The political party that challenged but eventually lost the last civic election in Burnaby has filed a complaint with the province’s ombudsperson over city hall’s rezoning practices.
On Tuesday, members of the Burnaby First Coalition (BFC) announced the Office of the Ombudsperson will investigate Burnaby’s rezoning practices in response to a complaint from Helen Ward, the chair of the party.
In a press conference outside city hall, Ward suggested the basic issue behind the complaint is that the city made changes to density and amended community plans without broad public consultation.
Specifically, she said in 2010 the city passed text amendments to “create supersize density” in Burnaby’s four town centres.
She also claimed consultation was to begin on the Metrotown community plan, but in 2011, the consultation was put on hold because city staff were too busy.
Ward said Burnaby did not do the required amendments and consultations prior to allowing rezoning for density far in excess of what existing community plans describe.
She argued the city was in violation of the Local Government Act and made the complaint to the ombudsperson.
A spokesperson for the Office of the BC Ombudsperson told the NOW it couldn’t say whether or not the complaint is being investigated, citing privacy concerns.
The BFC said the complaint is a direct response to the demoviction issues in Metrotown.
Ward criticized the city, suggesting apartments in the Maywood area of Metrotown are protected under the community plan but are still being demolished.
“I’d like to see a stop to the demolition of these apartments,” she said. “Burnaby has lots of land that could be developed without kicking people out.”
Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan said he is aware of the party’s complaint, but noted the city hasn’t received a copy from the ombudsperson.
In response, he said there is no basis for the complaint, suggesting the group is confusing the two issues.
The mayor explained in 2010 that staff came back with a text amendment to look at increased heights, and that the city followed the normal process, including a public hearing.
“At that time it was considered to be a fairly standard issue to look at an increase in building heights,” he told the NOW.
The mayor said at the same time there was a discussion of what will happen to the Metrotown plan to review any increases in density in the area, but staff decided not to do a review because staff were busy.
“That has become a mixed issue in their minds, the relative height and when the Metrotown plan would occur,” he said, noting a review of the Metrotown plan is currently underway.
Corrigan also defended the city against criticism for its role in the demoviction issue.
He said Metrotown already has existing zoning that allows multi-family units, arguing developers can demolish the buildings and rebuild within zoning and still make a profit. He said some have decided to wait while others have gone ahead with plans.
Corrigan suggested developers and owners were waiting for the review of the Metrotown plan before tearing down the buildings and some of the units were spared while they waited.
