Showing up for Democracy

City Conversation #44: The proposed spot rezoning of 1477 West Broadway highlights the state of the trust between a remote civic government and its citizens

April 15, 2022—The public hearing for the proposed spot rezoning for the 1477 West Broadway project was not concluded on the 14th. It will resume Tuesday after the Easter weekend. There were only three of us in-person speakers, ten or so folks on line. None of the City Councillors or Mayor were in the Council Chamber. Some city planning staff were present, at least for part of the meeting. What does all this say about the state of our civic government?

1477 West Broadway is at the back of this grouping of towers that the Broadway Plan would permit—Image by Stephen Bohus, BLA

“So how did it go last night?” asked my son, who sometimes follows my antics. “Did you get to present? Did the Council listen? Do you think they got your messages?”

“I did get to present—I and Stephen Bohus were the last two speakers before Council adjourned at about 10pm. The public hearing resumes on the Tuesday after the Easter long weekend,” I answered. “The answers to your other questions are a bit more complicated.” I smiled and he gave me that get on with it look of his, so I continued.

“As to your second question, did the Council listen, I guess they did, those who were present, although nobody was actually there, in the Council Chamber.” His brows knitted further than already, so I kept going.

“There was a quorum of Councillors, but a few were missing, gone I guess for their long weekend away—nice work if you can get it,” I continued. “I never did get an exact count because they were all on Webex—I think there were six or seven of 10, plus the Mayor.”

“But nobody actually in the chamber?” he asked with that mix of raised eyebrows and frown that signifies mild incredulity.

“That’s correct as to the politician count,” I responded. “I have to say, in my 40+ years making presentations on various subjects at conferences, meetings and the like, this is the first time I have talked in person to an empty room. I mean, I’ll admit there were a few presentations at obscure conferences where there were only 10 people or so in the room, but never zero. It was somewhat discomfiting, I must say.”

“So was the chamber completely empty?” he interjected. “That would really be weird.”

“No,” I replied, “there were city staff members there. Two pleasant ladies in front of the empty Mayor’s chair did a good job coordinating speakers and presentations. There was a smattering of planning staff, I think, stirring at the back of the chamber. It wasn’t clear whether they were listening or doing homework. They never introduced themselves. I did notice the Chief Planner left soon after the public presentations started.”

“So I guess that means city staff, at least at the senior level, don’t much care about what the public thinks?” he asked.

“Well, the Chief Planner did stay for the very first presentation, which was the only other one other than mine and Stephen’s that was given in person.”

“And how was that?” he asked.

“Touching, meaningful and pretty much ignored,” I replied. “The presenter was an older gentlemen, a 30-year resident who lives a couple blocks from the rezoning site.” he gave me that and you’re not? look about my older gentleman description. “He was accompanied by three fellow residents in solidarity, I should say ladies of a certain age—one walked with a cane, and I was appalled when the security guard insisted they walk up the stairs to sit in the gallery overlooking the chamber. The speaker acknowledged them from below, but the camera never moved so Council did not see who they actually were.”

“A COVID thing?” he asked.

“I guess so, although there was plenty of 2-meter-apart space in the seating on the main floor. In any event, what was so important was what he said.” He looked attentive so I continued.

“Here were Stephen and I with out technical presentations around 3D models and shadows (they are huge)—he just talked about the destruction of his city, his neighbourhood. He told Council he was likely to get emotional, but kept himself together very well as he described all the things wrong with this proposal.”

He looked concerned, but asked, “So how did your presentation go?”

“Well, in the circumstances,” I replied. “Stephen and I had both scripted our remarks in sync with our images—there’s a five minute limit on public presentations, and the Mayor interrupted each of us during literally our last sentence to say our time was up—I guess I must have taken too much time to breathe!” I continued.

“Only one Councillor was interested in where we had got our information and how we had analyzed the massive impacts of the Broadway Plan on the city. I enjoyed Stephen’s explanations that the city staff’s shadow diagrams were wrong, that he had tabled several times with them the correct information and why theirs was wrong, how they had ignored his submissions, how a new park they are proposing will almost always be in the shadow of the high-rises along the Broadway corridor—but other Councillors just let all that pass without comment or question.” He frowned, asked, “How about your presentation?”

“Like with Stephen’s, only one Councillor asked about my research and data gathering. I explained that city staff won’t share what they have, don’t appear to have actually modelled the impacts of the Broadway Plan, which Stephen and I have done—but our presentation was limited to the areas immediately around 1477—we’ve just not had the time (and no budget!) to model the remaining 11/12ths of the Broadway Plan area.”

“Did no other Councillor ask a question?” he asked, askance.

“I had one question from another Councillor, who politely questioned whether I was aware of the guidelines around separation between towers and the number of towers per block, etc. She appeared to be reacting to the sheer number of towers in our model.” He awaited my answer.

“I explained that our model was based on those policies and the other policy guidelines in the Broadway Plan as well as the applicant’s own submission, and that, as Managing Architect for the False Creek North Official Development Plan, I knew this stuff and my professionalism ensured its accuracy. That kind of put paid to questions about the accuracy of our modelling.” I smiled at the memory.

“I’d like to come back to the first in person presenter,” he interjected, “the gentleman and his three lady friends—how did that finish?”

“About halfway through his presentation, he paused, looked up from his notes to address the politicians who weren’t even in the room and declared, I am not a NIMBY! Like so many Vancouverites of any age that I have encountered, he was clear about understanding that the city needs to accommodate more folks, and prepared to do the heavy lifting around how to do that. But he was frustrated that the city has no interest in engaging with existing citizens, preferring to impose top down (his words) an alien vision of the city he has spent his life in.”

“I was unable to be in the chamber at the same time as him, apparently another COVID measure that serves well to divide and dissipate public sentiment.” My son frowned.

“But I did stop him (both of us masked) as we traded places in the empty chamber. I thanked him for his passionate words. His eyes suggested a smile behind the mask and he thanked me for listening.” I paused.

“I honestly felt he thanked me because he did not believe that most of the city politicians, remote in the comfort of their homes, had bothered to listen.”

“And frankly,” I concluded, “I can’t truthfully say I disagree.”

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Today’s two question: Have you participated in the Broadway Plan, the Vancouver Plan, the Jericho Lands Plan, or others? How did that work for you? If you are not a Vancouver resident, what’s been your experience with public participation where you live?

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Brian Palmquist is a Vancouver-based architect, building envelope and building code consultant and LEED Accredited Professional (the first green building system). He is semi-retired for the moment, still teaching and writing, so not beholden to any client or city hall. These conversations mix real discussion with research and observations based on a 40+ year career including the planning, design and construction of almost every type and scale of project. He is the author of the Amazon best seller “An Architect’s Guide to Construction.” He is also a member of TEAM for a livable Vancouver, a new political party dedicated to restoring a livable Vancouver starting with the 2022 civic election. City Conversations are generally congruent with TEAM policy, so if you like the ideas that I’m writing about, please consider joining TEAM.