Vancouver council rejects villages plan after public backlash

Vancouver city council has voted 101 to reject a housing and rezoning plan that would have created 17 denser neighbourhood “villages” across the city. The proposal aimed to allow more apartments, including buildings of up to six storeys in some areas, along with more streetlevel retail. Supporters said it could have helped add housing beyond major arterial roads, while opponents raised concerns about neighbourhood character, infrastructure, property rights and tree cover. The plan drew more than 1,000 written submissions and more than 300 speakers at a public hearing, most of whom opposed it. Mayor Ken Sim and three councillors in the ABC majority voted against the proposal, while OneCity councillor Lucy Maloney was the only vote in support. Council also approved a separate change allowing small singlestaircase apartments on some residential lots.