Press Release: Council Betrays Vancouver Residents Again, Votes to “Fast-Track” Rezoning across Local Neighbourhoods

ABC Councillors Joined by OneCity in Yet Another Developer Giveaway

Vancouver, BC – In a decision that disregards widespread public opposition, Vancouver City Council has voted to approve the city’s controversial “fast-track” rezoning plan, enabling a sweeping mass upzoning across thousands of properties to accelerate market rental and small hotel development.

Despite more than 1,700 letters submitted to Council and hours of public testimony raising concerns about affordability, displacement, and the erosion of public input, ABC Councillors were joined by Councillors Lucy Maloney and Rebecca Bligh to support the plan. Councillor Pete Fry abstained.

The approved policy will allow 6–8 storey market rental buildings and hotels across key neighbourhood corridors, without requiring meaningful below-market housing, and creates carve-outs for hotel developers to bypass public hearings entirely.

“We need homes tourism workers can afford, not expensive market rentals and hotels,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “Council had a clear choice: act on affordability or hand over even more power to developers. They chose the latter.”

Speakers warned Councilors that the so-called “fast-track” proposal would amount to a citywide giveaway, driving up land values, fueling speculation, and accelerating displacement of renters, workers, and small businesses.

At the same time, Council continues to prioritize hotel development over affordability. Thousands of hotel rooms have already been approved, with thousands more in the pipeline, while working people struggle to afford rent.

These changes will directly impact neighbourhood corridors such as Main Street, E. Hastings (Hastings/Sunrise), Victoria Drive, Fraser, Nanaimo, Renfrew, Commercial Drive, West 10th Avenue, West 4th Avenue, Cornwall Avenue, Alma, West 41st Avenue, Kingsway, and many others.

UNITE HERE Local 40 represents hospitality workers across Metro Vancouver, many of whom are directly impacted by rising rents and housing instability.

“Workers in this city are being pushed further and further out,” Chan added. “Approving more high-priced rentals and hotels without addressing affordability is not a solution, it’s the problem.”

CONTACT: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785