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Province requires new city-wide development plan, with some public hearings to be prohibited

We hear directly from the city's head planner about keeping plans current with legislative and market changes, and his perspective on public engagement.

Author

Nate Lewis
June 11, 2025

Fair warning – today’s story is a technical one. It’s grounded in the provincial government’s concerted effort over the past year to establish a more prescriptive approach to municipal housing policy, and the city’s effort to find its footing during these seismic shifts. 

By digging into niche changes to city procedures, and the cascading impacts on city planning and public engagement, we’re hoping to shed light on the changing ways that Vancouver residents can make their voices heard and what it means for you and your family in the long run. 

What happened: Last week, city council passed a bylaw that will eventually change the city’s public hearing process for many rezoning applications, streamlining the process while restricting when public hearings can be held.   

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