The City of Vancouver has unexpectedly delayed the public hearing for the Casa Mia rezoning proposal that was set for Thursday, March 13.
A notice was posted on the city website tonight. It states: "Staff have removed Item #3, “1920 Southwest Marine Drive (Casa Mia)”, from the Public Hearing agenda on March 13, 2014. Staff and the applicant were unable to finalize the legal agreement securing heritage in time for the Public Hearing. A new date for the Public Hearing will be scheduled once the agreement is finalized."
The Southlands Community Association had been seeking a delay. It filed an application with B.C. Supreme court March 7 for an injunction to force the city to delay the public hearing. They appeared before the court Tuesday, March 11. Association spokeswoman Sheryl Spencer told the Courier via email Tuesday afternoon that the judge adjorned the injunction hearing without hearing the merits of the case because the developer had just returned from vacation and had not retained legal counsel. It's not clear when the application for the injunction will be heard. The city's communication department indicated to the Courier on Tuesday that the public hearing would go ahead.
The Southlands Community Association filed in BC Supreme Court March 7 an application for an injunction to force the City of Vancouver to delay its public hearing for the rezoning of the Casa Mia property. The application for the injunction will be heard March 11. - See more at: http://www.vancourier.com/news/developing-story-casa-mia-opponents-unleash-the-lawyers-1.888305#sthash.zLRAUfLy.dpuf
The Southlands Community Association filed in BC Supreme Court March 7 an application for an injunction to force the City of Vancouver to delay its public hearing for the rezoning of the Casa Mia property. The application for the injunction will be heard March 11. - See more at: http://www.vancourier.com/news/developing-story-casa-mia-opponents-unleash-the-lawyers-1.888305#sthash.zLRAUfLy.dpuf
The Southlands Community Association filed in BC Supreme Court March 7 an application for an injunction to force the City of Vancouver to delay its public hearing for the rezoning of the Casa Mia property. The application for the injunction will be heard March 11. - See more at: http://www.vancourier.com/news/developing-story-casa-mia-opponents-unleash-the-lawyers-1.888305#sthash.zLRAUfLy.dpuf
Spencer said speakers were told by bulk email mid-afternoon Wednesday about the postponement.
"We are shocked to learn of this indefinite postponement; particularly after the city and developer argued in court just yesterday against any delay in this review to accommodate the Southlands Community Association's Injunction hearing. This is yet another example of the haphazard and inconsistent approach the city and developer have taken to this application, which is simply too big and in the wrong place," she wrote in an email to the Courier.
"While we hope the city will take this opportunity for sober second thought, we cannot assume this fight is over. We see no indication in the city's last-minute email that they will be looking at the numerous important issues we raised about inconsistency with policies and plans, the flawed and dismissive process, the reckless precedent this sets, and the city's own Seniors Advisory Committee's lack of support for the project which is simply 'warehousing' seniors. Their disrespectful, 11th hour cancellation also exemplifies an ongoing lack of respect for our community."
Note: This story has been corrected since it was first posted.
