Public Meeting at Heritage Hall (January 17th, 2012)

From Residents Association of Mount Pleasant

There's an Open House next week RE: The 19-storey high-rise proposal at Broadway and Kingsway.

Tuesday, January 17th at Heritage Hall, 3102 Main at 15^th Ave.
Open House 5:30pm - 8pm (drop in anytime)

This is a City hosted event. It's critical to attend or at least to stop by, because the City will have a comment sheet available that you can fill out.
Rize Alliance is still proposing a massive, 214-foot concrete and glass tower over the heart of Mount Pleasant.  The top of their newest "19-storey" design lines up with the middle of the 24th floor of their first design.  Surrounding this tower they plan a street wall on Kingsway, Broadway, and Watson from 77 to 115 feet tall,  all higher than the heritage Lee Building across the street.
The density proposed is 5.38 times what is allowed outright.
RAMP advocates:

• a tower with a maximum height of 70-feet surrounded by 3 and 4 storey buildings at 3.0 FSR (the maximum conditional density).  This height and density are in accord with what the City Zoning By-law, Design Guidelines and Community Plan recommends.

• a new development that is consistent with the current scale of the properties surrounding the “Heritage Heart" triangle of Mount Pleasant. 

• the use of renewable BC wood-frame construction to promote affordability, sustainability, and local jobs. 

• a lower building form and FSR will have less impact on land values, property taxes and rents in the neighbourhood, resulting in less displacement of low-income residents and small businesses. 

• Historic Watson Street be used for bicycles and pedestrians, and not for trucks, loading bays, and parking ramps.

RAMP recommends rejecting this rezoning application in its present form, and to direct the proponent to come up with a plan that reflects and respects the scale and feel of Mount Pleasant.
This will likely be the last time the public will have an opportunity to have a say before the final report goes to City Council.  If you are opposed to this precedent-setting development at this critical site, come out and HAVE YOUR SAY, even if you have expressed your opposition previously.

We are concerned that the discussion at this Open House might again be centered around ‘amenities’ instead of the height, density, character and impact on the neighbourhood.
Check out our website under 'Start Here', 'Take Action' and see what else you can do. http://www.rampvancouver.com
Cheers

Residents Association Mount Pleasant
See Page: http://www.rampvancouver.com/item/21/take-action/