ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 2, 1998
Author/Local: M. Naylor/7237
CC File No. 2603-2

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of Central Area Planning
SUBJECT:	PIBC 1998 Awards for Excellence in Planning

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Community Services and the Director of Central Area Planning submit 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 the Downtown Vancouver Skyline Study.

BACKGROUND

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

This year, at the PIBC's 1998 annual conference held in Kamloops, two project teams were recognized by their peers for outstanding accomplishments in the field of planning. The City of Vancouver received the Award of Excellence in the category of Site Planning and Design for the Downtown Skyline Study. This project was honoured for its responsiveness to objectives, innovation, comprehensiveness, methodology, public participation, and applicability to other municipalities.

VANCOUVER SKYLINE STUDY

The Skyline Study was undertaken between September 1996 and May 1997. Its objective was to examine the form of the Downtown skyline which has emerged over the last several decades and to consider how that form might change if taller buildings were added. The study team was composed of staff from the Central Area Planning Division who worked along with The Spaxman Consulting Group and Jankovic Consultants.

The review involved the creation of a three-dimensional computer model of all the buildings in the Downtown Vancouver peninsula and of the physical landscape, including water areas and the North Shore mountains. Using this model, planning staff and consultants identified a variety of locations for viewing the skyline and created six options for the future. A review of other skylines in North America also assisted in creating prototypical skyline options. Urban design principles were identified to evaluate the options. A two-stage public review process during the fall of 1996 and winter of 1997, included open houses, surveys and public meetings. An advisory committee and meetings with community groups were also pursued to assist in preparing and evaluating the options.

In May 1997, Council chose a hybrid of two options as the basis for a new policy on buildings heights which assured that the North Shore mountains would remain the most important feature in the City's skyline from most locations south of False Creek. A policy was adopted which allows the building height limit for the core area of Downtown to increase from 450 to 600 feet, for a short list of selected sites.

The Awards Jury commented, "The Study comprises a wealth of detail, yet presents it simply and graphically. This highly subjective issue is quantified through sophisticated computer modelling, resulting in a unique approach that is transferable to any municipality, large or small, with a desire to preserve viewscapes."

Implementation of the Skyline Study work is ongoing. Planning's 1998 work program includes the drafting of guidelines for taller buildings and changes to the Zoning By-law.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver