Phase 2: Proposed rezoning and Official Community Plan amendment of 2195 Gordon Avenue

About this project
In 2014, the District acquired the site at 2195 Gordon Avenue for $16 million. The site is located directly north of the West Vancouver Community Centre, south of Pauline Johnson Elementary School and is 76,500 square feet (or 1.76 acres) in area.
Our community is facing unprecedented housing affordability challenges with some of the highest housing prices and rents in Canada with an average vacancy rate of 1.2%. We have a declining population and demographic imbalance, and a reduced local workforce with more people commuting to our community every day, resulting in increased traffic and greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2018, Council and staff began working with external experts to consider possible options for the development of the site. In September 2018, Council directed staff to proceed with public consultation on possible options with the intent to address housing affordability and balance revenue needs for other District public projects.
The initial consultation (Phase 1) took place from February 7 to April 15, 2019, is now complete and showed general support for the District’s proposal to use the site to create housing, increase rental supply and improve affordability with no ongoing cost to the District.
After considering the results of the initial consultation, at the April 29, 2019, Council Meeting, Council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing staff to proceed with a rezoning application. At the end of 2019, the District submitted a rezoning application (Phase 2). On June 8, 2020, Council gave first reading to the rezoning bylaw and set a public hearing for July 14, 2020.
On July 14, 2020, the District held a public hearing, and at the Special Council Meeting, Council approved the rezoning and Official Community Plan amendments.
July 16, 2020 update
On July 14, 2020, after receiving and considering submissions from the Public Hearing, the District approved the rezoning and Official Community Plan (OCP) amendments for 2195 Gordon Avenue at the July 14, 2020, Special Council Meeting.
In summary, the District rezoned the municipally-owned site in order to allow for up to three multi-family residential buildings including an adult day centre. A maximum of two 6-storey buildings, secured as rental only tenure, and one 8-storey building, which will allow for strata condominiums, is permitted. The District also amended the OCP in order to include Development Permit Area Guidelines applicable to the site, intended to direct the form and character of future development.
This approval concludes Phase 2 of the project, namely the rezoning and OCP amendment application. The next phase, Phase 3, will include the procurement process which will be used to identify the developer(s) / non-profit organization responsible for the development of the strata component and the development and operation of the rental component. Phase 3 will also include the necessary legal documents such as a Housing Agreement, legal covenants and sale and purchase agreement / long term lease.
Updates will continue to be posted as this project progresses.
Watch the July 14, 2020 Public Hearing and Special Council Meeting
July 9, 2020 update
The June 2020 public engagement conducted in advance of the Public Hearing is complete. A summary of the engagement that took place between June 15 to June 26, 2020 can be found here.
The next key step: Public Hearing
The Public Hearing for the proposed zoning and Official Community Plan amendments for 2195 Gordon Avenue is being held:
Date: July 14, 2020
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: West Vancouver Municipal Hall, Council Chambers
Address: 750 17th Street, West Vancouver
To participate in the public hearing, you can:
Provide a written submission.
Written submissions can be provided to Council in advance of the scheduled public hearing date via:
a.) Email – send your submission to mayorandcouncil@westvancouver.ca.
b.) Mail – address your submission to Legislative Services, Municipal Hall, 750 17th Street, West Vancouver BC V7V 3T3; or
c.) In-Person – Place your submission, addressed to Legislative Services, in the drop-box located at the main entrance of Municipal Hall.
Address Council via electronic communication facilities (telephone).
The Province of British Columbia has allowed for electronic participation in public hearings due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To address Council via telephone:
a.) Phone Legislative Services at 604-925-7004 between 8 a.m. and the close of the public hearing on the scheduled public hearing date;
b.) Provide your name and phone number; and
c.) Staff will phone you during the public hearing in order to provide you with an opportunity to address Council via telephone. Please note that staff will not be in a position to provide you with a specific time-slot, so we are asking participants to be available to address Council by phone for the duration of the public hearing.
Address Council via the webcam in the Municipal Hall Council Chamber.
For your health and safety, physical distancing and enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols have been implemented. To address Council via the webcam in Municipal Hall Council Chamber:
a.) Either phone Legislative Services at 604-925-7004 between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the scheduled public hearing date OR sign up on the provided speakers’ list at the public hearing;
b.) Provide your name; and
c.) Staff will announce your name during the public hearing in order to provide you with an opportunity to address Council via webcam.
Council welcomes your input and this is your opportunity to be heard.
June 15, 2020 update
In advance of the July 14, 2020, Public Hearing, the District is conducting additional public engagement.
Ordinarily, this engagement would be in the form of one Proposed Development Information Meeting; however, due to COVID-19, the District is conducting the engagement in multiple ways.
There are four ways to ask questions and share your comments:
- By phone: 604-921-3406
- By email: 2195Gordon@westvancouver.ca
- Comment form is now closed
- In-person: Wednesday, June 24 from 4–7 p.m. (details below; RSVP required)
Proposed Development Information Meeting (In-Person)
- Wednesday, June 24, 2020 (RSVP to one time slot by email)
- West Vancouver Ice Arena, 786 22nd Street
In order to comply with the orders of the Provincial Health Officer, attendees must RSVP by email in advance for one of three time slots:
- 4–5 p.m.
- 5–6 p.m.
- 6–7 p.m.
RSVP for one of the time slots by emailing: 2195Gordon@westvancouver.ca.
Information materials
Boards (PDF) - to be on display at the June 24 information meeting
Development Permit Guidelines (PDF)