Vancouver Council Approves Apartment Development on School Land

The Vancouver City Council has approved a plan to rezone a section of land at Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary School in East Vancouver, allowing for the construction of an apartment building. The decision, made on Thursday evening, followed a public hearing where council members listened to presentations from city staff, the developer, and community members.

During the public session, local resident and school alumnus Ishaan Lal voiced his concerns about the loss of green space for students. He emphasized the need for better recreational areas, stating, “I believe we deserve something better, something greener. Fleming does not have a real field. There’s no grass to run on. No soft place to fall.” The school currently features a gravel field adjacent to a parking lot, which many community members believe is inadequate for the growing student population.

The land, owned by the Vancouver School Board (VSB), has been under a 99-year lease agreement with Vittori Lanark Holdings Ltd. for $8.5 million. This arrangement came after an engagement and disposition process led by the VSB, which sought to address the need for housing while managing school facilities.

Concerns regarding capacity were raised by Heman Mehta, chair of the Fleming District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) and a parent of students at the school. He criticized the decision as short-sighted, highlighting that the school serves over 400 students, a number expected to increase. Mehta remarked, “Where are all these kids going to fit? It’s not a matter of 99 years. We’re actually talking about the next generation.” He further warned that if the school exceeds its capacity, the only option for additional classrooms would be to place portable units on the gravel field, which would limit outdoor recreational activities.

The developer, Vittori Developments, plans to construct a six-storey mixed-use apartment building, with 20 percent of the units designated as below-market housing. At the public hearing, Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung acknowledged the community’s concerns but emphasized the pressing need for more housing. She pointed out, “We have a low vacancy rate in the city as a whole. We’ve heard that it’s low particularly in this neighbourhood.”

The vote was not unanimous; Mayor Ken Sim, along with Councillors Pete Fry and Rebecca Bligh, were absent, while Councillors Sean Orr and Lucy Maloney opposed the rezoning. Maloney expressed her concerns about the long-term implications, stating, “We know that we’re going to be having more people move into this neighbourhood. We’re going to need to preserve that public open space. It’s another short-term decision where we don’t know the long-term consequences.”

The council’s decision reflects a growing tension between the need for housing and the preservation of community resources, particularly in areas experiencing rapid population growth. As Vancouver grapples with housing shortages, the implications of this rezoning will be closely monitored by both community members and city officials.