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Atop this article is a \u201cFive-minute City<\/em>\u201d drawing I made in 2007 as Vancouver\u2019s senior urban designer when my team was asked to scope a plan for the entire city. This work respected years of meaningful public consultation with Vancouver citizens that sought to clarify how streets, buildings and the public realm would unfold in coming years.<\/p>\n Our goal was to re-declare that Vancouver is, first and foremost, a \u201cCity of Neighbourhoods.\u201d This should have been obvious, <\/strong>especially given the excellent foundational work noted above that included nine related \u201cneighborhood visions\u201d that more specifically declared local community aspirations for housing, shopping and jobs.<\/p>\n But city-wide planning was to fall low on city-hall\u2019s agenda in ensuing years.<\/p>\n Now that Vancouver is again engaged in drawing up a city-wide plan, the Five-Minute City<\/em> drawing is all the more relevant (even if I don\u2019t work for the city anymore).<\/p>\n The drawing above reminds us of Vancouver\u2019s citywide pattern of approximately 120 more local \u201ccommunity catchments.\u201d Each is supported by one of 109 public schools, and a commercially zoned intersection for walkable shopping and jobs. This urban framework is a gift from the past to the future. The pattern, if preserved and reinforced, can cultivate social familiarity and compassionate support among residents — especially at times of crises when communication systems are down.<\/p>\n The pattern it shows serves as an excellent basis from which to create the city-wide plan started in 2019 with community conversations towards identifying fresh ideas, shared values, priorities and strategic directions to be completed by the next municipal election in 2022. Indeed, Vancouver\u2019s director of planning, Gil Kelley, used my Five-minute<\/em> drawing in his presentation to council in July of 2019 when $17.9 million, <\/strong>and up to 35 dedicated staff, were appropriated to support the creation of what is now known as Vancouver<\/em> Plan<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Yet it\u2019s important to understand how constrained are the goals of the Vancouver Plan. It will explore large themes towards shared values. It is not intended to adjust prevailing zoning that would ensure certainty for local communities and the market before the next municipal election. Nor will it produce frameworks reflective of local preference for how a community wants to grow, as done for some parts of the city under previous planning initiatives associated with the city-wide effort called CityPlan<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Spot rezoning policies intended to motivate secured and below-market affordable housing initiated by the previous council under the control of Vision, and furthered by the current more politically diverse council, continue in parallel to Vancouver Plan consultation. These spot re-zonings have the potential to set built form precedents that are already substantially transforming existing neighborhoods.<\/p>\n The obvious contradiction is that, while the Vancouver<\/a><\/em> Plan<\/a><\/em> advances public engagement, built form choices for some areas appear to have already been made through the practice of spot re-zoning that continues.<\/p>\n And so, today we have to wonder what\u2019s really left for Vancouverites to consider under the Vancouver<\/a><\/em> Plan<\/a><\/em>, and is it truly \u201ccity-wide\u201d?<\/p>\n Let\u2019s examine another mapping of the city that expresses where we appear to be today:<\/p>\n The above graphic is the result of eliminating the following (white areas):<\/p>\n While perhaps not perfectly accurate or inclusive, this \u201cLeftover Map\u201d of blocks and neighbourhoods illustrates the scope of zoned area that remains for city-wide planning for all Vancouverites under the initially approved $17.9 million budget. (A budget, by the way, substantially reduced since the initial approval.) The absence of stakeholder contribution for the future of the white areas, with previous and current council policies continuing to compromise years of community planning efforts in supporting bigger and bigger buildings, is symbolized by the \u201coutbreak\u201d of spot re-zonings throughout the city.<\/p>\n This is concerning as, historically, the planning department has viewed re-zonings as the exception, not the rule. Previous re-zoning planners would often use the phrase \u201cto serve and protect\u201d in describing their role which includes thoughtfully managing land values towards more accessible housing opportunities. Re-zoning, as an affordable housing strategy, has had the opposite effect by driving up land prices as many landowners want to cash out motivated by the \u201cinvitation\u201d of city-wide re-zoning policies.<\/p>\n A related effect of re-zoning has been high rents for shop owners. The province bases its property assessment of land on the \u201chighest and best use\u201d with the prospect of re-zoning driving up the land value, property taxes and rents. This has motivated an exodus of mom-and-pops who can no longer afford their overhead. Local shopping is dying.<\/p>\n It\u2019s time the mayor and council be clear about where their priorities lie. How to square the re-zoning decisions that keep landing on the docket despite the aim of the Vancouver Plan to consult with neighbourhood residents about changes in their locales?<\/p>\n Some questions in need of answers:<\/p>\n It’s worth remembering that when Council approved embarking on the city-wide Vancouver<\/a><\/em> Plan<\/a><\/em>, it named this goal:<\/p>\n Demonstrate Transparency in Decision-Making and Collaborate with Partners.<\/em><\/strong> Trust is an essential part of all relationships, including between local government and the community. The City of Vancouver is committed to building increased transparency in decision-making and consultation processes and to constantly enhance governance to effectively engage citizens and lead with a clear vision, priorities, monitor outcomes and constantly learn, adapt and improve our systems.<\/em><\/p>\n There is much work to be done in the \u201cleftover\u201d areas that remain on the map shown above. Especially for those neighbourhoods that have not enjoyed legitimate planning for many years. I understand that these community stakeholders are excited about the opportunity to look forward.<\/p>\n Vancouverites deserve more than leftovers, however. Especially while others feast on non-public processes.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n This article was originally published in The Tyee<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n **<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/vancouver\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/01\/CoV_BuildingFootprints_Hein_d2-600x417.jpg\")
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