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Metropolitan Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan

Terms of Reference

The terms of reference provide a comprehensive outline of the planning process - including: History, Purpose and Time Horizon; Steps and Schedule; Public Involvement; City Economy Goals; Economic Sectors and Related Documents.

View the full Terms of Reference as approved by City Council in March 2005 (PDF, 327KB)

History, Purpose and Time Horizon

History | Purpose | Time Horizon

History

Major land use changes related to economic activity in the central area started in the 1970s with the transformation of all of the lands around False Creek and Coal Harbour from industrial uses to new mainly residential communities. Building on the work underway to transform the waterfronts, the 1991 Central Area Plan created a new vision for future land uses. Key components of the plan include:

• Two smaller, more focussed areas for office districts: the region's major office core to expand in the Central Business District (CBD), and a medical-civic district in Uptown (Central Broadway).
  
  
• Expanded residential opportunities in distinctive and livable new high density residential neighbourhoods surrounding the office districts and extending along the waterfronts.
  
  
• “Choice of use” areas in several locations, with a free mix of commercial and residential, including in heritage areas to help protect heritage buildings.
  
  
• Retention of some industrial areas at the outer edges, to provide for related activities not accommodated in the growing residential and office districts.
  
  
• An improved balance between employment growth and transportation capacity, by putting more residents close to jobs, and concentrating more jobs in areas well served by transit.

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Today, over 15 years after the Central Area Plan was adopted, residential development is being very successfully realized in areas designated for this use. There is also continuing strong pressure to develop new residential areas in locations where the Central Area Plan anticipated employment, and also in areas where the evolving economic structure has created jobs and activity not anticipated by the Plan. This has raised questions about whether there will be an appropriate land supply for the central area to serve its future economic role in the city and region.

The new policy that this study is developing is critical now, for a number of reasons:

1. There are no up-to-date studies or policies on the link between the Core economy, and issues of land use, location, and zoning. Central Area Plan policies were developed from studies now two decades old.
   
   
2. As land in the Core becomes more fully developed, there is less flexibility. City land use decisions now assume more significance to protect or foreclose future opportunities.
   
   
3. Adequate and appropriate land supply and zoning are important factors for economic development and jobs, and are factors within City control. Land use for economic activity must also be compatible with transportation policy, and has impacts on the City tax base, the arts and culture of the city, and a wide range of other City and regional issues and goals.

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Purpose

The study purpose is:

• To provide a better understanding of the Metropolitan Core economy, including its role in accommodating jobs, providing goods and services, and attracting visitors, in the context of the city, region, and beyond; and
  
  
• To provide policy options and develop a Policy Plan - consistent with City goals - on how much, where, and what types of land supply and zoning, and supporting transportation and other infrastructure, are needed to fulfill economic and related roles, including:
  • to provide for future economic opportunities and jobs; and
  • to provide goods, services, activities and experiences for the people who live, work, and visit in the core.

The Policy Plan will identify:

• Future locations within the Core for economic activities of various kinds (serving employees, businesses, residents, visitors, and tourists) - matched with:
  
  
• The types of development in these locations to provide for this activity (e.g., office towers, heritage buildings, mixed use, live-work, tourist destinations and places, warehouses, "back office" buildings, etc.).

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Time Horizon

This study will have a time horizon to 2031 (25 years), based on the following:

• Looking ahead, the current GVRD growth management strategy is for a 25-year period - to 2031 - with associated population and employment projections which can be drawn on for this study. (A 20-25 year time frame has been the time horizon generally used for GVRD planning.)
  
  
• Looking back, the Central Area Land Use Plan has played out over a 20+ year period. The Plan was approved in 1991, and based on studies of the economic structure of the Core in the 1980s. It is during this period of 20+ years that key portions of the Plan have been realized; that there have been changes in the economic structure of the Core; and that new challenges have arisen.

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Steps and Schedule

To Spring/06		To Fall/06		To Summer/07		To Spring/09		Ongoing
STEP 1 Understanding Yesterday and Today • Economic picture • Urban development & transportation infrastructure picture		STEP 2 Projecting Tomorrow • Economic futures • Urban development futures		STEP 3 Issues and Directions • Identify how well economic futures fit with urban development futures • Propose policy directions • Report to City Council		STEP 4, PART 1 Draft Downtown Metro Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan • Development of policy options • Evaluation and recommendation of policy options • Reports to City Council		STEP 4, PART 2 Draft South of False Creek Metro Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan • Development of policy options (integrating with Mount Pleasant Community Planning Program, UBC Line Study and Broadway Corridor Study • Evaluation and recommendation of policy options • Reports to City Council

Step 1. Understanding Yesterday and Today

Step 1 assembles information on the current economic picture (all individual sectors, as well as the overall economic structure). It also researches the current urban development picture, including land use, transportation, and utilities, as well as current City plans, policies and zoning.

Key products from this step are a series of Information Sheets.

Opportunities for public involvement and information sharing in this step:

• compilation of an e-mail mailing list
• web-based newsletters with links to research findings (Information Sheets)
• meetings of staff with interested groups
• set up, and initial meetings, of Advisory Group

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Step 2. Projecting Tomorrow

Step 2 predicts a range of economic and urban development futures. Economic futures will be based on a variety of factors, including trends and internal and external influences (demographics, technology, etc.) This gives an idea of the "demand" for different types of space and locations for businesses. The urban development futures, will show the "supply" of land and associated infrastructure that is be available under current zoning and plans.

The products from this step are Economic and Development Projections Background Papers.

Opportunities for public involvement and information sharing in this step:

• web-based newsletters with links to research findings (Projections Background Papers)
• public comments solicited on Projections Background Papers
• meetings of staff with interested groups
• meetings of the Advisory Group

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Step 3. Issues and Directions

Step 3 compares the projections (from Step 2), and assesses how well the future economic needs will be met by the future development and infrastructure pattern. Matches and mismatches are examined in the light of City goals. The issues that need to be addressed by policy are identified. This is a key stage in the study. It will define where there are and are not land use and/or infrastructure issues related to the economy, the scope of those issues, and identify directions for new policy.

The product is an Issues and Directions Report that goes to City Council for approval.

Opportunities for public involvement and information sharing in this step:

• web-based newsletters with links to research findings (Issues and Directions Report)
• public comments solicited on Issues Paper
• public open houses
• meetings of staff with interested groups
• meetings of the Advisory Group
• City Council meeting on Issues and Directions Report - opportunity for public input directly to Council

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Step 4. Draft Metro Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan and Implementation

Step 4 develops policy options to address the identified issues, and evaluates them in the light of City goals. The selected options form the draft Land Use Plan.

Products of this step are Policy Options, followed by a Draft Land Use Plan, and then a final Land Use Plan.

Opportunities for public involvement and information sharing in this step:

• web-based newsletters with links to policy options and draft policies
• public comments solicited on Policy Options and then on Draft Land Use Plan
• public open houses
• meetings of staff with interested groups
• meetings of Advisory Group
• City Council meetings on Policy Options Report and draft Land Use Plan - opportunity for public input directly to Council

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Public Involvement

There are several ways for interested and affected groups and individuals to be involved throughout the study - including obtaining and reviewing research findings and providing comments and input. These are described briefly below. (See also Steps and Schedule for specific opportunities in each step of the study.)

Web-based newsletters: Web newsletters will be sent several times during the study. These will include links to research findings as the study progresses and will solicit public comment at key points. The newsletters will also notify you of public open houses and City Council meetings. Visit this web site for updates; or to receive web newsletters directly, add your e-mail address to the mailing list.

Meetings with groups: Staff will be available throughout the study period to meet with interested groups. Contact us to arrange a meeting with your group.

Open houses: There will be public open houses at key points to provide information and solicit input. These will be advertised via this web site, the web newsletters, and newspaper ads.

City Council: City Council will make decisions at key points during the study on issues to be addressed, policy options, and a draft policy plan. To find out when these meetings will occur, and to have an opportunity to provide your input directly to Council, see this web site, your web newsletters, and/or newspaper ads.

Advisory Group: An Advisory Group representing a diverse range of economic and business interests will also provide expertise during the project.

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City Economy Goals

City goals provide the framework for this study, and will be used as a checklist to identify issues and to evaluate policy choices. The final Policy Plan will be consistent with these goals and is intended to provide the land use component to help achieve them.

The goals have been developed with public input and approved by City Council. They are from several sources including CityPlan, Central Area Plan, Livable Regional Strategic Plan, Transportation Plan, Industrial Lands Strategy, etc.

The goals most directly related to the economy are listed below.

• Diverse Economy and Jobs Close to Home: Increase the number and choice of jobs in the city.
  
  
• Economic Sustainability: Encourage job creation and protection of existing jobs.
  
  
• Industrial Lands Strategy: Retain industrial land for port and river-related industry, and for industries that employ city workers and/or serve city businesses and residents.
  
  
• Key Economic Role in Region: Maintain and enhance the metropolitan core as the business and cultural centre for the region. Support the Livable Region Strategic Plan.
  
  
• Economic Generator: Recognize the central area's key and distinct role in the city, region, and beyond.
  
  
• Alive Downtown: Create a central area that has a mix of activities where people live, shop, play, and work, and where the public streets are the primary scene of public life.

For more information, please refer to the Appendix C (pg. 22) in the Terms of Reference (PDF, 327KB) for this study.

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Economic Sectors

For this study, the economy is defined as:

• All sectors of economic activity, both goods and services, including: professional services, financial services, retail, tourism, high tech and new economy, education, health care, arts and entertainment, construction, manufacturing, public administration, etc.
  
  
• All types of economic activity in these sectors - local-serving; city-and regional-serving; and the provision of goods and services outside the region, province, and country.
  
  
• All types of goods services, activities and experiences provided by businesses in each sector to the people who live, work, and visit in the core.

For more information, please refer to Appendix A (pg. 20) in the Terms of Reference (PDF, 327KB) for this study.

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Related Documents

Metropolitan Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan: Terms of Reference and Funding

• Report to City Services and Budget Committee of City Council, January 17, 2005
• Minutes of City Services and Budget Committee (see item 1-I), March 17, 2005
• Terms of Reference (PDF, 327KB) for this study

Downtown Interim Policies for Residential

• Downtown District Interim Policies for New Residential in Areas C and F; and for Conversion of Existing Office Space for Residential Use (PDF, 262KB)
• Report to Planning and Environment Committee of City Council, April 2004
• Minutes of Planning and Environment Committee (see item 6), May 20, 2004

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Questions or Comments? E-mail: corejobs@vancouver.ca

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