Development Permit Board

Overview

Development permit applications that have significant importance because of scale, complexity, or public interest are typically referred to the Development Permit Board which reviews, makes recommendations and approves major developments.

All other development permit applications are reviewed by the Director of Planning or their delegates. The board is limited in its authority by the Official Development Plan (ODP) provisions enacted by Council and the existing Zoning and Development By-law, which outlines acceptable uses and building forms for the site.

The board cannot deny a development permit if it meets the zoning and ODP and guidelines, or approve a development if it does not fall within the zoning or ODP.

The board is composed of four senior staff members, including the chairperson and an advisory panel. Attendance at Development Permit Board meetings includes City staff, applicants and their representatives, and members of the public.

Get instructions on how to provide comments at an upcoming board meeting in the 'Meetings' tab.

COVID-19 update: online meetings

April 11, 2022: As a response to the health emergency, meetings may be convened by electronic means as authorized by Section 14.14 of the Procedure By-law. Advisory bodies may elect to conduct their meetings in person, by electronic means, or as a hybrid of the two.

Virtual meetings use Cisco WebEx Events. No software download is required. Use the link below to view the meeting live through your web browser. 

Next meeting: Monday, June 12 at 3pm (In-person meeting with live stream)

Time: 3pm

Join the meeting

Online meeting password: VDPB (25974495 from phones and video systems)

Webinar number:  2770 286 9816

Join by phone (audio only)

  • 1-604-646-8916
  • 1-855-699-3239 (Canada - toll-free)

Access code: 2770 286 9816

Items to be heard:

  • 105 Keefer Street (continued from May 29)
    Time: 3pm
    Contact: Jaime Lynn Borsa, Project Facilitator, 604-829-9782

Questions

If you have any questions, contact Kathy Cermeno at kathy.cermeno@vancouver.ca or May Sem at may.sem@vancouver.ca or dpb.info@vancouver.ca.

Following the meeting, minutes are posted online under the 'Meetings' tab.

If you intend to register as a public speaker, note that you will need to be present in the meeting room at the time of the meeting.

Overview

All Development Permit Board meetings are open to the public. Applicants or their representatives are present to discuss the application. Neighbours and others interested in the development may also attend and make presentations. Written submissions are also considered. Learn more about the new virtual Development Permit Board under the 'Meetings' tab.

All development applications considered by the Development Permit Board are first reviewed by the Development Permit Staff Committee, an inter-departmental City staff committee.

Reports

Reports of the Development Permit Staff Committee provide the basis for discussion at Development Permit Board meetings and include a recommendation from the staff committee.

You can access the committee's reports for each development:

  • Online in the Meetings tab on the Thursday before the meeting
  • By phoning the Assistant to the Board at 604-665-2168 or 604-873-7770

The process

  1. The board receives a presentation from a representative of the Development Permit Staff Committee (usually the development planner who is the staff person principally responsible for reviewing the application)
  2. The development planner outlines the key issues and recommendations of the Development Permit Staff Committee report
  3. Board and advisory panel members review the posted drawings and model of the proposed development
  4. The Board hears from the applicant, who is asked to respond specifically to the issues raised by the staff committee, and to state whether or not the recommendations contained in the staff committee report can be met
  5. Interested members of the public are invited to address the board
  6. A discussion takes place among members of the board and the advisory panel. Throughout the discussion, questions of all participants are dealt with through the board chair
  7. The board chair polls the advisory panel members for their advice
  8. The three board members debate the recommendation and a motion is made and voted on, the decision of the board is then announced. The chair is restricted in presenting any motions and only votes if two members are unable to reach an agreement.

Overview

The Board consists of four senior staff members, the Director of Development Services, who is Chair, the General Manager of Engineering Services, the Deputy City Manager and Director of Planning.  The Chair does not vote except when Board members present at a meeting are equal for and against a question, in which case the Chair shall have the right to exercise the casting vote.

Each Board member, except for the Director of Development Services, has an alternate or alternates.  If the Director of Development Services is unable to attend a Board meeting, she may appoint a Board member or any alternate of any Board member to act as Chair at that meeting on behalf, and in place, of the Director of Development Services.

Board members

Position Alternate(s)
Corrie Okell, Chair
Director – Permitting Services

 
Theresa O'Donnell
General Manager, Planning, Urban Design, and Sustainability		 Jason Olinek
Director, Development Planning
Lon LaClaire
General Manager, Engineering Services		 Karima Mulji
Director, Engineering Projects and Development Services
Andrea Law
General Manager, Development, Buildings, and Licensing		 Michelle Au
Assistant Director, Development Services

Meetings are to be held virtually via WebEx.

Reports will be available for viewing five days before the meeting. Hard copies of the report can also be obtained by contacting the Development Permit Board Assistant and will be available at the meeting.

The meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak to an item, register with the Development Permit Board Assistant by phone at 604-665-2168 or 604-873-7770, or by email at kathy.cermeno@vancouver.ca or may.sem@vancouver.ca.

Current Development Applications Development Permit Board (15 KB)

  • Bold items mark a change from the last publication
  • Italic items mark a tentative date

Learn about the Development Permit Board Advisory Panel

Learn about the Advisory Panel's role, members, meetings, and more.

Read more

Contact the Development Permit Board

Meeting coordinators

Kathy Cermeno
kathy.cermeno@vancouver.ca

May Sem
may.sem@vancouver.ca

General Development permit information

Email: dpb.info@vancouver.ca