Agenda Index City of Vancouver

P1

POLICY REPORT
URBAN STRUCTURE

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

Director of City Plans in consultation with the Director of Legal Services

SUBJECT:

Regional Context Statement Official Development Plan

 

RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

On January 26, 1999, Council adopted the Regional Context Statement Development Plan, and referred to Public Hearing, a by-law to adopt the Regional Context Statement Development Plan as an Official Development Plan.

The following policies establish the City's strategic land use and transportation directions. They form the basis of the City's Regional Context Statement.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to inform Council of the acceptance by the GVRD Board of the City of Vancouver Regional Context Statement, and that the By-law to adopt the Regional Context Statement Development Plan as an Official Development Plan, is now ready for adoption.

BACKGROUND

1. Requirement to produce a Regional Context Statement

Provincial legislation requires the GVRD to prepare a strategy for managing growth. In 1996 the Livable Region Strategic Plan (LRSP) was formally approved by the GVRD as the strategic plan for the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Vancouver is required to adopt a `regional context statement', to demonstrate how the City's plans and policies contribute to implementing the regional strategic plan.

On January 26, 1999, Council adopted the Regional Context Statement as a Development Plan. Council also resolved that a by-law to adopt the Regional Context Statement Development Plan as an Official Development Plan be referred to Public Hearing.

The Public Hearing was subsequently held on March 23, 1999. Following the Public Hearing, Council referred the Regional Context Statement to the Board of Directors of the GVRD for approval.

2. Approval of the GVRD

At its meeting on July 30, 1999, the GVRD Board approved the proposed Regional Context Statement Official Development Plan considered by Vancouver City Council, at

Public Hearing on March 23, 1999. No changes were proposed to the City Regional Context Statement.

The GVRD staff report raised some concerns about the possible impact of jobs being attracted to areas zoned I-3 (High Technology) and away from Regional Town Centres. On February 25, 1999, Council approved a recommendation to monitor the amount and type of industry locating in I-3 zoned areas and possible impacts on downtown, other commercial, and industrial areas. The GVRD Board passed a recommendation to ask the City to collaborate with the GVRD in the monitoring program. City staff welcome the involvement of GVRD staff in the monitoring program and will report back, by 2002, as requested, with a joint assessment of impacts. Council should note that this is a separate request, independent of the RCS, and does not change the Context Statement. The recommendations adopted by the GVRD Board and the GVRD staff report are attached as Appendix A.

CONCLUSION

The Regional Context Statement is an important planning document because it demonstrates how the City's policies conform with and serve to implement the Livable Region Strategic Plan. With the completion of the Regional Context Statement Public Hearing on March 23, 1999, and approval of the City's RCS by the GVRD Board on July 30, 1999, Council may now proceed with adoption of the Regional Context Statement. The By-law is included in the "By-laws for adoption" section of the Council Package for adoption later this day.

NOTE FROM CLERK: Electronic Copy of Appendix A is not Available - On File in the Office of the City Clerk

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ag990914.htm

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