City of North Vancouver council has approved a controversial infill rental project twice rejected by the previous council.
Council voted 5-2 in favour of Starlight Investments’ proposal for 40 units in two four-storey buildings fit between the existing 15-storey rental tower at 151 East Keith Rd. and the property line. Four of the units will be reserved exclusively for seniors and subsidized so that rents will be 30 per cent below the North Vancouver average, in perpetuity.
Starlight failed to get a similar project approved for the site last year when the majority on the previous council found it would be too close to Victoria Park. Starlight tweaked the plans to remove one building and returned with a new application but many of the original controversial aspects remained. More than 200 people signed a petition asking council to reject the latest iteration of the plan.
“Why is this even being considered for the third time? It’s a bit baffling to me. There has been little substantive change to the proposed project since the last application in terms of the setbacks. A year ago, the community was against the proposal, and that hasn’t changed,” said longtime North Vancouver resident David Brown at a public hearing held Monday.
Brown warned that other developers would see its approval as a precedent for more infill development around the park.
The project did have its supporters at Monday’s public hearing though, most of whom praised it for adding purpose-built rental in a market with less than one per cent vacancy without displacing any existing tenants
“I say bring it. Set the precedent. Take it and run without because infill is so beneficial to the community,” said Lower Lonsdale resident Stephanie Wilson. “I know so many people who have been dealing with reno- and demovictions around Metro Vancouver and it’s a horrible process. These people are in limbo for months. They can’t find housing. These people are being diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders, not being able to work. It affects every aspect of their life.”
The majority on council agreed.
Coun. Jessica McIlroy compared infill housing to retrofitting a community to meet modern day needs – especially after the city went decades with no new rental housing at all and most older rentals reaching the end of their lifespans.
After much consideration, Coun. Angela Girard said she was not as concerned as the neighbours were about the setbacks.
“In my humble opinion, it will not significantly change the ambiance of the park in a negative way,” she said. “I ran to help North Vancouver become more inclusive and more progressive and supporting more rental is part of my vision.”
Coun. Tony Valente also voted in favour, reminding his colleagues they have a "special responsibility to think about the city as a whole. "
"And particularly the most vulnerable. Right now rising rents are literally forcing people out of the City of North Vancouver… Some of them are staying here but they’re living in vehicles around Harbourside and other areas of the city,” he said.
Coun. Tina Hu said she appreciated the arguments made against the proposal but, reflecting on her own experience, said her sympathy was with struggling renters.
“Having to move six times in five years is not easy. It was a problem 10 years ago but it’s still a problem now. We’re trying to solve that problem for everyone in the city,” she said.
Mayor Linda Buchanan, who voted in favour of Starlight’s previous applications for 151 East Keith Rd. said the one before council Monday night was the best version yet.
Couns. Holly Back and Don Bell both voted against the rezoning, just as they did in April 2018.
“When I see a petition of 230 names that are opposed to the project, that doesn’t tell me that we are making the neighbours happy by any stretch. This is the biggest petition I’ve seen since I’ve been on council,” Back said. “This park is a very, very special park in the City of North Vancouver.”
