On February 1, 2011 
(52kb), City Council made their final decision on this study approving the addition of four new views into the City’s View Protection Guidelines and seven sites into the General Policy for Higher Buildings. While adding these sites, Council also increased the expectation for both achievements in green building design and architectural excellence. These decisions concluded the over two year study exploring the implementation of the view cones and potential for added development capacity Downtown.
The study originated in October 2008 (89kb), when City Council requested that Staff review heights and protected views in the Downtown to explore opportunities for additional development capacity and associated benefits, if and where appropriate. The intention of the study was to identify possible modifications to policy that could deliver amenity while maintaining the objectives of the underlying height and view policies.
Throughout this process the importance of our spectacular natural setting and its role in understanding our sense of place was reaffirmed. Vancouverites overwhelmingly sought to maintain the overarching mountain backdrop and Council as a result strengthened and expanded our view protection guidelines. While they reaffirmed the importance of the View Protection Guidelines they also sought opportunities for growth outside of protected public views in strategic locations that could enhance the legibility of our skyline by marking important nodes, intersections and gateways.
This website provides further details and background information to understand the process and outcomes of this study.
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