P3

POLICY REPORT
URBAN STRUCTURE

Date: January 17, 2000
Author/Local: A. McAfee/7451
RTS No. 1224
CC File No. 5558

Council: January 18, 2000

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of City Plans and General Manager of Engineering Services in consultation with the Director of Legal Services
SUBJECT:	Existing City Policy Arbutus Corridor

INFORMATION

CITY MANAGER’S COMMENTS

Council requested information about current policies with respect to the Arbutus Corridor. In response, the City Manager submits this report for INFORMATION.

COUNCIL POLICY

City policies which provide a vision and direction for the future of the Arbutus Corridor are contained in the Vancouver Transportation Plan, Greenways Plan, and the City of Vancouver Regional Context Statement. Existing regulations affecting the Arbutus Corridor are contained in the Zoning and Development By-law and the Subdivision By-law.

PURPOSE

This report provides information about existing City policies for the Arbutus Corridor.

BACKGROUND

The Arbutus Corridor is:

· 10 km long extending from Hudson Street in the south to Fir Street in the north;
· approximately 50 - 66 feet wide;
· approximately 45 acres in area;
· owned in fee simple by Canadian Pacific Railway; and
· currently used for transporting goods by rail.

On November 22, 1999, the Canadian Pacific Railway advised the City that it is preparing to end its rail operations along the Arbutus Corridor. CPR further advised the City that they were reviewing their options for the corridor and would be undertaking public consultation prior to making a proposal to the City.

As background, Council requested information about existing City policies.

EXISTING CITY POLICIES

Existing City policies and procedures related to the Arbutus Corridor are of two types:

· City policy statements and broad strategies expressing preferences for future use of the Corridor. These include both “stand alone” resolutions on the Corridor and policies adopted as part of comprehensive policy plans including the Vancouver Transportation Plan, Greenways Plan, and Vancouver Regional Context Statement. Some Council resolutions relate to rail right-of-ways in general and others specifically reference the Arbutus Corridor; and

· City regulations included in the Zoning and Development By-law and the Subdivision By-law which will apply to the Arbutus Corridor once it ceases to be used as a federally regulated railway line.

A. The following sections summarize the relevant City policies.

1. “Stand Alone” resolutions related to the Arbutus Corridor

On October 21, 1986, while discussing various transportation issues, Council approved the following resolution:

“THAT the Arbutus rail corridor be preserved as a potential rapid transit corridor between downtown Vancouver and Richmond....

THAT the City work with BC Transit and CP Rail to negotiate a means of preserving the corridor satisfactory to all parties.”

On June 16, 1992, in the context of discussing the Arbutus Neighbourhood Policy Plan, Council resolved:

“THAT Council reiterates its desire to maintain the Arbutus right-of-way as a transportation corridor.”

2. Vancouver Transportation Plan

CityPlan establishes strategic transportation directions for Vancouver. These directions were further defined in the Vancouver Transportation Plan, adopted by Council on May 13,1997.

The Transportation Plan establishes City policy directions for all existing rail corridors. Policy 3.4.9. of the Plan states:

“The existing rail corridors will be generally reserved for rail use, both goods movement and passengers. In the event of rail use being discontinued, their use for other forms of transit, or as Greenways corridors would be the City’s first priority.”

On December 9, 1997, Council approved a work program to implement the Transportation Plan. An action item, “Rezone rail rights-of-way”, was identified as a work item to be undertaken over the following six-years.

3. Vancouver Greenways Plan

On July 18, 1995, following on actions identified by an Urban Landscape Task Force and approved in CityPlan, Council adopted the City of Vancouver Greenways Plan. Greenways are paths for pedestrians and cyclists. Their purpose is to expand the opportunities for urban recreation and accessibility.

The Greenways Plan is a long term strategy for developing a network of city and neighbourhood greenways. The Arbutus Corridor is identified as one of four potential north-south greenways. The Plan notes that:

“The Arbutus rail right-of-way, owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway, is in active rail use....The corridor is designated a GVRD Green Zone and identified as a possible transit corridor to Richmond. Possibilities exist to share transit and Greenway use when the rail line is redeveloped.”

See Appendix A.

The Greenways Plan was developed with extensive public consultation. The Arbutus Corridor was identified by the public as the second most desirable Greenway route (following the waterfront routes). The Greenways Plan proposes that a long term implementation strategy be developed to establish corridors along lands, such as Arbutus, which are in private ownership.

4. City of Vancouver Regional Context Statement

Provincial legislation requires that regional districts adopt a strategic plan and that municipalities adopt a “Regional Context Statement” to explain the relationship between the regional strategic plan and city policies. Regional Context Statements indicate:

· city policies which support and implement the regional plan; and
· areas where the city agrees to, over time, “work towards” developing policies which support the regional plan.

Two sections of the GVRD Livable Region Strategic Plan are relevant to the Arbutus Corridor:

· "Protect the Green Zone": Based on a Council recommendation (September, 1993), the Arbutus Corridor was included by the GVRD in the Regional Green Zone; and
· "Increase Transportation Choice": Objectives include future corridor and right-of-way protection.

The Vancouver Regional Context Statement was adopted as an Official Development Plan on September 14, 1999. The Greenways Plan and Section 3.4.9 of the City Transportation Plan were identified as supporting the regional strategy. The Context Statement states:

“The existing rail corridors along the Arbutus corridor and Grandview Cut are considered for a combination of rail, transit, and Greenway uses.”

This reference is part of the “working towards” actions the City proposes to take to support the Regional Plan. The Context Statement notes that rezoning rights-of-way for transportation uses is part of the City Transportation Plan's six year implementation program.

B. The following section summarizes City zoning and subdivision regulations which apply to the Arbutus Corridor.

It has generally been City policy to apply the same District Zoning Schedule to "public service" uses (such as rail corridors, parks, and schools) as the adjacent land. Most often the zoning is RS-1.

The section of the Arbutus Corridor from 4^th Avenue to 16^th Avenue is zoned consistently with the adjoining land (IC-1, RM-4, C3A, M-1, RT-8, and C-2B). The section south of 16^th Avenue to Kent Avenue and the Fraser River is mostly RS-1, with one area RS-5.

The section of the Arbutus Corridor between 4^th and 16^th Avenue is subdivided mostly into standard lots, with laneways. South of 16^th Avenue the Corridor is subdivided into nine parcels.

Before an applicant applies to the City for a rezoning, the City encourages the applicant to consult with neighbours. CPR is currently undertaking a preliminary public consultation process. If a rezoning application is received, the City process includes review and analysis, and may involve public information meetings leading to a Public Hearing.

CONCLUSION

In summary, existing City regulations apply a variety of commercial and residential zoning schedules to the Arbutus Corridor, generally reflecting the adjacent land uses. Policies which provide a vision for the future of the Arbutus Corridor contemplate transit and greenway uses in the event the current goods movement rail uses are discontinued.

Note from Clerk: Appendix A is not available in electronic form - on file in the Office of the City Clerk.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver