TEAM on business: protect industrial land, lower parking rates and local procurement
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would protect industrial and commercial land from residential rezoning, cut property taxes and fees for small businesses, keep curbside parking and lower its rates, rent city-owned commercial space for less, buy locally and speed up business permits.
ECONOMY AND CULTURE
Economic Development: what the Our Positions says
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver calls its business plan "A Local Economy that Works for Residents". The party argues that the city depends too much on real estate, that land speculation has pushed up land values, and that high property taxes and fees have driven small businesses off the main streets. Its stated goal is to keep existing companies and help them grow while attracting new ones.
Land is at the centre of the plan. TEAM would keep industrial and commercial land for jobs and refuse to rezone it mainly for housing, and it would stop what it calls inflationary upzoning, which raises land values and the taxes that come with them. Small businesses would pay less in property tax and fees, and city-owned commercial space would be rented at lower rates to local firms. The City's buying power would be used to favour local suppliers.
For main streets, TEAM would keep curbside parking in neighbourhood business areas, except at peak hours on arterial roads, and lower parking rates. It would support businesses during construction, work with the city's 22 Business Improvement Associations, and speed up permits for new and growing firms. Film and television would get easier permits and use of city property, and the party would back tourism and the convention trade with Destination Vancouver.
Council sets business licence fees, parking rates, zoning and the city's purchasing rules, and it decides how city property is leased, so most of this is within its power. Regional business attraction is led by Invest Vancouver, which the party describes as an arm of Metro Vancouver, so on that item the city works as a partner.
THE PARTY'S NUMBERS
Figures in this chapter
Business Improvement Associations in Vancouver, by the party's count
The party's figure15 COMMITMENTS
What the party says it would do
Protect industrial and commercial land
TEAM would protect existing industrial and commercially zoned lands for future economic growth, meaning it would not rezone these lands for mainly residential development. Its summary page says this would end the over-reliance on real estate speculation.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council zones commercial and industrial land.
A more diverse economy less dependent on real estate
The party would support a more diversified and resilient local economy that does not depend on real estate development, reflected in land use planning, rezoning and permit processes aimed at business viability and job creation.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council controls land use planning, rezoning and permits.
Engage Business Improvement Associations through neighbourhood planning
TEAM would use its neighbourhood-based planning to engage the city's 22 Business Improvement Associations, local businesses and residents in shaping the future of their commercial areas. Its pages also say it would support the associations' work to reduce barriers to opening and running a business and to use neighbourhood branding in planning.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council approves Business Improvement Associations and runs neighbourhood planning.
Lower rents on city-owned commercial property
The party would use City-owned commercial properties to support local economic development through targeted leasing and more affordable rents.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council decides how city-owned property is leased.
Lower property taxes and fees for small businesses
TEAM would reduce the property tax burden and regulatory fees for local small businesses, including protecting them from steep property tax increases caused by upzoning of their area.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council sets the property tax rate and city fees.
Stop inflationary land upzoning
The party's summary page says it would stop inflationary land upzoning, which it links to rising land values on main streets.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council decides on rezonings.
Keep curbside parking in business areas
TEAM would retain curbside parking in all neighbourhood business areas, except during peak travel periods on arterial roads, to support customer access.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city controls parking on its streets.
Lower parking rates in local shopping areas
The party would lower parking rates in neighbourhood business areas to support local shops and services.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council sets city parking rates.
Buy local through city procurement
TEAM would use the city's buying power in procurement to better support local businesses, and look at the City's procurement process to prioritize them.
- Who has the power
- City Council Council sets the city's purchasing policy.
Work with Destination Vancouver on tourism
The party would work with Destination Vancouver and other destination marketing organizations to support the local visitor economy.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Destination Vancouver is a separate tourism organization, so the city works with it as a partner.
Support the film and television industry
TEAM would support the city's film and television industry through easier and faster permits for location filming, parking and other rules, use of city properties and facilities for film production, and priority for local suppliers and service providers.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city issues film permits and controls city property and street parking.
Support the convention industry
The party would support the convention industry by addressing concerns of event planners and visitors, such as crime and safety, community vibrancy and transportation.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The city can act on its own services, but policing is directed by the Vancouver Police Board and transit by TransLink.
Faster permits for new and growing businesses
TEAM would streamline the permitting process for opening or expanding a business, from small local shops to major industries and large employers.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city issues business licences and development permits.
Support businesses during construction
The party would support local businesses during periods of construction. Its summary page says this would prevent the hollowing out of neighbourhoods.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city manages construction on its streets and can fund support programs.
Work with Invest Vancouver on economic development
TEAM would provide local economic development opportunities that draw on regional, provincial and federal initiatives led by Invest Vancouver and other agencies. The party describes Invest Vancouver as an arm of Metro Vancouver that leads regional efforts to attract larger companies.
- Who has the power
- Regional body Invest Vancouver is run at the regional level, so the city works with it as a partner.
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT
Where the power sits for this chapter
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about economic development
What is TEAM for a Livable Vancouver's plan for small business?
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would cut property taxes and regulatory fees for small businesses, protect them from tax increases caused by upzoning, keep curbside parking, lower parking rates, rent city-owned commercial space for less and support businesses during construction (TEAM Economic Development page).
Would TEAM protect industrial land in Vancouver?
Yes. TEAM says it would protect existing industrial and commercially zoned land for future economic growth and would not rezone it mainly for housing (TEAM Economic Development page).
Does TEAM want cheaper parking on Vancouver shopping streets?
Yes. TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would lower parking rates in neighbourhood business areas and keep curbside parking there, except during peak travel periods on arterial roads (TEAM Economic Development page).
What would TEAM do for the film industry?
TEAM says it would make permits for location filming and parking easier and faster, open city properties and facilities for film production, and give priority to local suppliers and service providers (TEAM Economic Development page).
What is TEAM's A Local Economy that Works for Residents plan?
It is the name TEAM for a Livable Vancouver gives its economic plan. The party says it would end the city's over-reliance on real estate speculation by diversifying the economy, strengthening commercial areas and protecting industrial land (TEAM Economic Development page).
Can Vancouver City Council cut business taxes?
Council sets the property tax rate, business licence fees and parking rates each year, so TEAM's tax and fee promises would need a Council majority. Tourism and regional business attraction involve outside partners (TEAM Economic Development page).
ON THE BALLOT
The TEAM for a Livable Vancouver candidates behind this
Sources
Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it.
- TEAM economic development, learn more SAYS SO ITSELFTEAM for a Livable Vancouver · checked