City of Vancouver
   bullet  
Search
   bullet
Help
   bullet
Engineering Home
   Film & Events       Parking       Solid Waste       Streets       Transportation       Water       Sewers       Search Engineering
 

Blueways Policies

On December 1, 1998, Vancouver City Council adopted the following Blueways policies and guidelines:

Blueways Policies and Guidelines

1.0 APPLICATION AND INTENT

The Blueways policies and guidelines are intended to direct future decisions and development affecting Vancouver’s waterfront environments, namely Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek and Fraser River. These policies and guidelines were developed through a public consultation process which culminated in the publication of a draft Blueways document in October 1997. Please refer to the Blueways Draft document (PDF 5.84Mb)and the Council Report (PDF 62.8Kb)recommending adoption of the Policies and Guidelines if you require additional information on the items.

if you require additional information on the items.

1.1 Vision

1.2 Principles

1.3 Goals

[top]

2.0 OBJECTIVES

The following are the objectives of the Blueways Policies and Guidelines.

2.1 Access and Transportation

  1. Increase public access to the water, including barrier-free access, greenways and transit links.
  2. Increase the use of waterways for commuter and tourist transportation services while recognizing the needs of industry and commercial traffic.
  3. Plan access points and water based transportation routes to minimize negative impacts on natural habitat.

2.2 Marine Related Commercial/Retail Activity

  1. Encourage marine-related commercial/retail activity along the waterfront in appropriate nodes of development where it is supported by community interests and market demand.

2.3 Marine-Related Industry

  1. Support the future viability of water-related industry within the City of Vancouver.
  2. Recognize the historic significance of water-related industry to the development of the City and region.

2.4 Moorage

  1. Increase moorage in suitable locations around the City by identifying opportunities for new marinas or increasing capacity of existing marinas.

2.5 Recreation, Tourism and Culture

  1. Encourage recreational and cultural activities such as fishing, swimming, boating, paddle sports, and water-based festivals.
  2. Create a more welcoming city for boaters in order to capture the economic benefits of increased tourism.
  3. Provide and encourage appropriate levels of public amenity along the waterfront.

2.6 Safety and Marine Regulations

  1. Improve navigational and water safety, and better coordinate enforcement of marine regulations throughout Vancouver water bodies.

2.7 Water Quality and Shoreline Environment

  1. Protect and improve the environmental health of shorelines and water bodies.
  2. Work towards reducing contaminant discharges into the waterways, particularly in areas where public health/safety and environmental issues are primary concerns.

[top]

3.0 GENERAL POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

The following policies and guidelines generally apply to all water bodies. Additional policies and guidelines which apply to specific water bodies are listed in subsequent sections.

3.1 Access and Transportation

  1. Recognize the importance/ utility of the waterways when planning for current and future goods movement around the city and region.
  2. Ensure appropriate public transportation links to nodes of activity along the water.

3.2 Marine Related Commercial/ Retail Activity

  1. Look at other communities/cities for examples of waterfront development processes and policies that create vibrant waterfront nodes of development with marine-based commercial and retail activity coexisting with residential uses.

3.3 Moorage

  1. Enforce regulations regarding illegal moorage.
  2. Pursue retention or replacement of existing moorage in any redevelopment.
  3. Make use of permanent boat slips during periods of temporary vacancy for visitors moorage and coordinate information and bookings through a central registration system.

3.4 Recreation, Tourism and Culture

  1. Develop a visitors greeting centre for boaters with information regarding visitors moorage, Coast Guard, customs, marine facilities, provisioning, safety and pollution issues, and tourist activities.
  2. Expand swimming opportunities, docks, and fishing piers where marine conditions permit and public access is available.
  3. Recognize and celebrate Vancouver’s marine history.
  4. Provide appropriate landscaping, outdoor furniture and public art in waterfront parks and access points to attract people and enhance a wide range of public usage.
  5. Use public space along the water for educational displays and information about the water and shoreline.
  6. Improve linkages (i.e., bus, streetcar, ferry, or water taxi) between tourist nodes within the City.

3.5 Safety and Marine Regulations

  1. Confirm and coordinate jurisdictional responsibilities for navigation, safety and enforcement of marine regulations.

3.6 Water Quality and Shoreline Environment

  1. Promote and encourage “clean wake boating” with signage, education, boating standards, and appropriate marine facilities.
  2. Develop pump-out stations for emptying holding tanks.
  3. Address the rat problem in rip-rap above the high tide mark through proper planning, design and maintenance of shorelines.
  4. Encourage the continued advancement of the City of Vancouver Sewer Separation Program.
  5. Encourage the enhancement of natural habitats along the water.

[top]

4.0 BURRARD INLET POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

4.1 Access and Transportation

  1. Work with industry representatives to identify potential sites for public viewing areas and access routes which do not conflict with industrial activity.
  2. Consider having a small ferry service in Coal Harbour, possibly between Stanley Park, Canada Place, and points in between.
  3. Support Hastings Park plans to include connections to New Brighton Park and its newly developed beach.

4.2 Moorage

  1. Work towards increasing permanent moorage capacity in current and future developments in Coal Harbour, ensuring that any initiatives are consistent with the Coal Harbour Official Development Plan and other relevant policies.

4.3 Recreation, Tourism and Culture

  1. Investigate potential locations for public launching of hand-powered craft in Coal Harbour.

4.4 Water Quality and Shoreline Environment

  1. Encourage and support stewardship initiatives which help to remove garbage and debris from the shoreline, and improve its overall health and appearance.

[top]

5.0 ENGLISH BAY POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

5.1 Access and Transportation

  1. Modify the existing Jericho Pier to make it accessible for people with disabilities.

5.2 Moorage

  1. Consider increasing moorage capacity at Heritage Harbour for public viewing of visiting heritage boats and exemplary wooden vessels subject to community acceptance.

5.3 Recreation, Tourism and Culture

  1. Consider removing the marginal wharf at the Jericho Sailing Centre and dedicating a "hand-powered launch zone" in the area.
  2. Investigate the potential for developing a marine park which links the recreational water areas of Jericho and Kits Beach and limits the speed of power craft to reduce noise and conflicts with non power craft, and with birds and waterfowl.

5.4 Safety and Marine Regulations

  1. Address conflicts between water users by increased enforcement of speed zone regulations.

5.5 Water Quality and Shoreline Environment

  1. Continue a program to maintain the physical quality and safety of swimming beaches.
  2. Preserve Chestnut Beach.

[top]

6.0 FALSE CREEK POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

6.1 Access and Transportation

  1. Make docks at strategic transportation nodes around the Creek accessible for people with disabilities to improve access to ferry transportation and recreational water craft.
  2. Consider expanding ferry service in False Creek where appropriate.

6.2 Marine Related Commercial/Retail Activity

  1. Design and plan for unique waterfront environments with entertainment and retail amenities where appropriate.

6.3 Marine Related Industry

  1. Look at opportunities to retain some marine-related industrial uses (such as small boat building or repair) as part of any new development in False Creek, and in particular, along the Southeast Shore of False Creek, ensuring that initiatives are consistent with southeast False Creek Policies.

6.4 Moorage

  1. Increase permanent moorage capacity in False Creek, ensuring that any initiatives are consistent with the False Creek Official and Area Development Plan, the False Creek North Official Development Plan and other relevant policies.
  2. Provide short term daytime moorage and overnight moorage in False Creek (hourly, daily, weekly).

6.5 Recreation, Tourism and Culture

  1. Encourage non-power craft use at the east end of False Creek.
  2. Explore ideas for educational and recreational programming which focus on the history and ecology of False Creek.

6.6 Safety and Marine Regulations

  1. Identify and empower one agency to carry out enforcement of navigational, water safety and other marine regulations in False Creek.

6.7 Water Quality and Shoreline Environment

  1. Develop pump-out facilities in marinas and at the proposed greeting dock.
  2. Continue to improve the water quality in the Creek for fish, bird and wildlife habitat, and for human contact.
  3. Reclaim and renew habitat areas through sensitive redevelopment at the water’s edge.

[top]

7.0 FRASER RIVER POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

7.1 Access and Transportation

  1. Identify potential sites for boat launching ramps at street ends and encourage flexible designs for multiple uses.
  2. Develop street ends as lookout parks with access down to the water’s edge.

7.2 Moorage

  1. Investigate opportunities for recreational or commercial boat moorage along the River.

7.3 Recreation, Tourism and Culture

  1. Continue to pursue the development of riverside walkways and bicycle paths where it does not conflict with water-dependant industry or natural habitat.
  2. Encourage education programs which focus on natural habitat, heritage, and current users of the river.

7.4 Safety and Marine Regulations

  1. Recognize the river as a highway for commercial uses, industrial interests and fishing boats.

7.5 Water Quality and Shoreline Environment

  1. Continue to reduce industrial discharge.
  2. Support ongoing community based clean-up initiatives.
  3. Support initiatives which address the accumulation of wood debris in the North Arm.

[top]