2585 E Hastings St rezoning application

During the construction period there is planned be a temporary London Drugs store operating within close proximity. This new site would include pharmacy services. If the rezoning is approved, more details will be provided by London Drugs before construction begins.  

Secured rental units can only be used as rental housing and cannot be sold individually. 

This is guaranteed with a legally binding covenant or housing agreement registered on title, which restricts the use to rental housing for 60 years or the life of the building (whichever is longer). 

Maximum rents are set by the Rental Incentive Programs Bulletin for each unit type. These maximum rents have been split between the East and West of Vancouver to more accurately reflect the local rental markets. 

The intent of the Secured Market Rental Housing Policy is to increase the supply of rental housing, not necessarily to create housing that is affordable to all households in Vancouver. 

The site has good access to transit, employment opportunities, schools and services within walking distance. The proposal also includes 315 bicycle parking spaces to encourage residents to use active transport where possible. 

If approved, the applicant may be required to fund the upgrade of local infrastructure such as pedestrian crossings, traffic calming measures and intersection improvements. The extent of these works will be determined through the review process. 

There have been no bus service improvements announced for the East Hastings corridor since the recent B-line upgrade. Phase 3 of the Translink 10 Year Vision may outline more upgrades for this area.

At this early stage of the rezoning process, the extent of lane closures and the resulting impacts on commuters have not been determined. There would be no change to bus routes or schedules as a result of this development.

The City has worked with the Vancouver School Board and Hastings Elementary to undertake School Active Travel Planning. This program seeks to increase active travel to school, improve safety and assess the need for infrastructure upgrades. 

If this rezoning application is approved, the applicant may be required to fund the upgrade of local traffic infrastructure on Penticton Street. The extent of these works will be determined through the review process. 

Page 76 of the Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision provides scenarios where rezoning applications can be considered under city-wide policies, with community consultation required for each project. 

This application is being assessed under the Secured Market Rental Policy, which is a city-wide policy that seeks to increase the supply of rental housing across Vancouver. This policy enables rental buildings up to 6 storeys in areas close to transit, employment and services. 

The Community Vision will continue to be used as a reference in the assessment of this application.  

Although London Drugs would occupy the majority of the ground floor area, three smaller commercial spaces have been included that would be suitable for local businesses. The operators of these spaces have not been determined given this early stage of the rezoning process. 

New zoning regulations on the site would provide guidance on what type of businesses could operate there. However there are no restrictions on the size or ownership of these operations. 

The bus lane and on-street car parking directly in front of the site are likely to be affected during some phases of the construction period. There would be no changes to the frequency or route of local buses as a result of this proposal.