City / Region Info & Reports

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Sign up to provide your opinion to the City via Talk Vancouver and Shape Your City. They will notify you of issues being discussed by City Council and offer you a chance to provide your opinion via polling, public meetings, and notes to council.

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Planning & Development

• A 30-year strategy for the City was adopted in July 2022. It is called the Vancouver Plan and includes elements of special relevance to West Southlands (for example, see pages 92, 105, 112, 141). There's a short fun video outlining the plan and next steps. We asked the City how the plan might affect West Southlands. Here are the questions and answers.

• Pursuant to the Vancouver Plan, in 2023, the City approved new zoning to allow "missing middle housing" in all residential areas. Here is a video about the missing middle. The new R1-1 zoning is now in place, allowing 4 units on every 33-ft lot and 6 units on every 50 to 66-ft lot. There are exceptions that affect our neighbourhood: homes with designated heritage status; and lots in a designated floodplain. Here is a guide.

• Laneway housing info & guide

 

Potential ways to lower or defer your property taxes

• via special assessments for long-time property owners

• via the provincial tax deferral program
   

Contact the city, litter clean-up, permits, etiquette

• There are many ways to contact the City about issues (e.g., streets, water, sewer, downed trees, parks, garbage) including the new Van311 app

• Airport (YVR) noise complaints: 604-207-7097 or noise@yvr.ca

• Vancouver odour complaints: smell-Vancouver.ca

• Sewage odour complaints should go to MetroVancouver on the following website or by phoning 604-436-6777

• Adopt-a-block - neighbourhood residents can volunteer to maintain their block

• Security alarm permits

• Tree removal permits​​

• Etiquette in off-leash dog parks

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Flood Prevention

• Adopt-a-catch-basin - make sure the catch basin on your block is kept clear & drains storm water properly

• Contact the City about drainage problems via 311 (see above)

• Info on how to create your own rain garden

• BC government info on getting ready before a potential flood

• University of Waterloo flood protection resources

• Sand bag options:

  • available at some hardware & home supply stores

  • do-it-yourself option described by a West Southlands resident: "Lay out plastic, then dig up dirt & pile it on, folding the plastic back over the dirt with the fold facing out towards the direction water is coming from. Then a few more shovelfuls on top to hold the plastic in place. Works great."

• Leak, flooding and sewage problems including contact for water gushing out of sewer cover​

• Recovering after a flood - managing mould, claiming insurance​

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Emergency Preparedness

• Power outages - Info from utilities about what to do

  • BC Hydro power outage info

  • 1 800 BCHYDRO (1 800 224 9376) or *HYDRO (*49376) on your mobile phone​

  • Fortis power outage info

• BC government info on preparing for a severe weather event​ (heat, drought, storms)

• Free Emergency Preparedness workshops  - schedule and sign-up

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Transport 2050​ is TransLink's regional transportation plan - about bus, rapid transit, street, bridge, walking, and cycling networks. You can participate in surveys about regional transportation via TransLink Listens.

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Vancouver Heritage Register - full list of addresses, including 6275 Dunbar also listed as one of Canada’s Historic Places 

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Report cards on the city government's performance on climate change, housing, policing, ambulance response times and equity

 

Vancouver Police department weekly crime reports - This report provides data on crime throughout the City. West Southlands is typically a low crime neighbourhood. A local policing office is located in the Dunbar Community Centre. The non-emergency number is (604) 717-3321 

 

Iona Island Waste Water Treatment project - $10-billion project includes a berth for barges on the Fraser River by Deering Island (contact number: 604 432 6200)

 

MetroVancouver November 2020 Report on Regional Greenways 2050​​​​ proposes a route along the north arm of the Fraser River from the west to the east of the region (see Map 1, p. 20)

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