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.

COVID-19 update: in-person meetings

September 24, 2021: We're transitioning back to in-person Urban Design Panel meetings.

Since May 2020, Urban Design Panel meetings have been held virtually with a live stream available for the public to view the proceedings. The temporary provincial government order that permitted these meetings to be held virtually has expired. 

Meetings will now be held in-person and are open to the public to attend. All provincial health guidelines and social distancing protocols must be adhered to.

Next meeting: Wednesday, October 27, 3pm

Location: Joe Wai Meeting Room, Main Floor - City Hall, 453 W 12 Ave

Items to be heard:

  • 456 and 496 Prior Street 
    Time: 3pm
    Contact: Kevin Spaans, 604-871-6301

  • 1395 W Broadway
    Time: 4:20pm
    Contact: Carl Stanford, 604-829-9624

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 in-person meetings as had been in place for virtual meetings. The public may observe meetings in progress but may not address the panel. Members of the public who wish to comment on the application may do so at any time by contacting the planner for the relevant application as indicated above.

Questions

If you have any questions, contact Kathy Cermeno at 604-873-7770 or udp.info@vancouver.ca. Following the meeting, minutes will be posted online 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 4pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room, 1st Floor, City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue. 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 four consecutive meetings without obtaining leave of absence from the panel. Membership will be terminated following the fourth such absence.

Membership

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

  • Six members, Architectural Institute of British Columbia
  • Two members, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia
  • Two members, The BC Society of Landscape Architects
  • One member, the development industry, from the Urban Development Institute, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, or the Building Owners' and Managers’ Association
  • One member, Vancouver City Planning Commission
  • One member, practicing professional artist

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 2021 Urban Design Panel

10 members from the Architectural Institute of British Columbia

  • Alan Boniface, Architect, Boniface Oleksiuk Politano Architects
  • Alan Davies, Architect, Acton Ostry Architects Inc.
  • Angela Enman, Architect, Mcfarlane Bigger Architects + Designers Inc.
  • Brian Wakelin, Architect, public architecture + communication
  • Clinton Cuddington, Architect, Measured Architecture
  • Kelly Lee, Architect, Member-at-Large (AIBC)
  • Michael Henderson, Architect, HCMA Architecture + Design
  • Natalie Telewiak, Architect, Michael Green Architecture
  • Sydney Schwartz, Architect, MCMP Architects
  • Walter Francl, Architect, Francl Architecture Inc.

2 members from the Association of Professional Engineers

  • Brittany Coughlin, Engineer, RDH Building Science Inc.
  • Reza Mouskhani, Engineer, AME Consulting Group

2 members from the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects

  • Margot Long, PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.
  • Jennifer Stamp, Groundswell

1 representative from the Vancouver Planning Commission

  • Alyssa Koehn, IBI Group

2 members representing art professionals    

  • Adrien Rahbar, Associate Director, Real Estate at Graham
  • Geoff Lister, Geoff Lister Photography

Meetings, agendas, and details

Previous minutes

Resources for advisory committee members

Contact the Urban Design Panel

Kathy Cermeno
604-873-7770
udp.info@vancouver.ca

May Sem
604-665-2168
may.sem@vancouver.ca