They all voted for it. The entire city council across all political parties (ABC, Green, One City) endorsed an amended motion that directs city staff to potentially remove public views, instead of eliminating them.
You know what’s another word for “eliminate”? You got it…it’s “remove”!
The speakers were stacked with real estate developers and their supporters like the Downtown BIA that want to cancel view cones to advance their real estate projects.
They made statements like removing view cones for hotel space will add to their “asset classes” and “make Vancouver a fun city again.” (Ironically, tourists come to Vancouver to enjoy the free public mountain views.)
Speaker 2 who’s developing an office tower for wealth management advocated for city council to remove this public view:
If you don’t believe me, watch the full hearing at timestamp 1:01:30 here.
Online, real estate developers were also cheering for the view cones to be eliminated, including this senior real estate development executive who reasoned that view cones should be removed because the mountains are covered by clouds sometimes.
All in all, the real estate industry and entire city council are saying they’re happy about this motion to “potentially remove” our public mountain views. This is really shaping up to be the Greenbelt scandal of Vancouver.
So, what’s next now that it’s passed?
Mayor and council haven’t officially removed any of the view cones just yet, so we can still take action before city staff reports back in Q4 2023.
Email mayor and council now and tell them this:
Tell mayor and council that we’re disappointed that they voted to move forward with the motion.
Demand that there should be public consultation for the staff report. (The Downtown BIA already offered to “work with staff” on the report)
Remind them we’ll be watching their next steps closely.
Customize your subject line. If the email button doesn’t work, follow the instructions below.
Also, tell your friends to join this email list so they stay informed:
Passionate about Vancouver’s public views & want to do something to protect them?
Respond to this email or email info@saveourskylineyvr.ca to say you want to help organize!
Email Instructions
TO: ken.sim@vancouver.ca, rebecca.bligh@vancouver.ca, christine.boyle@vancouver.ca, adriane.carr@vancouver.ca, lisa.dominato@vancouver.ca, pete.fry@vancouver.ca, sarah.kirby-yung@vancouver.ca, mike.klassen@vancouver.ca, brian.montague@vancouver.ca, lenny.zhou@vancouver.ca, peter.meiszner@vancouver.ca
CC: paul.mochrie@vancouver.ca
BCC: info@saveourskylineyvr.ca
SUBJECT LINE: [Insert something personalized]
BODY: [Please personalize this]
Dear Mayor and Council,
I am deeply disappointed in all your votes endorsing the motion to remove view cones.
There should be public consultation for the staff reports to council.
I'll be watching your next decisions closely, which will inform my vote in the next election.