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You will recall that last year, we asked for your help in opposing the proposed 25-storey tower development directly across from SJS at 2202-2212 West 10th Avenue.
City officials noted the hundreds of submissions they received from our community, and it was truly inspiring to see so many of you voice our school’s concerns. We have continued to actively oppose the proposal:
- City officials toured the school and heard our concerns regarding the project.
- We hosted Westside Community Housing Association’s forum to mobilize residents.
- We welcomed a city councillor to our campus to demonstrate firsthand how this development would impact our children and neighbourhood.
Where We Stand Now
The City’s General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability has released their referral report to Council and the Council has referred the application to a public hearing on February 17. While they are formally recommending that Council approve the project, your efforts have already forced concessions from the developer.
Our Successes So Far
The report confirms that because of the concerns we raised regarding access to light, the developer has made the following changes:
- Axis Shift: The tower has been re-oriented to a north-south direction.
- Relocation: The tower has been shifted to the eastern edge of the site to reduce the duration of shadows on our playgrounds.
- Utility Building: Telus has been required to build a separate, smaller utility building on Marstrand Avenue.
- Crown Alteration: A specific “Condition of Approval” now requires the developer to explore “shaping and reducing the tower crown.”
We Still Need Your Help
Despite these wins, we face a strong challenge due to the Broadway Plan and the push for additional housing in the neighbourhood. The report to Council continues to recommend the 25-storey tower—a height that is 21 storeys higher than current zoning allows.
Of most concern, the City’s report explicitly admits: “A six-storey building height represents the baseline at which no shadows are cast onto school yards during school hours.” By choosing to recommend 25 storeys anyway, the City is knowingly prioritizing developer density over the natural light, health and safety of 580 children and our school community.
What We Need You To Do
We still have the opportunity to make our voices heard before and at the upcoming public hearing on February 17 from 6 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall.
- Before the hearing:
We ask that you submit your comments now to ensure they are on the record for Council as they consider the proposal. This is a different form to the previous one; even if you submitted previously, we ask that you do so again.
Below, we have provided suggested text that you can copy and paste into the public hearing feedback form (Subject: CD-1 Rezoning 2202-2212 West 10th Avenue and 2221 Marstrand Avenue). The form only takes a couple of minutes to complete and your voice continues to make a difference. - At the hearing:
You can register to speak at the hearing. If you register to speak, please let us know at communications@sjs.ca so we may coordinate our efforts.
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2202–2212 W 10th Ave Rezoning Application Comments for Submission to the Public Record
I am writing as a member of the St. John’s School (SJS) community to express my deep concern regarding the proposed tower development at 2202–2212 West 10th Avenue.
We understand and support the need for housing, but this proposal creates a direct conflict with the safety and well-being of the 580 children—aged 4 to 18—who learn and play directly across the street from the proposed development.
I urge you to reject this application for the following reasons:
We Should Be Reducing Risks Around Schools, Not Increasing Them
West 10th Avenue is a narrow, one-way street on a designated bike route, which is used by parents for drop-offs. The City’s Referral Report (p. 8) acknowledges the strain this creates by requiring major overrides like new raised protected bike lanes and a raised crosswalk at Vine St. just to manage the impact. This street is active with young children beyond standard school hours due to the school’s licensed after-school daycare. Adding the traffic and congestion of a high-rise tower here creates significant safety risks. We should be working to reduce risks in school zones, not adding to them.
Flexibility Should Be Used to Protect Children
The Broadway Plan is intended to be flexible and we should use that flexibility to protect children and communities. The City’s Referral Report (p. 5) explicitly admits that “a six-storey building height represents the baseline at which no shadows are cast onto school yards during school hours.” By recommending 25 storeys, the City is knowingly choosing developer density over the health and natural light of our children. This project brings extreme height out of keeping with the community, without offering meaningful benefits to the neighbourhood. Developer profit is being put ahead of the safety and protection of our children.
Request
I am asking you to reject the proposal in its current form. My objection is shared by our school community. Hundreds of objections to this proposal have already been submitted to “Shape Your City,” and we look forward to speaking to you directly at the public hearing. Our objections were also shared and echoed at a meeting of the West Side Community Housing Committee hosted at our school, to which the mayor and councillors were invited.
Please work with the developer to create a building that fits the area—one that respects the 6-storey “no-shadow” baseline and respects the safety and care of children over developer profit.
