. To explore other CD-1 rezoning applications that are underway or have been completed, please visit shapeyourcity.ca/rezoning. All previously-approved and enacted CD-1 district schedules can be found at Vancouver.ca/zoning-library.

The building's design and shadow studies can be seen on the application's website. They, along with the infrastructure requirements to service the site, are being reviewed as part of the rezoning application review process.