Before the term of the previous Vancouver council ended, the chamber approved a number of area-wide rezoning proposals across the city.

These included the rezoning of 99 percent of single-family lots to allow duplexes in more than 67,000 properties.

One measure that was left behind was a plan to rezone two-family districts in Kitsilano and Kensington-Cedar Cottage in order to increase housing choices in the two neighbourhoods.

When this matter was brought before council in July this year, Green councillor Adriane Carr sought to have the proposal referred back to staff.

Carr wanted community consultations on the measure, but her motion was defeated.

The mass rezoning in Kitsilano and Kensington-Cedar Cottage, which is a part of the Making Room Housing Program, was referred to public hearing.

However, on September 19, on a motion by then Vision Vancouver councillor Heather Deal, the measure was punted to a new council.

By that time, council had received several correspondences against the mass rezoning, which outnumber those supporting the measure.

One of these letters in opposition came from the Dunbar Residents’ Association, which described the rezoning as a “belated and ill-conceived attempt to deal with long-standing affordability issues”.

The letter was signed by the association’s president, Colleen McGuinness.

With a new council taking office Monday (November 5), McGuinness wants to see one thing done about the deferred rezoning.

“I’d like them to consult with the community,” McGuinness told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview.

According to the McGuinness, the previous council did “nothing” to get the public’s input on the measure.

“In any other rezoning, the city has very specific requirements with regard to notification of the affected area, and in this particular case, they informed no one,” she said.

McGuinness suggested that it all had to do with political games by the then ruling party, Vision Vancouver.

“I think it was a last desperate effort by Vision before they were out of office,” McGuinness said.

Three members of the previous council sought new terms in the last October 20 election. They were councillors Deal, Carr, and Melissa De Genova. Carr and De Genova are returning as members of council, but Deal failed to secure a fresh mandate.