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422 Sixth Street

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Consultation has concluded


Project Update, June 27, 2023: At its regular meeting on June 26, 2023, Council gave First, Second, and Third Readings to the Rezoning Bylaw. Council also discussed the additional consultation events held on June 19 and directed staff to work with the rezoning applicant to implement the recommended mechanisms in response to issues raised during the application review process. Click here to access the Council recording and reports, including the draft Good Neighbour Agreement and Community Advisory Committee Terms of Reference. Click here for the Council recording of the bylaw readings (later in the same meeting).



Project Update, June 21, 2023: The recording from the webinar session on Monday (June 19) is now available. Please see below. As well, City staff have prepared a summary of the key themes heard at the two additional consultation events held on June 19, as well as the City's response to this feedback.

Click here to access the full report to Council, which is on the agenda for the June 26, 2023 regular Council meeting. The Council package includes a report about the two events, the summary of key themes and City responses, and the presentations from both events.

Council will consider giving First, Second and Third Readings to the rezoning bylaw at the June 26 Council meeting. The meeting, which starts at 6:00 pm, is open to the public and is streamed online.




Project Update, June 6, 2023: New questions and answers have been added to the FAQs based on questions and concerns we've heard from community members. Click here to read the questions and answers, including: What is the intake and assessment process? How would the residence be staffed? What types of supports will be offered? What's the difference between the housing proposed and the nightly shelter on Front Street? And more.

New sessions added on June 19

At Council’s direction, two new opportunities are being provided for community members to learn more about the supportive housing proposal at 422 Sixth Street. These two upcoming sessions – both scheduled for Monday, June 19, 2023 – will focus on sharing the concerns we’ve heard from the community to date, and the response and mitigation efforts to address these concerns.

OPTION 1: Dialogue-based, in-person session
Join your fellow neighbours and City staff for a short presentation and small-group conversations.

OPTION 2: Virtual presentation and Q&A
Watch this webinar to hear a short presentation and write your questions for City staff to address.

Can't make it to either session? Email your feedback to Mayor and Council at clerks@newwestcity.ca


Project Update, May 25, 2023: The opportunity to provide feedback through the City-led consultation process has now concluded; however, you can still e-mail project feedback to us at clerks@newwestcity.ca and address your comments to Mayor and Council. Please note that we will not be able to respond to any questions until after the May 29, 2023 Council Meeting. We will ensure that feedback provided is circulated to the project team.

Click here to read the summary of feedback received to date and presented to Council at the May 29 Council meeting.

The staff report is going to Council on May 29, 2023 and will include a summary of the feedback received during the City-led consultation process, as well as any feedback submitted directly to staff during the project review process. This report will be posted on this page once it is available. Additionally, staff will be providing a presentation to Council in conjunction with this report to outline the key aspects of the proposal, as well as to clarify any misconceptions.

To further supplement the consultation, and given some misinformation currently circulating in the community, staff have circulated a letter to nearby businesses and residents to provide further information related to supportive housing, including highlighting how the use is different than a minimal-barrier emergency shelter or an overdose prevention or supervised consumption site and the nature of the supports provided. Click here to read this letter, which has also been posted on this webpage under Documents, and is included in the staff report to Council.


What's being proposed?

A rezoning application has been received from the Lower Mainland Purpose Society to convert the top two floors of the existing four-storey commercial building at 422 Sixth Street for up to 30 supportive housing units. This is longer-term housing, which offers a range of supports to assist with successful tenancy and transition to more independent living. It involves an intake process to determine suitability for a placement, and is not intended for individuals who may be active in their addiction.

Supportive housing is very different from a minimal barrier emergency shelter, with the latter providing short-term or nightly shelter, offering limited or no supports, having few barriers with regard to a placement, and accepting individuals who may be active in their addiction. Supportive housing is also very different from an overdose prevention or supervised consumption site, with the latter facilitating witnessed consumption while on-site and serving the larger community, including through the distribution of harm reduction supplies.

A rezoning is necessary, as the proposed supports to assist with successful tenancy and transition to more independent living are not a permitted use within the current zone, though the rental units are permitted. As such, the site is proposed to be rezoned from Community Commercial Districts (High Rise) (C-3) (C-3A) zoning to a Comprehensive Development (CD) zoning district to permit supportive housing units above the ground floor, in addition to the uses permitted in the existing C-3 and C-3A zones.

The proposed layout of the upper two floors consists of up to 15 individual units per floor with shared bathroom, kitchenette, and common areas. The ground floor and basement would be utilized for office, program, and catering uses, which are permitted under the existing zoning. No exterior changes to the building are proposed. As such, no Development Permit is required and the project would be permitted to advance directly to the Building Permit stage for the interior renovations.


How can I provide feedback?

City-led consultation on the proposed rezoning has now concluded. The City-led consultation is an opportunity for public input before the project proposal is finalized and presented to Council for consideration of approval.

This consultation may potentially take the place of the Public Hearing. When Council considers this project for approval, anticipated early summer 2023, they will decide if a Public Hearing is needed. To provide feedback on the application, please complete the survey below on this page.

Click here to read the summary of feedback received and presented to Council on this rezoning application.


Project Update, June 27, 2023: At its regular meeting on June 26, 2023, Council gave First, Second, and Third Readings to the Rezoning Bylaw. Council also discussed the additional consultation events held on June 19 and directed staff to work with the rezoning applicant to implement the recommended mechanisms in response to issues raised during the application review process. Click here to access the Council recording and reports, including the draft Good Neighbour Agreement and Community Advisory Committee Terms of Reference. Click here for the Council recording of the bylaw readings (later in the same meeting).



Project Update, June 21, 2023: The recording from the webinar session on Monday (June 19) is now available. Please see below. As well, City staff have prepared a summary of the key themes heard at the two additional consultation events held on June 19, as well as the City's response to this feedback.

Click here to access the full report to Council, which is on the agenda for the June 26, 2023 regular Council meeting. The Council package includes a report about the two events, the summary of key themes and City responses, and the presentations from both events.

Council will consider giving First, Second and Third Readings to the rezoning bylaw at the June 26 Council meeting. The meeting, which starts at 6:00 pm, is open to the public and is streamed online.




Project Update, June 6, 2023: New questions and answers have been added to the FAQs based on questions and concerns we've heard from community members. Click here to read the questions and answers, including: What is the intake and assessment process? How would the residence be staffed? What types of supports will be offered? What's the difference between the housing proposed and the nightly shelter on Front Street? And more.

New sessions added on June 19

At Council’s direction, two new opportunities are being provided for community members to learn more about the supportive housing proposal at 422 Sixth Street. These two upcoming sessions – both scheduled for Monday, June 19, 2023 – will focus on sharing the concerns we’ve heard from the community to date, and the response and mitigation efforts to address these concerns.

OPTION 1: Dialogue-based, in-person session
Join your fellow neighbours and City staff for a short presentation and small-group conversations.

OPTION 2: Virtual presentation and Q&A
Watch this webinar to hear a short presentation and write your questions for City staff to address.

Can't make it to either session? Email your feedback to Mayor and Council at clerks@newwestcity.ca


Project Update, May 25, 2023: The opportunity to provide feedback through the City-led consultation process has now concluded; however, you can still e-mail project feedback to us at clerks@newwestcity.ca and address your comments to Mayor and Council. Please note that we will not be able to respond to any questions until after the May 29, 2023 Council Meeting. We will ensure that feedback provided is circulated to the project team.

Click here to read the summary of feedback received to date and presented to Council at the May 29 Council meeting.

The staff report is going to Council on May 29, 2023 and will include a summary of the feedback received during the City-led consultation process, as well as any feedback submitted directly to staff during the project review process. This report will be posted on this page once it is available. Additionally, staff will be providing a presentation to Council in conjunction with this report to outline the key aspects of the proposal, as well as to clarify any misconceptions.

To further supplement the consultation, and given some misinformation currently circulating in the community, staff have circulated a letter to nearby businesses and residents to provide further information related to supportive housing, including highlighting how the use is different than a minimal-barrier emergency shelter or an overdose prevention or supervised consumption site and the nature of the supports provided. Click here to read this letter, which has also been posted on this webpage under Documents, and is included in the staff report to Council.


What's being proposed?

A rezoning application has been received from the Lower Mainland Purpose Society to convert the top two floors of the existing four-storey commercial building at 422 Sixth Street for up to 30 supportive housing units. This is longer-term housing, which offers a range of supports to assist with successful tenancy and transition to more independent living. It involves an intake process to determine suitability for a placement, and is not intended for individuals who may be active in their addiction.

Supportive housing is very different from a minimal barrier emergency shelter, with the latter providing short-term or nightly shelter, offering limited or no supports, having few barriers with regard to a placement, and accepting individuals who may be active in their addiction. Supportive housing is also very different from an overdose prevention or supervised consumption site, with the latter facilitating witnessed consumption while on-site and serving the larger community, including through the distribution of harm reduction supplies.

A rezoning is necessary, as the proposed supports to assist with successful tenancy and transition to more independent living are not a permitted use within the current zone, though the rental units are permitted. As such, the site is proposed to be rezoned from Community Commercial Districts (High Rise) (C-3) (C-3A) zoning to a Comprehensive Development (CD) zoning district to permit supportive housing units above the ground floor, in addition to the uses permitted in the existing C-3 and C-3A zones.

The proposed layout of the upper two floors consists of up to 15 individual units per floor with shared bathroom, kitchenette, and common areas. The ground floor and basement would be utilized for office, program, and catering uses, which are permitted under the existing zoning. No exterior changes to the building are proposed. As such, no Development Permit is required and the project would be permitted to advance directly to the Building Permit stage for the interior renovations.


How can I provide feedback?

City-led consultation on the proposed rezoning has now concluded. The City-led consultation is an opportunity for public input before the project proposal is finalized and presented to Council for consideration of approval.

This consultation may potentially take the place of the Public Hearing. When Council considers this project for approval, anticipated early summer 2023, they will decide if a Public Hearing is needed. To provide feedback on the application, please complete the survey below on this page.

Click here to read the summary of feedback received and presented to Council on this rezoning application.

Consultation has concluded

Check out our FAQs before submitting your question. We may have already addressed your question.

Have a question about 422 Sixth Street? Add it here and we will aim to reply within five business days. For more complex questions or multiple queries, the response process may require additional time as we prepare a comprehensive answer. In these cases, we will aim to get back to you within 10 business days and kindly request your patience as we do so. If we think your question would be of interest to others, we'll post your question and our response here. Thanks!