A Vancouver hospice and its supporters have defeated a proposed townhouse development next door.

Moving forward, they are open to work with the developer to explore new options for the property at 4575 Granville Street.

These include the possibility of the hospice buying the lot, where it can build a facility for seniors needing care.

On a 7-4 vote, city council on Tuesday (June 25) rejected a rezoning application to develop two 3.5-storey townhouse buildings adjacent to the hospice.

Voting in favour of the rezoning were Mayor Kennedy Stewart, and councillors Christine Boyle, Lisa Dominato, and Melissa De Genova.

The councillors who cast a no vote were Rebecca Bligh, Adriane Carr, Pete Fry, Colleen Hardwick, Sarah Kirby-Yung, Jean Swanson, and Michael Wiebe.

The Vancouver Hospice Society (VHS) opposed the project because of its size and scale.

According to the hospice operator, the development will be disruptive to its residents and their loved ones, and might lead to the facility’s closure.

VHS executive director Simin Tabrizi told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview Wednesday (June 26) that the hospice devoted a lot of time and resources to oppose the project.

With council’s rejection of the rezoning application, Tabrizi said that the hospice now “has time to really breathe a little”.

Tabrizi indicated that the hospice, which is located at 4615 Granville Street, has work ahead in connection with the neighbouring property to its north.

“We recognize that development is a fact of life, and that we want to take a constructive look at what’s possible,” Tabrizi said. “We have previously approached the owner to maybe possibly sell the land to us, and do the development at a different site because…we recognize there is need for housing in the city.”

Moreover, if the developer is willing, Tabrizi said her organization is “willing to work with them to reconsider their plans and revise it in a way that is not so assaultive to the hospice”.

Asked what the hospice will do if it acquires 4575 Granville Street, Tabrizi said that one of the ideas is to “use this site to develop a very small housing transitional housing…for seniors”.

According to Tabrizi, there is a large number of adults who need care in a residential setting.