Vancouver City Staff Call for Public Hearing on Controversial West End Hotel Tower
Vancouver city staff have issued a recommendation that a proposed 25-storey hotel development in the West End should proceed to a public hearing, despite acknowledging significant community opposition to the project. The controversial proposal would see the replacement of the Rosellen, a four-storey hotel built in the 1950s, with a modern high-rise structure at 2030 Barclay Street near Stanley Park.
Development Details and Zoning Considerations
The Langley-based developer Marcon, represented by architect Henriquez Partners, has submitted a rezoning application for the project. The proposed design features a three-storey podium topped by a 25-storey tower containing 227 extended-stay units and 65 short-term hotel rooms, along with 70 underground parking stalls. City staff acknowledge that the proposal does not fully align with existing West End zoning bylaws but argue it meets "the primary intent" of Vancouver's revised hotel development policy, which encourages site-specific rezonings to increase hotel supply without displacing existing housing.
This application represents a revision of a previously rejected 29-storey hotel plan for the same location. The staff report notes that "the surrounding neighbourhood is predominately residential and consists of a mix of purpose-built low-rise rental and strata buildings ranging from three to 26 storeys."
Significant Community Opposition Emerges
Public consultation for the project has revealed substantial community resistance. According to city staff reports:
- 6,818 people visited the project explanation website, with 822 submitting comments
- 83% of those comments expressed opposition, primarily citing concerns about neighbourhood character, traffic, and parking impacts
- An additional 499 direct emails and letters were received, with approximately 480 opposing the application
- A petition with about 5,700 signatures was submitted by the opposition group Stop 2030 Barclay
The opposition group has employed dramatic messaging in their campaign, with slogans such as "A skyline invasion is coming" and "Monster hotel could ruin our neighbourhood." The developer cancelled a public information session last October, citing concerns about safety and crowd control.
Staff Recommendations and Conditions
City staff have recommended that council generally support rezoning the site but insist on a public hearing to allow residents to speak directly to council about the project. Staff have also outlined several conditions for potential approval:
- Minimizing shadowing effects on a nearby daycare facility
- Strengthening "the horizontal expression of the residential tower"
- Implementing improved lighting designs
The developer would be required to pay the city $6.3 million in various contributions, including developer fees, community amenity contributions, and funding for public artwork. The public hearing recommendation comes as Vancouver continues to grapple with balancing development needs with community concerns in one of its most densely populated neighbourhoods.
