Vancouver city council to vote on 25-storey West End hotel rezoning project

Vancouver city council is preparing to vote on a 25-storye hotel tower just steps away from Stanley Park.

Vancouver city council is expected to decide the fate of a rezoning application for a 25-storey hotel project in the West End.

A public hearing is scheduled Thursday evening where councillors will hear from those who both support and oppose the development.

The project is led by Marcon developments and Henriquez Partners Architects.

The rezoning application, put forward by Henriquez, is seeking to redevelop the Rossellen Suites at Stanley Park, a boutique four-storey hotel at 2030 Barclay St. into a 25-storey mixed-use building with 248 hotel rooms and a restaurant.

According to a referral report by the City of Vancouver’s general manager of planning, urban design and sustainability, staff are recommending council approve the application, with some conditions.

One of those conditions is that designers work to “minimize the shadowing on the Stanley Park and outdoor play area of Pooh Corner Day Care at the equinoxes.”

The project is being considered under the city’s Hotel Development Policy.

‘Simply does not make sense’

Dozens of residents have rallied against the project, and thousands more have signed a petition citing concerns such as traffic congestion, and changes to the neighbourhood’s character.

Mark Jan Vrem, a West End resident, said he’s not against a hotel in the community, but would prefer something that’s between eight and 10 stories.

“This hotel in this location simply does not make sense,” he said.

“It’s too big. You’re jamming a 10-pound package into a five-pound bag.”

Impacts to Stanley Park?

Brennan Bastyovanszky, a Vancouver Park Board commissioner, also has hesitations with the proposal and is tabling a motion at the board’s next meeting to understand the potential impacts the rezoning may have on Stanley Park.

“If they rush the decision, putting a major commercial operation adjacent to the edge of Stanley Park and don’t do a proper risk assessment, they are at risk of an injunction, litigation and delays,” he said.

Bastyovanszky said he’d like to see council pause discussions on the project until the park board has more information.

If council approves the project, it seeks to gain about $6.3 million in fees from Marcon.

CTV News reached out to Marcon and will update this story if a response is received.