Thank you to everyone for your recent efforts opposing the proposed tower development at 2202–2212 West 10th Avenue. It is inspiring to see the SJS community so united in protecting our school’s environment.
We hoped to have more news for our community, however due to the volume of items on the Council’s agenda on February 17, the public hearing for the rezoning of the proposed tower development was rescheduled by Council for Wednesday, March 4.
What Happens Now?
The delay provides a critical window of time to strengthen opposition. It also gives the developers time to strengthen their support, and therefore it is more important than ever that the community’s concerns are clearly and overwhelmingly represented on the official record.
To ensure Council understands the depth of concern, community members who have not done so in the last month are urged to add their written comments.
For those who have already submitted, please consider encouraging others in our community to add their voices. The number of individual submissions is a key metric that Council uses to gauge community impact and this is looked at before the hearing. It is vital that opposition remains the dominant message they receive.
- Action: Submit Written Comments
Copy the suggested text below and submit it through the City’s Public Hearing Feedback Form (Subject: CD-1 Rezoning 2202–2212 West 10th Avenue and 2221 Marstrand Avenue). It only takes two minutes.
- Public Hearing Details
The hearing will now take place on Wednesday, March 4, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Community members are still very much welcome to register to speak if they wish to share concerns directly with Council. Those who do plan to speak are asked to notify communications@sjs.ca so that messages can be coordinated.
Thank you for continuing to support the school at this important time in our history.
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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.
