UPDATE: For those of you interested in our Robson Square petitions, please check out our newly created on-line versions. The "yes" petition started late yesterday, the "no" petition today.  Here's your chance to participate in the discussion:

YES, I support the expansion of Robson Square and the closure of the 800-block to vehicular traffic.

Or,

NO. I want vehicles back on the 800-block of Robson. Please DO NOT expand Robson Square.

If you haven't already done so, please consider taking two minutes to have your voice heard on this initiative. The street is scheduled to be opened to vehicles on September 5 - at which point many of the great activities now taking place on the street will be removed.  The VPSN supports the permanent closure of the space, but want to make sure that all sides are represented. 

A quick thank you to everyone who stopped by yesterday's community market at the 800-block of Robson Street.  Despite murmurings to the contrary, the weather turned out to be awesome -- a perfect backdrop for the 30+ local vendors and dj who set up shop, and the many many visitors that took in the fun. 

This was the first of our VPSN experiments with the space -- all designed to see how the 800-block could function were the street to be remain closed to vehicular traffic.  On that note, we're pleased to report that the 800-block worked extraordinarily well as a market area.  The surrounding architecture - the neoclassical finesse of the Art Gallery and the modernist trappings of Arthur Erickson's Law Courts -- created an all-important human-scale.  This, in turn, allowed the market to enhance the 'feel' of the space, rather than appearing at odds with it.  Add to that the high volume of pedestrian traffic (the 800-block is one of the city's busiest pedestrian thoroughfares) and the fit worked quite well.  As one visitor from Italy noted: "it's lively, like one of our piazzas."  Fantastico! 

UPDATES:

• April 7, 2011 - VPSN Newsletter - Discussion of "Structures" debate at City Council (blog)
• April 12, 2011 - VPSN Letter to Mayor Robertson & City Council on proposed "Structures" bylaw amendments (blog) (pdf)

MEDIA RELEASE: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 

VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Public Space Network (VPSN) and BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) are jointly calling on the City of Vancouver to reject proposed changes to the City’s Street and Traffic Bylaw. 

The amendments, outlined in a staff report on “Public Expression” would serve to constrain political activity in the City by requiring upwards of $1,200 in upfront fees and permitting costs for any political or non-commercial activity that utilizes a “structure, object, substance or thing” in the course of message making.

The proposed changes will be bundled into the existing Street and Traffic bylaw.  They are the result of a court case in which the City lost in its attempt to limit Falun Gong protests in front of the Chinese consulate.

The proposed amendments do not expressly ban structures and other “things,” but makes it highly impractical for certain kinds of demonstrations to go forward because of limitations that include

• A refundable security of $1,000 for removal of the structure;
• A maximum of four demonstration permits per year;
• Payment of $200 application fee to cover costs of application review ($50 fee for permit renewal of same structure and location);
• A guarantee that there will be no structures on city streets between 8pm and 8am.

After years of discussions between City planners, property owners, and members of the community, development in Northeast False Creek (NEFC) has taken its first major step toward construction after several evenings of public hearings over the last two weeks. The decisions regarding these applications and the details within will set the tone for future applications. A brief description of the first rezoning applications is:

1. 777 Pacific Boulevard (for the casino/entertainment complex and stadium improvements);
2. 10 Terry Fox Way (eastern side of the Cambie Bridge off-ramp, known as Concord area 5b East) and;
3. 10 Terry Fox Way (its western counterpart, 5b West)

The VPSN encourages anyone interested in learning more about the details of these applications to visit the City’s website and read the reports for each property. People also have the option of attending the next public hearing March 7th so they can share their concerns in person. Links to the Staff Reports to Council, and more information about the proposed development in Northeast False Creek can be viewed on the City’s webpages.
You can also see a longer VPSN blog post on the subject here.

On Thursday, January 20, 2011, Vancouver City Council will be reviewing two staff reports on the inter-related subjects of downtown and heritage area building heights and view corridors.  Tonight, Monday, January 17, the Planning Department staff are holding a public meeting and Q&A session on the subject.

7:00 - 8:30 pm
Empire Landmark Hotel (1400 Robson Street)
Crystal Ballroom (lobby level)

The first report – Implementation of “Vancouver Views” and Opportunities for Higher Buildings in the Downtown – recommends that Council formally adopt the changes to the view protection guidelines that were approved in principle in January 2010 (adding three new view corridors and affirming the 27 already in existence).  It also recommends that Council adopt a revised General Policy For Higher Buildings, which would allow consideration of higher buildings outside all but one of the protected public views in the Downtown area.  

The second report – Historic Area Height Review Policy Implementation – looks at height issues in portions of Gastown, Chinatown, Victory Square and Main and Hastings.  It recommends that Council support the rezoning of portions of Chinatown to allow for the creation of mid-rise development upwards of 120 feet in Chinatown South and Hastings and Main, as well as the creation of limited opportunities for larger buildings up to 150 feet.  The report notes that any rezoning undertaken in the Historic Area would need to comply with the protected view corridors.

The VPSN has written an Issues Note (PDF) on the subject that outlines some of the history of Vancouver's view corridors policy, considerations around public benefits, and a synopsis of what's at stake in the two reports currently being contemplated. 

A quick update from today's City Council session.  The motion to turn the 800 block on Robson into a public square has been referred to one of Thursday's Standing Committee meetings - either City Services and Budgets (9:30am), or Planning & Environment (2:00pm).

This is a good step - because it means that the motion will now be formally debated.  It also means that there is still time for you to have your voice heard on this important initiative - either by sending Mayor and Council a note of support, or by signing up to speak on Thursday.