Was it Mr. Mayor's "effin' hacks" comment that made him do it?

One day, I'll ask him.

For now, West End residents have learned that Mayor Gregor Robertson will hold off on a public hearing for a controversial market rental housing tower rezoning at 1401 Comox St.

This is the site of the now-closed St. John's Presbyterian Church.

Robertson also committed to inviting "community leaders" to meet with him about the city's plans for development in the West End. He announced the news Tuesday in a press release that was emailed to reporters.

"We've heard from the West End community that people are concerned about new development in their neighbourhood," Robertson said. "There's no question we need more rental housing, both in the West End and throughout Vancouver. However, it's clear that we also need more discussion about how rental housing goals and other critical needs can be met in the West End."

Back in July, at the end of a council meeting, Robertson used obscene language while referring to citizens who questioned the development in the West End and the creation of an advisory committee to make decisions on behalf of the neighbourhood.

Robertson, who forgot his microphone was still on, was heard on a YouTube audio clip joking with Vision Vancouver councillors Heather Deal and Tim Stevenson about the citizens.

"Who are all these f--kin'... who are these hacks, man?" the mayor asks Stevenson and Deal. "Are they... they NPA hacks?"

All three politicians later apologized.

Carole Walker, who ran for a council seat with COPE in the 1986 civic election, was one of the speakers that night. Walker has lived in the West End since 1966.

So what's she think of the mayor's latest move?

"What he's trying to do is recover a public image," Walker said. "He's under the gun and they're obviously nervous about it. Do I know that there's heart in it? I question that."

Walker pointed out that almost 10,000 signatures have been collected by a neighbourhood group opposing site-by-site rezonings in the West End without a comprehensive plan.

And Robertson, she said, is still set on creating the West End advisory committee, which will comprise 12 residents. Applications are being accepted until Sept. 10.

"I don't think it's democratic," she said. "How can 12 handpicked people truly speak for the community in a complicated, involved planning process?"

The development proposed for 1401 Comox St. falls under the city's Short Term Incentives for Rental program, commonly referred to as STIR. The application calls for a 22-storey tower, with 193 rental suites.

According to the city, STIR is a time limited program running until December 2011 to encourage the construction of market rental housing and create construction jobs in response to the economic recession.

Westbank and Peterson Group owns the property on Comox Street and Robertson said the developers have agreed to hold off on a public hearing. Westbank is the same developer that built the Woodward's redevelopment.

Other STIR sites are 1215 Bidwell St., 1240 Howe St., 1142 Granville St., 1418 East 41st, 963 East 19th and 3068 Kingsway. The projects account for about 1,000 units of housing.

mhowell@vancourier.com