A group opposed to major development plans for the Metrotown area vows to continue the fight, despite a move by Burnaby council to proceed with the rezoning of properties.
The issue came to a head Monday night, as council discussed a city report related to growth and the affordable and social housing issues facing the community and dealt with a series of rezoning applications.
The 15-page report details the current situation around affordable and rental housing in Burnaby and also offers a response to various suggestions to handle the issue.
One suggestion has been to put a moratorium on the demolition of existing buildings, but the report said the city does not have the legislated authority to withhold a building permit for construction of new buildings and/or for the demolition of existing buildings, where the applicant satisfies the provisions of the building code.
As for establishing a rental replacement policy, the city said it also does not have the mandate to require the private sector to provide rental units.
City politicians were pinning the problem on senior levels of government, arguing the federal government has neglected the issue for two decades.
Mayor Derek Corrigan said solving the problem is an impossible task without money and the legislative authority that resides with the provincial and federal governments.
“This is a conundrum we’ve been unable to solve. We continue to in our own way find solutions, but it is extremely frustrating,” he said.
Corrigan also suggested the city has to continue to balance building a “livable community” and providing amenities people expect, adding that pushing property taxes up only punishes the property owner and would likely lead to an increase in rental rates.
But Ivan Drury, an organizer with the Alliance Against Displacement, one of several groups that has opposed the development plans in the Metrotown area, called the city’s report and response a “diversion” from the real problem.
He said the issue isn’t about building new rental units, but instead stopping the demolition of existing market rental housing.
While Drury agreed the city doesn’t have the authority to determine land use on existing zoning, he argued the city has unlimited power to determine the conditions on rezoning buildings.
“It’s evident that this entire process is merely a matter of making a smokescreen around what is an inevitable rezoning process,” he said, adding his group will continue to put pressure on the city and protest.
Council also gave second reading to a development at 6380 and 6420 Silver Ave. to permit the construction of two highrise apartment towers (26 and 41 storeys), the final reading for a development at Cassie and McKay avenues for two apartment buildings (28 and 41 storeys) and a first reading for a project on Dunblane Avenue /Imperial Street /Marlborough Avenue for a 27-storey apartment building.
