722 Gore Avenue (Temporary Firehall Annex) rezoning application

Thank you for your comment. In response to your implied questions, 11 new trees are currently being proposed by the applicant. The Protection of Trees Bylaw, requires replacement trees, and the current proposal meets the replacement tree requirement.

Thank you for your questions about what the impact of the loss of green space is on the community. Currently this rezoning application is under staff review, as part of the rezoning application process. Staff will look at all applicable policies and studies, to help inform our recommendations to Council.

The historical zoning for the site was CM-1, before it became CD-1 (41D) road right of way. CM-1 zoning no longer exists, and the equivalent base zoning of the site would be RM-3. RM-3 zoning allows for a firehall under public authority use.

The applicant, the City of Vancouver’s real estate and facilities management, have provided the following response:

• Recognizing the importance of public space in our neighbourhoods, the proposed site plan preserves as much green space and trees as possible and includes pre-planned public art. This is balanced with the need for the site to support the temporary Firehall No. 2 Annex to relieve pressures the current Firehall No. 2 is experiencing, and to ensure Vancouver Fire Rescue Services can effectively continue to provide critical emergency services in the community. 
• The temporary Firehall Annex is not intended to be permanent, allowing long-term community plans per the DTES policy.
• As the buildings on site are temporary structures, we don’t expect a lot of construction noise as there won’t be a big excavation and pouring foundation. There will be some drilling for installing them on the ground. Information about any potential impacts to the community during construction will be provided as rezoning and design details are finalized.  
• There are firehalls embedded in communities throughout Vancouver and the majority are in residential neighbourhoods near housing, libraires and schools. The community can expect there to be some noise, however Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) are known to be good neighbours and they provide critical emergency services in the community.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) have provided the following response

VFRS staff are transient and move between Firehalls throughout the city daily, and staff need to move their Personal Protective Equipment and other required gear to and from each location with their personal vehicles. Therefore, staff parking has been provided at all firehall sites.

Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS) have provided the following response:

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services use GPS to determine which apparatus from which hall/apparatus will respond. The closer the incident is to the annex the more likely it would be an apparatus from the annex that would be responding, but this still depends on the projected travel time of the apparatus and the incident type. A Fire incident would pull in apparatus from multiple Firehalls.

This rezoning application is currently under review, including how it meets the intent of the Downtown Eastside Plan. 

In addition the applicant, the City of Vancouver’s real estate and facilities management, have provided the following response:

According to Planning - By-law Administration Bulletins https://guidelines.vancouver.ca/bulletins/bulletin-dtes-neighbourhood-fit-considerations.pdf – Section 3 & 4 - All new development permits and rezoning applications in the Community Based Development Area are required to complete a short self-evaluation at the time of their application. The location for the proposed rezoning is in the Strathcona Residential Neighbourhoods and not the area that The Neighbourhood Fit considerations are being piloted.

This rezoning application is currently under review, and is subject to Council approval through a Public Hearing process.

In addition the applicant, the City of Vancouver’s real estate and facilities management, have provided the following response:

Recognizing the importance of public space in our neighbourhoods, the proposed site plan preserves as much green space and trees as possible and includes pre-planned public art. This is balanced with the need for the site to support the temporary Firehall No. 2 Annex to relieve pressures the current Firehall No. 2 is experiencing, and to ensure Vancouver Fire Rescue Services can effectively continue to provide critical emergency services in the community. This project will follow all provincial and federal regulations regarding bird nesting or wildlife habitat protection.  

City staff are reviewing this as part of the rezoning application process. Currently there are off-leash dog parks at Strathcona Park and Andy Livingstone Park, which are both under 1km away.  Trillium Park is around 400m away, and has some areas with trees, but does not contain a designated off-leash dog park.

As part of the rezoning application staff are reviewing the existing intersection conditions, including how an increase in fire trucks will impact the Union Street bikeway. If significant issues are anticipated, intersection upgrades could be explored. 

In addition the applicant, the City of Vancouver’s real estate and facilities management, have provided the following response:

Vehicle access from Gore Avenue was selected to reduce traffic conflicts with vehicles and bicycles along the Union-Adanac corridor. It is not uncommon for firetrucks to cross intersections with bikeways, even in higher traffic areas than this site. Vancouver Fire Rescue Services staff understand the need to consider bikers and follow traffic signaling requirements.