75 E 8th Ave rezoning application

Information regarding Lotus Capital Corp and Nicola Wealth Real Estate and their previous development projects can be found on the companies’ respective websites. Please note that the scope of the Q&A and staff’s review is the project and application itself.

Staff reached out to the applicant for a response: Thank you for your question. As an operator has not been selected at this time, it cannot be clarified on the level or type of hotel offering. Residential uses are restricted in the Mount Pleasant Industrial Area - Area A, in accordance with Metro Vancouver land use designation for Industrial Lands. 

The proposal does not include any residential uses, and the applicant would not be required to build new housing units elsewhere. The Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy (TRPP) does apply to this project. Given that there are no replacement units being proposed, tenants will need to be supported with permanent relocation into new housing. Tenants are also subject to receive financial compensation based on length of tenancy and for moving expenses, as outlined in the TRPP. Low-income tenants and tenants facing additional barriers to housing must be provided additional supports to secure appropriate housing, including support securing affordable housing for low-income tenants, as outlined in the TRPP.

Staff reached out to the applicant for a response: Thank you for your question. An operator has not been selected at this time.  

The applicant is not required to publicly disclose the individual owners of a development company nor their contact info through the rezoning process. The City requires that the applicant provide a public contact to be posted on the Shape Your City web page. In this case, MCM Partnership submitted the application on behalf of the owners and contact information has been provided on the Shape Your City webpage. Access to business or organization records can be requested by the public through the Provincial Government:  Request business or organization records - Province of British Columbia.

The floor plans in the application drawings submitted by the applicant identify the first two floors as ‘industrial’ and no specific uses have been proposed at this time. Through the application review, staff will work with the applicant to develop a list of appropriate and compatible industrial uses in a draft CD-1 Comprehensive Development District Schedule for Council’s consideration. Should the application be approved, the first two floors would be restricted to the identified industrial uses.

The Broadway Plan considers rezonings for mixed-use hotel and light industrial developments in select areas of the Mount Pleasant Industrial Area along Yukon Street due to the proximity to rapid transit. Although City policy does not specifically envision hotel uses for this site, the applicant is seeking consideration of hotel use with light industrial in this location as it is also near to rapid transit (the future Mount Pleasant Station). The Hotel Development Policy generally supports the development of new hotels across the City and identifies that rezoning applications for hotel uses can be considered within the general Broadway Corridor; however, the Hotel Development Policy does not contain policy to further enable or restrict hotel uses on this site. The proposal is subject to staff review and Council consideration. No determination has been made yet on this application.

In accordance with the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy (TRPP), the applicant is required to offer relocation support to all eligible tenants, and provide housing options to tenants who request this support. Information gathered through a Tenant Needs Survey and one-on-one meetings with tenants will provide an opportunity to identify tenant needs and preferences such as location, rent limit, or other additional needs or income considerations. While efforts can be made to provide housing options to tenants within the same neighbourhood if that is a tenant’s preference, a tenant’s rent limit or other housing needs may have to be prioritized depending on available listings at the time of relocation.

As outlined in the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy, compensation is based on length of tenancy, and moving expenses are also due. Further, low-income tenants and tenants facing additional barriers to housing must be provided additional supports to secure appropriate housing, including support securing affordable housing for low income tenants.

The City’s TRPP enquiry line is available to answer questions on the relocation process and requirements, including regarding individual tenant needs or circumstances, either by Phone: 604-673-8001 or Email: trp@vancouver.ca

The site holds an industrial designation under Metro Vancouver’s Regional Growth Strategy (Metro 2050). Previously a residential neighbourhood, some residential uses remain in the area, including on this site. However, as the area is industrially designated under Metro 2050, new residential uses are not permitted in this location. 

Under the Broadway Plan, rezoning for mixed-use hotel and light industrial development is considered in select areas along Yukon Street due to the proximity to rapid transit. Hotel use is not specifically enabled on this site, but the applicant is seeking consideration of hotel use with light industrial in this location as it is also near to rapid transit (the future Mount Pleasant Station). No determination has been made yet on this application.                       

Generally, Culture | Shift is the City of Vancouver’s Culture Plan which provides a framework with strategic directions and actions to support art and culture in the city. One of the key directions of the Plan is to secure, enhance, and develop affordable and accessible arts and cultural spaces. The Culture Plan includes measurable targets to grow, preserve and renew cultural spaces and add affordable housing units for artists across the City. 

Section 17 of the Broadway Plan includes key directions and policies relating to Arts and Culture specifically within the Broadway Plan area. The Broadway Plan incorporates the policies and directions from the Citywide cultural plans.

Further, the applicant submitted a Community Serving Spaces form with their application which confirmed for City reviewers that there were no cultural spaces such as artist studios present at the time that the application was submitted. 

If the rezoning were to be approved, the City does not have policy to require or compel the applicant to develop the site as proposed. The applicant is applying to rezone to a CD-1 Comprehensive Development District, which would contain unique regulations that specifically enable the proposed development. Should the applicant pursue the development following the rezoning, the applicant would need to submit a development permit that is consistent with the CD-1 District generated through the current rezoning application.