BURST
Vancouver park board Commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky wants the board to have a say in plans to build a 25-storey hotel close to Stanley Park.
Bastyovanszky, an independent commissioner who once belonged to ABC Vancouver, has put forward a motion asking City of Vancouver staff to brief the board on the controversial proposal.
“Park board planners have indicated that while feedback may be provided through the city’s internal review process, the park board does not currently have a formal public forum to review or discuss the impacts of adjacent non-park developments on park lands and operations,” Bastyovanszky wrote in the motion, which will be voted on March 9.
“The proposed redevelopment is located immediately adjacent to Stanley Park, raising potential implications for park access, traffic circulation, emergency egress, pedestrian and cycling safety, environmental interface, and heritage trees along the park boundary.”
Bastyovanszky is asking for a briefing from city staff regarding the proposal, particularly regarding the impact on traffic flow and the environment.
Langley-based developer Marcon has proposed the hotel tower at 2030 Barclay St. be built where the Rosellen, a four-storey 1950s hotel, now sits. The site, two buildings east of Stanley Park, needs to be rezoned to allow this.
The rezoning application notes that the project doesn’t fully align with existing West End zoning bylaws. But it argues the proposal meets “the primary intent” of the city’s revised hotel development policy, which encourages site-specific rezonings to boost hotel supply without displacing housing.
The proposal features a three-storey podium topped by a 25-storey tower, with 227 extended-stay units and 65 short-term hotel rooms, as well as 70 underground parking stalls.
Earlier this month, council generally supported the project but asked that it go to a public hearing, which was held on Feb. 19. Due to the level of interest in the proposal, a second public hearing has been set for March 5 .
The public consultation process for the project has so far seen more people opposed to the project than in support. A city staff report showed that 6,818 people went to a website explaining the project, of whom 822 made comments. Of those comments, 83 per cent were opposed, mostly related to impacts on neighbourhood character, traffic and parking.
A further 499 direct emails and letters were received by city staff with about 480 in opposition to the application. An ad hoc group called Stop 2030 Barclay has already handed the city a petition with 5,700 signatures.