Vancouver’s most famous quality might be its scenic backdrop of dazzling coastal mountains.

But city councilors have now voted in favor of cutting off the iconic vistas for some residents. The plan is to liberalize planning guidelines to make it easier for homebuilders to erect extra, higher towers — at the cost of cutting off views.

The proposal to eliminate and narrow a series of so-called “view cones” that restricted development is part of an effort by Mayor Ken Sim to deal with the downside of the city’s desirability — it doesn’t have nearly enough houses, and home prices and rents have surged.