Urban Design Panel

The Urban Design Panel (UDP) advises City Council and staff about development proposals or policies, including major development applications, rezoning applications, and other projects of public interest.

As well, the panel helps the Planning Department and City Council create urban design policy, including the design and interrelationship of all physical components of the City.

The panel reviews all civic building projects, including bridges, roads, parks, beautification projects, transit systems, civic buildings, and design competitions.

The UDP does not approve or refuse projects or make policy decisions.

Meeting updates

July 14, 2023: Meetings may be convened by electronic means as authorized by Section 14.14 of the Procedure By-law. Advisory Bodies may elect to conduct their meetings in person, by electronic means, or as a hybrid of the 2.  

If attending in person, please continue to respect the personal space of others.  

The Urban Design Panel provides expert advice to staff and Council and is not a forum for direct public input. The procedure will remain the same for virtual meetings as in-person meetings. The public may observe meetings in progress but may not address the panel.

Comment on the application on
Shape Your City  

Virtual meeting: Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 3pm

Items to be heard:

  • 8-36 W Cordova St and 15-27 W Hastings St. (Army and Navy)
    Time: 3pm

Join through Teams webinar

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Join by phone (audio only)

By attending this meeting, you are aware that personal information, such as video recording and transcription, may be collected and disclosed through the Teams Meetings platform used by the City of Vancouver for managing meetings under the authority of s.26(c) of FIPPA. Questions can be emailed to the Director, ATIP at privacy@vancouver.ca or through 311. Privacy and security (158 KB)

Questions

If you have any questions email udp@vancouver.ca. Following the meeting, minutes will be posted under the meetings tab below.

Terms of reference

The Urban Design Panel Bylaw establishes the Panel, and describes its membership and duties.

Function and authority

Panel meetings are open to public attendance but the meetings are not a forum for public comment. Depending on the type of project process, there are always opportunities for public input.

Recording and filming of the panel by the public is not generally allowed.

Meeting schedule

Panel meetings are held every two weeks throughout the year. Special meetings are convened when necessary. The meetings are normally held on Wednesdays at 3pm in the Joe Wai Meeting Room, 1st Floor, City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue and virtually through Webex. Public attendance is permitted, however, the public may not address the panel.

Meeting procedure

The panel meetings are conducted by the elected chairperson in the following manner:

  • The Development Planner introduces the project to the panel (referring to its location, context, background, scope and response to established bylaws and design guidelines)
  • The applicant is given the opportunity to clarify any aspects of the plan to the panel (no presentation is required of the applicant)
  • The panel members review the project material and provide comments and observations
  • The Chairperson summarizes the comments of the panel
  • The Chairperson presents a motion to either support the project, support the project with recommendations, or recommend resubmission
  • The Chairperson asks city staff if they have any final comments before the vote
  • The Chairperson asks the panel for a mover and a seconder for the motion, calls the vote and announces the result
  • If the motion does not pass, then the chairperson asks a panel member to move another motion, call the vote, and announce the result.

Attendance requirement

Members may miss no more than two consecutive meetings without obtaining leave of absence from the panel. Membership will be terminated following the second such absence.

Membership

The panel consists of at least 13 members, representing the following groups:

  • 9 members, Architectural Institute of British Columbia
  • 2 members-at-large: Accessible Design
  • 1 member, the development industry, from the Urban Development Institute, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, or the Building Owners' and Managers’ Association
  • 2 members from the Association of Professional Engineers
  • 2 members of the Vancouver City Planning Commission
  • 2 members from the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects
  • 1 members representing the Art Professionals

All members are appointed by Council, and may be reappointed. There is no limit on the number of terms a member may serve.

Members of the 2025 Urban Design Panel

There are 9 members from the Architectural Institute of British Columbia

  • Aaron Petruic, AIBC, MCM Architects
  • Aik Ablimit, AIBC, Perkins & Will
  • Alfred Waugh, AIBC, Formline Architecture
  • Helen Besharat, AIBC, BFA Studio Architects
  • Maryam Tashakor, AIBC, KMBR Architects
  • Parisa Seyed-Hoseini, AIBC, Cutler Architecture
  • Scott Mitchell, AIBC, Metric Architects
  • Tony Osborn, AIBC, TOAD

There are 2 members-at-large: Accessible Design

  • Aya Abdelfatah
  • Allyse Li

There are 2 members from the Association of Professional Engineers

  • Catherine Lemieux, Engineer, RDH Building Science Inc.

There are 2 members from the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects

  • Bob Lilly, BCSLA, Lanarc Landscape Architure
  • Michele Cloghesy, BCSLA, PWL Partnership

There are 2 members of the Vancouver City Planning Commission

  • Sarvnaz Golkar, VCPC 
  • Khushali Kagrana, VCPC

There is 1 representative from the development industry

  • Jon Stovell, Reliance Properties

There is 1 member representing the Art Professional

  • Alan Storey

Meetings, agendas, and details

Previous minutes

Resources for Civic Agency members

Contact the Urban Design Panel

Email: udp@vancouver.ca