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WHAT’S NEW?

At the Standing Committee of Council on Planning and Environment on Thursday, Council unanimously approved the addition of Downtown Areas 'L', 'M' and 'N' to the Office Conversion Policy.

View Oct 22 Meeting Minutes ››› (PDF)
New: October 27

View Oct 2, 2009 Council Report ››› (PDF)
New: October 20

At the Public Hearing on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 Council unanimously approved removing the 5 FSR limit on office uses in Downtown Area H.

View Public Hearing Minutes ››› (PDF)

View July 2, 2009 Council Report ››› (PDF)

Metro Core - Myths and Facts:
Myths and Facts ››› (PDF)

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Metropolitan Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan

What you should know about the Metropolitan Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan:

Where is the Metropolitan Core?
Vancouver’s Metropolitan Core is an area that includes the downtown peninsula and extends to 16th Avenue on the south and Clark Drive on the east. This area contains 200,000 jobs, or two-thirds of all the jobs in the city, and also plays an important role in the region’s economy.

What is the Metropolitan Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan?
It’s a comprehensive study that will help determine how we use our land in the future to accommodate business growth, economic activity, and transportation needs in the city.

Over the past 4 years, the City has worked on developing policies and zoning changes for the Metro Core that can best support the economy and its transportation and infrastructure needs. Part one of the study focused on the Downtown peninsula. A number of policies and zoning changes affecting Downtown were approved by Council in 2009 and will help to provide jobs, goods and services and activities for people who live, work and visit Downtown now and in the future. Part two of the study will work towards developing policies and zoning changes for parts of the Metro Core located South of False Creek. This part of the study will integrate with other ongoing or upcoming projects in the area such as the Mount Pleasant Community Planning Program, the UBC Line Study and the Broadway Corridor Study.

Why is it important?
Since the 1970s, much of the land in the Metropolitan Core around False Creek and Coal Harbour has gradually moved from industrial use to new residential communities. New residential has also expanded into former industrial and commercial areas like Yaletown, Downtown South, and Triangle West, as called for in the City’s 1991 Central Area Plan. Currently, there’s continuing pressure from developers to convert more areas and buildings to residential use, even in areas that were identified by the Central Area Plan for future jobs and economic activity.

While the residential developments have been successful and popular, and important to achieving the City’s goals, turning over more land to residential development could have a major impact on everything from economic and employment opportunities to traffic flow, goods movement, and environmental issues. It could also impact the City tax base and a wide range of other municipal and regional issues and goals.

As land in the Core becomes more fully developed, there’ll be less flexibility, so that makes today’s planning decisions even more significant for our future.

Why do we need a new study and policy?
Currently, there are no up-to-date studies on what land use and zoning policies are needed to accommodate the future of economic activities in the Metro Core. Policies guiding land use in this area are based on studies that are now more than 20 years old. We need to examine what's needed for Vancouver today and into the next decades.

While housing brings many benefits to the Core by adding liveliness and activity and providing places to live close to work, it is also important to maintain the right mix of land use for economic activities since this too impacts many aspects of city life.

Most directly, the proper mix of land uses can impact how many and what types of jobs are available in the Core, and consequently whether there are opportunities for residents to find a variety of types of employment nearby, instead of traveling longer distances to work.

Economic stability is another factor. By ensuring that we have appropriate land supply available to support a diverse economy, we can provide more economic stability in the city over the long term by having some sectors boom, even if others go into decline.

The mix of land use can also impact transportation and traffic, and related factors like air quality. For example, locating shops and services near where people live reduces the need for car travel. Concentrating employment around transit means more people can get to work without cars. And, the location of Industrial activities like wholesale and warehousing can influence the amount of truck traffic in the city.

What will be the result of the study?
As Part one of the study focusing on Downtown nears completion, a number of outcomes have emerged. The background research has provided us with an up to date and clear picture of the economic and urban development in the Metro Core, how we’re using this land, its effects on how we live and work and whether existing zoning and transportation infrastructure is sufficient to allow for future expansion of job areas. This information has informed the creation of a series of Downtown policies and zoning changes that support business and transportation while providing economic and job opportunities and goods, services and activities for our citizens. Part two will involve using this background research to achieve similar outcomes for areas South of False Creek to support future economic growth and transportation infrastructure.

How can I get involved?
You are invited to learn more and provide feedback as the study proceeds. In Part one of the study focusing on Downtown, web-based newsletters have provided updates on information and opportunities for input, open houses have been held at key points, staff have met with community and business groups and an Advisory Group representing a diverse range of economic and business interests has also provided expertise during the project. As we enter into Part two of the study, there will be continued opportunities to get involved in the study.

For more information on the Metropolitan Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan, visit the links on this page and sign up for the e-mail list. By being on the e-mail list, you will receive a web-based newsletter at key points in the study, providing you with the latest findings and opportunities for your input.

For more information, please refer to the Terms of Reference (

PDF, 327KB) for this study.