The City of Vancouver is seeking public input into the newly revised Jericho Lands Planning Program that now envisions over 40 per cent more housing density than the earlier concept.

The Phase Four site plan was unveiled last Friday, June 16. The deadline to complete the survey is July 16.

There are few chances left for residents to comment on the massive project before the plans go to City Council for consideration, which is expected to be sometime this fall. The vote would be on the site plan only. The City has already held three open houses for residents to view the Phase 4 plans.

The revised plans now include 13,000 units for roughly 24,000 people, up from the previous plan for 9,000 units to accommodate 15,000-18,000 residents, i.e., a 44 per cent increase in the number of units. At least 30 per cent of the total residential building floor area will be affordable housing, including 20 per cent social housing and 10 per cent secured rental housing for those with moderate incomes.

Additionally, Phase Four will see a 360-space daycare, a community centre, and even a public elementary school. The developers are also hoping to add a subway stop right under the three tallest towers — 49-storey sentinels representing each Nation.

Most of the taller towers, now rising between 20 to 30 storeys, will be situated at the lowest part of the site (closest to the beach) — ­­­another change from the previous plan.

While many see the mega-project as a welcome addition to help deal with Vancouver’s housing crisis, the Jericho Coalition, a community group that formed to fight the massive development, and many of those more intimate with the plan, say they are extremely disappointed with the changes.

“Completely outrageous,” is how one Coalition member described it.

Susan Fisher, a member of the City-organized, Jericho planning program working group, said the increased density is “appalling… It’s an ugly, greedy, unimaginative plan. It’s all about maximizing profit.”

Another Jericho Coalition member, who asked not to be identified, said many people are afraid to criticize the plan because it is Indigenous. “To me, it’s just another big development operation.” The Coalition says it will be announcing its own alternative plan for the Jericho Lands in weeks to come.

“Hi-rise towers is one way of increasing density, but do we really want this ‘Metrotown’ right by the beach?” asked the Coalition member. “Lower-rise buildings are always cheaper to produce, and they could offer units at a lower price. We don’t want another Oakridge here.” The Jericho Coalition, he said, is proposing a plan to foster a liveable community, adding that “what they [landowners] are proposing is piggy banks in the sky.”

According to the Jericho Lands website, there will be multiple occasions for public consultation. If the rezoning receives Council approval, the owners would be required to apply for permits for individual buildings. And construction would not begin until 2028. The timeline for the Lands to be built out is estimated to be 20-30 years.

David Negrin is CEO for MST (Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh). He is the former president of Aquilini Developments, which will be leading site construction once approvals have been granted.

Photo: Aerial of Jericho Lands. Credit: MST Development Corp./Canada Lands Corp.