The Trifecta of Control: Stealth. Speed. Complexity.
How BC’s Planning Reforms Are Undermining Local Democracy — Quietly, and Fast.
By Erick VillagomezIn the 1960s, planning decisions in Vancouver—like many North American cities—were made behind closed doors. Freeways bulldozed working-class neighbourhoods. “Urban renewal” was synonymous with demolition. Public input wasn’t sought; it was treated as an impediment. But Vancouver residents pushed back. They stopped a planned freeway, saved Strathcona, and gradually reoriented the city’s planning culture around community participation. Imperfect, yes—but built on the belief that people... Read more
