The City conducted a review of the Vision Implementation program from November 2008 until December 2009. The purpose of the review was to identify the successes and challenges of the program and develop a strategy to implement Vision Directions. The review entailed collaboration with Vision Implementation Committee members, external agencies and community groups, and residents at-large. During the course of the review adjustments to the process steps and products were needed to reflect changes in resources.

Findings from various steps of the review are summarized in background documents.

Background

The Vision Implementation Program began in 1999 when Council approved the Dunbar and Kensington-Cedar Cottage Implementation Action Plans. The Vision Implementation Program expanded to Sunset and Victoria-Fraserview Killarney in 2002, Hastings-Sunrise and Renfrew-Collingwood in 2004, and Riley Park/South Cambie and Arbutus/Kerrisdale/Shaughnessy in late 2006. Each Vision area is at a different stage of implementation and with the approval of the West Point Grey Vision, there will be over 1,000 Vision Directions spanning nine communities with a total population of about 240,000.

In neighbourhoods with approved Community Visions, City Staff and the community collaborate on making their visions a reality through Vision Implementation, the Neighbourhood Centres Program and other approved Council policies.

Implementation addresses a broad range of Community Vision Directions: dealing with traffic issues around schools and on major roads; community clean-ups; reviewing zoning in shopping areas, improving parks and open spaces; and developing better ways for residents to communicate with each other and with City Hall. These Vision Directions are implemented through single projects, new City programs, existing City programs, informing development activity, and community initiatives. At the community level, a Vision Implementation Committee helps to identify priorities and develop implementation strategies for local improvement projects.

Through the Neighbourhood Centres Program, City staff work with community residents and business owners to strengthen neighbourhood centres in approved Community Vision areas by implementing public realm improvements in key shopping areas and identifying locations in the surrounding areas for new housing.

Mount Pleasant is nearing completion of a new Community Plan that will update the 20-year-old plan and produce plans for the shopping areas and neighborhoods, action plans for pressing social concerns, and create longer-term policies to address community-wide issues.

It is anticipated that the final draft Community Plan will go before City Council for approval in the fall of 2010.

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