Vancouver City Council

MOTION ON NOTICE

Submitted by Councillor Sullivan for June 24 Regular Council Meeting

Industrial Lands (File )

MOVER: Councillor Sullivan
SECONDER: Councillor

WHEREAS, the City of Vancouver has lost industrial land over the last few decades from 2,400 acres in 1973 to 1,700 acres in 1999.

AND WHEREAS, an adequate supply of industrial land is vitally important to the economic health of Vancouver and the diversity of jobs is critical in providing employment opportunities for the very diverse Vancouver population .

AND WHEREAS City Council passed an Industrial Land Policy in 1996 outlining the need to preserve industrial lands.

AND WHEREAS the development of the I 3 zone and the highway-oriented retail areas on Marine Drive and Grandview Highway reduced the opportunities for some traditional industries by an additional 160 acres, bringing the supply of industrial down to 1540 acres, less that 5% of the area of the City.

AND WHEREAS industrial Lands close to the Central Business District are essential to support downtown businesses. These lands function as the storeroom, refrigerator and repair room for the downtown and therefore advance sustainability principles by minimizing transportation movements, and energy and time involved in travel and goods movement. As the housing, office, and entertainment sectors increase in the City, so will the need for city-serving industries.

AND WHEREAS there have been discussions in the public about the possibility of reducing even further the opportunities for industrial land.

AND WHEREAS industrial land in the City is currently trading at higher than the rents indicate.

AND WHEREAS many industrial operators cannot get long-term leases that would enable them to invest in industrial buildings.

AND WHEREAS the vacancy rate in industrial lands is less than 2%.

AND WHEREAS uncertainty of Council as to their determination to protect the Industrial Lands will lead to instability of the land base and the exodus of jobs from the city.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Council confirm its unequivocal support for the Industrial Lands Strategy and the goals of preserving industrial lands in the City and will not permit further reduction without a comprehensive review of the needs of industry, transportation and servicing of the downtown and other businesses in the City.

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