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Home > Home, property, and development > Urban planning, zoning, and development > Urban planning > Neighbourhood planning projects > Marpole Community Plan
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Marpole is one of the city's oldest communities, and the one visitors see first when entering from the south.
Stretching from Angus Drive to Ontario Street, and from West 57th Avenue to the North Arm of the Fraser River, the region's traffic passes through this neighbourhood, just as it did years ago.
Because demand for new development is growing, City staff have completed a community plan to ensure that future growth in Marpole meets the needs of the entire community.
Related projects
Explore the plan highlights
Learn more about the plan by selecting the coloured Granville, Lower Hudson, Oak, and Cambie areas of this map.
Infographic
A two-minute snapshot of the Marpole Community Plan's goals in the next 30 years.
Full community plan (25.10 MB)
A longer read about managing future change in each area, housing, transportation, public spaces, arts, culture, health, and much more.
Marpole
City news, services, and information related to Vancouver's Marpole neighbourhood area.
Recent developments with this community plan
Public consultation for a new Marpole-Oakridge Community Centre
Fall 2017 – Park Board has launched a public consultation process with the community in to determine the best location and space needs for a new community centre.
Open house begins in January 2018. Learn how to participate
What are the new community facilities in the neighbourhood?
Fall 2017 – Council approved the appointment of South Vancouver Neighbourhood House 
(SVNH) to operate Marpole Place as a neighbourhood house. SVNH will provide social programs and services to the community when renovations to Marpole Place are complete in 2018.
The Marine Landing area will see an increased need for social programs to support the growing population. Marpole-Oakridge Family Place will re-locate to a new and expanded facility at the Northwest project. Two new 37-space childcare facilities will open their doors at Northwest and Marine Gardens. These facilities will be run by the YMCA .
Honouring heritage in Marpole
Public art funding for Musqueam community
Fall 2017 – As part of the Marpole Community Plan, the community identified the need to integrate Musqueam culture, art, and design into public realm improvements. In 2016, we provided Musqueam artists with a $100,000 grant to design and develop public art in the community. Led by Musqueam curator Jordan Wilson, this project is expected to be completed in 2018.
Purchase and preservation of the Historic Joy Kogawa House
November 2016 – To ensure the preservation and continued use of Historic Joy Kogawa House , we purchased this important cultural and heritage facility from the Land Conservancy. This allows the Joy Kogawa House Society to continue operating this space at a nominal rent as an important cultural and education centre for healing and reconciliation.
What's happening with transportation implementation in Marpole?
Safety review
2017-2018 – Our Moving Towards Zero: Safety Action Plan strives to achieve zero traffic-related fatalities by 2040. The strategy aims to ensure the safety of vulnerable road users, particularly seniors and children. Focus areas for the 2017-2018 comprehensive review will prioritize locations with higher rates of fatalities and injuries, including Granville St from W 2nd Ave to SW Marine Dr, and select intersections on Oak St in Marpole.
Arbutus Greenway
Fall 2017 – We have built a temporary pathway to improve safety and accessibility while the future greenway is being planned. A design jam was held in October for community members to help shape the future of the Arbutus Greenway.
Concrete barriers at intersections along the pathway in Marpole will be replaced by removable bollards by the end of 2017. A signalized intersection will be under construction by summer 2018 where the Arbutus Greenway meets SW Marine Dr.
Increased Canada Line service
January 2017 – TransLink started providing more frequent service during peak hours on weekdays. Learn more about these changes.
Infrastructure and bikeway improvements
2016 – Infrastructure upgrades and bikeway improvements have been underway since 2016 between Macdonald St and Camosun St. Learn more in the 2014 
(219 KB) and 2016 (1.4 MB) updates to Marpole's Transportation Implementation Strategy.
July 16, 2012 – Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the questionnaire and participate in the Marpole photo contest. 
Open house: Marpole Oakridge Community CentreCommunity plan documents
Social Facilities and Services
Transportation Implementation Strategy
- Overview of the Transportation Implementation Strategy (June 2014) (220 KB)
- September 2016 Transportation Update (1.4 MB)
Related zoning documents
- Marpole density bonus zoning bulletin (400 KB)
- RM-8/8N district schedule (100 KB)
- RM-8/8N guidelines (42 MB)
- RM-9/9N district schedule (90 KB)
- RM-9/9N guidelines (45 MB)
Current rezoning and development applications
Stay current on rezoning and development permit applications in Marpole:
- Current rezoning applications, searchable by address
- Current development permit applications, searchable by address, including those that cover Marpole's new RM-8/RM-8N (93 KB) and RM-9/RM-9N (110 KB) district schedules.
Background reports and documents
- Council report (April 2, 2014) (3 MB)
- Staff presentation to Council (April 2, 2014) (18 MB)
- "Community Plans: Next Steps" on presenting next steps for community planning work in four neighbourhoods
- Council report: "Next Community Plans: Terms of Reference" (March 7, 2012) (1.8 MB)
on approving terms of reference and a policy on rezoning and heritage revitalization agreements - Marpole Community Plan terms of reference (March 2012) (630 KB)
on the purpose, structure, and process of community planning - Marpole Residential Development Capacity Estimate (December 2012) (1.1 MB)
on estimating how much new housing could be constructed in the area
About Marpole
Newly revised draft plan: We heard from you
For the past 18 months, we've been working with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders on a new community plan. In June 2013, we received community feedback on a draft Marpole community plan. Since then, we've made some changes and will continue to work with the community on creating a successful plan.
Timeline
Work on the new Marpole plan will be completed in four key stages.
During each stage, there will be a number of opportunities for community participation and public involvement:
Phase 1: Spring 2012
The first phase of work will launch the project, and consists of:
- The compilation of relevant city-wide policy
- A review of existing research on neighbourhood issues
- Community discussions on Local Area needs, challenges and opportunities related to the key areas of focus
- The development of a Local Area Profile
The Profile will be based on a variety of data sources and include sections such as demographics (e.g. population, age, household income, tenure, etc.), forecasts and demographic changes, housing stock (e.g. type, age, tenure, etc.), assessment of potential change and development under existing zoning, synopsis of existing land use and built form, community service needs, cultural spaces, health indicators, sustainability indicators, social development issues, business activity, and water/sewer/storm infrastructure.
Details of the Profile will be provided in at the end of phase 1.
Phase 2: Fall 2012 to Spring 2013
The second phase of the project will be used to generate a plan and policy, and is comprised of three steps.
Step 2.1: Community-wide policies
This part of the program will look at key themes and topic areas. The main steps include:
- Generating policy options
- Broad public review of options, leading to refinements
- Staff recommendations regarding the options
- Incorporating the policies into the overall community plan
Step 2.2: Sub-area plans
The process involves open meetings and dialogue with stakeholders to collaboratively produce sub-area plans. The main steps include:
- Review of existing policy, land use and transportation patterns
- Urban design and economic analysis of options for new development, including alternative land uses
- Examination of potential public benefits and improvements to public spaces
- Identification of public open space opportunities
- Opportunities to optimize street design and enhance active transportation and transit service
Step 2.3: Community action projects and plans
This part of the program focuses on initiatives to take coordinated action on pressing social issues, placemaking initiatives, community development opportunities and other actions that can be accomplished during the planning process.
Some initiatives may be project based (such as urban agriculture and community gardens). Others may be more comprehensive explorations of issues and opportunities for community and service providers to pursue.
Local Area interests and needs, and the availability of staff, volunteers and budget will determine the extent to which new action projects can be undertaken during community planning.
Phase 3: Summer to Fall 2013
At this stage all the elements of the community plan will be brought together for broad community review. The main steps include:
- Preparing a draft community plan that combines the community-wide policies and sub-area plans
- Identification of recommended priorities and other implementation-related activities
- A final broad public review of the draft plan
In an effort to ensure transparency in the process, staff will endeavour to provide a clear link between the ideas generated in Phase 2, and the recommended policies that are included in the plan, so participants will be able to see how their ideas have been incorporated.
Phase 4: Fall to Winter 2013
During Phase 4, the plan will be finalized and prepared for presentation to Council, including:
- Modifying and refining the draft plan based on feedback staff preparation of a report for Council
- Forwarding the draft plan to Council for adoption and to the Park Board and the School Board for consideration of parks and recreation, or education-related matters
Details on the Street-to-Park initiative in Marpole
Ebisu Park, Shaughnessy Park and Marpole Park could be expanded by transforming a street into more park space. The Marpole Community Plan team has heard from area residents and stakeholders that improving and expanding local park space is a priority. The initiative would also be part of the City's Greenest City intiatives.
Ebisu Park - Two options for proposed expansion shown in blue and red
Shaughnessy Park - Option for proposed expansion shown in yellow
Marpole Park - Options for proposed expansion shown in shaded colour areas
Work leading up to this community plan
Marpole has been the subject of a number of planning initiatives since 1980:
The Marpole Plan (1980)
This plan provided direction on topics such as streets and park improvements, traffic management, housing, and shopping area revitalization. In the 1980s parks projects were completed and an area west of Granville was zoned for apartments.
The Oakridge Langara Policy Statement (1995)
This policy included part of the Marpole local area. Among other things, it called for provision of park space to serve Marpole. The Vancouver Park Board has since acquired land for park purposes at 71st and Osler, and on the Fraser shore east of the Oak Street Bridge.The Industrial Lands Policies (1995) directed that the industrially-zoned areas between Marine Drive and the Fraser River remain for industrial use.
CityPlan: Directions for Vancouver (1995)
CityPlan is a citywide plan that will guide City decisions on programs, priorities and actions through 2021. CityPlan provides general directions for a range of topics and issues in which the City is involved including neighbourhood centres, housing variety and affordability, neighbourhood character, services, safety, arts and culture, public places, economy and jobs, transportation, environment, downtown development, financial accountability, and decision making.
The Community Visions Program is a component of CityPlan that provides each community with an opportunity to look into its future, determine its needs and aspirations, and set a course that is consistent with CityPlan. Community visioning is being implemented in areas where there has been little or no previous community planning.
Land use and development guidelines
- City land use and development policies and guidelines
- Zoning district map (2 MB)
- Marpole Triangle RM-4 guidelines
History of Marpole
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