A1
                                                 ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

                                           Date: June 4, 1996
                                           Dept. File No.  CB


   TO:       Vancouver City Council

   FROM:     Director of Central Area Planning

   SUBJECT:  PIBC 1996 Awards for Excellence in Planning


   INFORMATION

        The  Director of  Central  Area Planning  submits  this report  for
        INFORMATION.

   PURPOSE

   This  report informs Council of an award  given to the City of Vancouver
   by  the  Planning  Institute  of   British  Columbia  for  public  realm
   improvements in Vancouver's Downtown.

   BACKGROUND

   Since  1988,  the  Planning Institute  of  British  Columbia (PIBC)  has
   recognized  outstanding work  undertaken  each year  through Awards  for
   Excellence in  Planning.   In recent  years, the City  of Vancouver  has
   received  awards  for  our work  on  False  Creek  North, Coal  Harbour,
   Downtown South, the Central Area Plan and CityPlan.

   This year, at  the PIBC's 1996  annual conference held  in Harrison  Hot
   Springs,  seven  project  teams  were  recognized  by  their  peers  for
   outstanding  accomplishments  in the  field of  planning.   The  City of
   Vancouver's  public  realm improvement  programs  in  the Downtown  were
   honoured   for   their   responsiveness   to   objectives,   innovation,
   comprehensiveness,  planning   process   and  applicability   to   other
   communities.

   PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS IN VANCOUVER'S DOWNTOWN

   Public realm  improvement plans for Vancouver's  Downtown South, Library
   Precinct and Triangle West  neighbourhoods celebrate the unique identity
   and  history   of  each  neighbourhood  through   visions  which  create
   attractive,  safe, liveable  and green  neighbourhoods in  the Downtown.
   Design implementation  to meet  these visions include  elements such  as
   pedestrian  lighting, large  street trees,  decorative enhancements  and
   other  features   which  identify  special   characteristics  of   these
   developing neighbourhoods.

   Each of the three public realm  plans was the product of a collaborative
   process  including   City  staff  from  the   Planning  and  Engineering
   Departments as well as Park Board staff, consultants and residents.  The
   process  for  developing  a  plan  and  design  guidelines included  the
   creation  of the vision, an  agreed-upon design, sample  products and an
   on-site assessment of the final product.

   Implementation of each neighbourhood's  public realm design is happening
   incrementally as development takes place, with funding secured primarily
   through  the development  approval process.   These schemes  create only
   marginal costs to the general taxpayer.

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