Local improvement process

The Local Improvement Process is both a method of financing and a system for citizen participation.

The Vancouver Charter outlines the requirements that must be fulfilled in order for projects that are supported by a majority of affected owners to be presented to Council for approval and eventual construction.

The Charter allows two processes to acquire improvements: petition, City initiative.

Regardless of which process is used, owners adjacent to the proposed improvement are involved because they share the cost of construction with the City depending on the type of project. The project will only proceed if a majority of the adjacent owners support the proposal.

Under the auspices of the Charter, the Local Improvement Procedures By-Law No. 3614, the by-law outlines what can be constructed and how the costs are shared between the affected owners and the City.

The Local Improvement process involves the affected owners because the costs for the proposed improvements is shared between the owners and the City. Whether it is a petition project or an City initiated project, affected owners are notified of the proposal and given an opportunity to support or defeat a project. In all cases, a notice of assessment will be mailed to each affected owner detailing the costs in advance of a Court of Revision where Council convenes to listen to concerns of affected owners before approving or defeating a project.

Affected owners are invited to attend the Court of Revision to discuss with Council their issues concerning their particular project. Property owners should be aware that funds allocated for “Local Improvement” projects are limited. As a result, projects associated with a successfully signed Petition or by City inititative would be added to a queue and would only be advanced when funds for the project become available.

Every effort will be made to advance projects but because of funding issues, no assurances can be made as to when City Council would convene to approve this project. The rates being quoted are current rates but are subject to change to the most recent rate at the time this project would be advanced to Council for approval.

In addition, property owners should be aware that other issues may arise that could lead to the project being deferred or not being advanced for construction even if a majority of owners supported the project.

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