Trio of towers next to Commercial-Broadway station approved – BC [Video]

Vancouver city council has approved a rezoning application for a contentious housing development next to one of the region’s busiest transit hubs.

The approval comes after nearly a decade of proposals, pushback and debate for the site adjacent to the Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain station.

The approved plan will see a Safeway supermarket and large parking lot redeveloped into 1,044 rental homes in three towers with heights of 44, 38 and 37 storeys.

The approval comes about a month after a public hearing that saw about 100 people turn out to speak, with passionate feelings on both sides.

On Tuesday, the proposal passed, with Mayor Ken Sim and most councillors in support. COPE Coun. Sean Orr voted against the rezoning, while Green Coun. Pete Fry abstained.

“I worry that we are giving the developer double the height and we’re not seeing the public benefits that we could be seeing at the site,” …