CITY OF VANCOUVER
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Planning Department
City Plans

M E M O R A N D U M July 24, 2000
TO:	Mayor Owen and Council
COPY TO:	Judy Rogers, City Manager Ulli Watkiss, City Clerk Francie Connell, Director of Legal Services Dave Rudberg, General Manager of Engineering Services
FROM:	Ann McAfee, Director of City Plans & Co-Director of Planning
SUBJECT:	Arbutus Corridor Official Development Plan

At the July 25, 2000, Council meeting, under Unfinished Business, I will be providing the staff summation to the Arbutus Corridor ODP Public Hearing. I will be making two recommendations.

A. Exclude Elevated SkyTrain from Designated Uses

Many speakers expressed concerns about an elevated SkyTrain. Council could amend the ODP to specify that elevated rapid transit is not a designated use. This amendment would reflect Council's previous motions to underground the Broadway-Commercial section of the first SkyTrain line and Phase 2 of the Broadway line.

To make this change Council would need to:

1. By resolution, amend the Arbutus Corridor Development Plan. An amended Arbutus Corridor Development Plan is attached as Appendix A..

If Council wishes to remove elevated rapid transit as a designated use, the Recommendation could be as follows:

"THAT the Arbutus Corridor Development Plan, adopted by Council on June 13, 2000, be amended by deleting the last two lines of Subsection 2.1 (a) and substituting the following:

but excluding:

(iv) motor vehicles except on City streets crossing the Arbutus Corridor; and
(v) any grade-separated rapid transit system elevated, in whole or in part, above the surface of the ground, of which one type is the rapid transit system known as "SkyTrain" currently in use in the Lower Mainland."

2. By by-law, adopt the amended Arbutus Corridor Development Plan as an Official Development Plan.

This amendment would signal the City's intent with respect to an elevated SkyTrain. However, as Council is aware, if at any time in the future there is a proposal to build elevated rapid transit, it would likely be an initiative of a senior government. As such, the ODP would only be advisory.

B. Initiate a Public Involvement Process

During the Public Hearing many speakers expressed a desire to participate in any future planning for rapid transit. Staff will be reporting to Council in September on City participation in a proposed TransLink study of the feasibility of developing a north-south rapid transit line in the next decade.

The proposed TransLink study has three steps:

1. July - September, 2000. Agency participation agreements.

2. September - March 2001 Analysis of demand for construction of the line during the next decade and review of funding options.

3. March 2001 - January 2002 - Depending on the results of Step 2, review and recommend route and technology option(s).

Step 2 will include opportunities for public participation in the Needs Assessment/ Concept Feasibility review.

If the TransLink study proceeds to Step 3 there will be an associated public process. However, at that point the City may also wish to undertake its own independent public consultation activities. During previous rapid transit discussions the City has adopted various principles for rapid transit development. Principles adopted as part of the Broadway Rapid Transit Study have guided City responses to transit design and development.

If, as a result of Step 2 of the TransLink study, there is an identified need to develop a north-south rapid transit line over the next decade, then it is advisable that the City recommend principles for route and technology selection and for design and development of the line. Council may wish todirect staff to report back on a public process to develop City principles for assessing future north-south rapid transit proposals. The process could include opportunities for participation by residents and businesses along potential north-south corridors and other interested persons. A possible recommendation follows:

"THAT, if the TransLink study proceeds to Step 3 -- route and technology selection, the Director of City Plans and the General Manager of Engineering Services report back on a public process to develop City principles for assessing north-south rapid transit proposals."

Ann McAfee

AMcA/ap

APPENDIX A

ARBUTUS CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN / OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Section 1 Background

1.1 Application

This plan applies to those lands in the City of Vancouver described as the Arbutus Corridor within the boundaries shown on Maps 1 to 25 attached to this plan.

1.2 Intent

The intent of this plan is to provide a context for the future of the Arbutus Corridor.

The Arbutus Corridor has been used for many years for a rail line and this plan accommodates this use, but also provides for a variety of other uses.

This plan is derived from broad public processes associated with the following existing City plans:

(a) CityPlan,
(b) Vancouver Transportation Plan, and
(c) Vancouver Greenways Plan,

which plans determined the importance of providing corridors for improved rapid transit and opportunities for increased walking and biking as part of the City's transportation network.

Section 2 Designations

2.1 Designations for the Arbutus Corridor

This plan designates all of the land in the Arbutus Corridor for use only as a public thoroughfare for the purposes only of:

(a) transportation, including without limitation:

(i) rail;
(ii) transit; and
(iii) cyclist paths

but excluding:

(iv) motor vehicles except on City streets crossing the Arbutus Corridor; and
(v) any grade-separated rapid transit system elevated, in whole or in part, above the surface of the ground, of which one type is the rapid transit system known as "SkyTrain" currently in use in the Lower Mainland;

(b) greenways, including without limitation:

(i) pedestrian paths, including without limitation urban walks, environmental demonstration trails, heritage walks and nature trails; and

(ii) cyclist paths.

2.2 Affordable, Rental and Special Needs Housing Policies

The City promotes the supply of affordable housing, rental housing and special needs housing through a number of initiatives and does not intend to promote, permit or provide for such housing within the Arbutus Corridor.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver