Nov 18 - Dec 9, Mt. Pleasant Planning Workshops

Upcoming Mt. Pleasant Planning workshops:
Date Topic
November 18, 2009 Mt Pleasant Heritage and Character Workshop
November 25, 2009 Housing Addressing local and city-wide housing needs
December 2, 2009 Culture Promoting culture and addressing artists’ needs
December 9, 2009 Transportation Increasing pedestrian safety, promoting walking and biking, and addressing transit issues

I went to one of these planning workshops recently. The sandwiches were excellent, and people's ideas were excellent. However, we got the impression that the city planner has already made up her mind or had had her mind made up for her that zoning will be changed to allow and encourage not only one building but multiple buildings of up to 12 stories along the Fraser part of the Broadway corridor. The intention seems to be to use the one city building planned for the hard-to-house as the thin edge of the wedge for massive development. It was also shocking to see that several people who had had intentions to locate businesses along this part of Broadway had been turned down for zoning variances - a doctor's office and a restaurant, for example, were turned down on grounds that they didn't have a parking plan. This while buildings in our area have been allowed to sit vacant for months and years. What most people seemed to be saying, but not really listened to, is that there is not enough green space in our area to support this increase in density, and that we want to keep the neighbourhood a sound working-class neighbourhood. Also, almost everyone wanted the 99 bus to stop at Broadway & Fraser. I guess we'll get to talk about that again on December 9.

Here's a release about the next workshop:

from "Chew, Beverly"

dateMon, Nov 9, 2009 at 11:51 AM
subject Mt. Pleasant Heritage and Character Workshop

Greetings,

The next Residential Area Workshop for the Mount Pleasant Planning Program will be on Heritage and Character on NOVEMBER 18, 6-9pm. This workshop will focus on preserving buildings and enhancing heritage and character area in Mount Pleasant.
Please call me or reply to this e-mail to register for this important workshop. Feedback from the workshops will lead to the drafting of policies and plans for the residential areas in Mount Pleasant.

Feel free to forward this e-mail to your neighbours, and network or distribution list. Also, the Mount Pleasant Planning program is on FACEBOOK and TWITTER. Sign up for updates through facebook or twitter at http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/cpp/mountpleasant/index.htm - just click on the links on our homepage.

Sandwiches and snacks will be provided. Childcare is available upon request.
Upcoming workshops:
Date Topic
November 25, 2009 Housing Addressing local and city-wide housing needs
December 2, 2009 Culture Promoting culture and addressing artists’ needs
December 9, 2009 Transportation Increasing pedestrian safety, promoting walking and biking, and addressing transit issues

Cheers,
Beverly
Beverly Chew
City of Vancouver
Community Planning Department
604-871-6683
beverly.chew@vancouver.ca