City of Vancouver releases draft Vancouver Plan

Vancouver has released its long-awaited draft Vancouver plan which will guide land use across the city to 2050.

The draft plan came after widespread engagement, including workshops, panel events, surveys, pop-up events and more beginning in 2019.

While the plan focuses on “three big ideas,” a key focus is on increasing density across the city, especially in the leafy, large-lot, west side neighbourhoods.

The three big ideas

1.  Equitable housing and complete neighbourhoods

To speed affordable housing choices, single family lots will be zoned for “multiplex areas,” including smaller scale missing middle, ground-oriented residential (2-3 storeys) and up to 4-6 storeys for rental or social housing.

This density will:

• leverage transit investments to support growing neighbourhoods;
• create opportunities for local-serving shops and services and home-based businesses; and
• create more complete, walkable neighbourhoods.

There will also be increased density in metro core areas, municipal town centres and rapid transit areas.

2.  An economy that works for all

The plan will:

• protect and expand industrial/ employment areas, business districts, and campus institutions and the diversity of jobs and activities they support;
• encourage a diverse, accessible mix of small businesses and jobs in neighbourhoods; and
• create a supportive business environment by updating city regulations to remove barriers.

3.  Climate protection and restoring ecosystems

The plan will:

• create people-first streets - safe, attractive, and support walking, biking, and transit;
• support construction and building methods that reduce energy consumption;
• support Indigenous, land-based cultural practices, stewardship, and learning;
• protect waterfronts, waterways and habitat and make space for natural thriving ecosystems;
• design infrastructure with nature in mind; and
• plant more trees in areas of the city with limited tree coverage to take advantage of all the natural benefits trees provide.