City Council’s Direction for the Future of False Creek South

In October 2021, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously on the following principles to guide the future planning of False Creek South:

  1. Ensure the retention of existing affordable housing to maximize affordability.
  2. Work with the non-profit sector (also called the community housing sector) to deliver all forms of housing tenure.
  3. Target an income mix based on Vancouver renter household income of: 1/3 lower income, 1/3 middle income, and 1/3 higher income.
  4. Build additional affordable and co-op housing.
  5. Pursue deep engagement with FCS Neighbourhood Association and other interested community groups and stakeholders.

Read the final Motion, as approved unanimously by Council, on page 11 of this City document: Standing Committee of Council on Policy and Strategic Priorities Minutes, October 21, 26, 27, and 28, 2021.

Parameters for Planning City Lands in False Creek South

By merging the most recent Council approved direction for planning regarding the future of False Creek South, and referring to the Real Estate and Facilities Management Report that Council received for information, RePlan has outlined the framework established by City Councillors for the City’s Planning Staff to implement. These documents are:

  1. The unanimously approved City Council Motion of October 28, 2021
  2. The unanimously approved Planning Principles, 2018
  3. The City’s Real Estate and Facilities Management Report, October 2021, which Council directed should “inform but not constrain the community planning exercise.”

The combination of these documents provides the following information (as outlined below):  (1) parameters for the planning process, (2) design principles, (3) development principles, and (4) the principles for resilience, sustainability and connectivity.

1. Planning Process Parameters

A. Further the City’s goals and policies to achieve sustainable communities and aspire to the bold, visionary goal of False Creek South (FCS) as a model livable city community, as it was in its inception.1

B. Receive the Real Estate and Facility Management (REFM) Report for information2 and present it to Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability (PUDS) to inform but not constrain update to the False Creek Official and Area Development Plan (FCS ODP), in a robust engagement with the community and other key stakeholders.3

C. Undertake an open and transparent community planning process that deeply engages the FCS Neighbourhood Association and other interested community groups and stakeholders, including the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, and other relevant levels of government.1,4

2. Design Principles

A. Planning area comprises the City-owned lands in False Creek South.

B. Design buildings and open spaces to help form a strong sense of community, giving priority consideration to the significance of building, landscape, and environmental design in helping form a strong sense of community and situating housing for residents of different incomes, ages, cultural backgrounds, and household types in ways that are integrated throughout the community to facilitate social and spatial equity.” 5

C. Ensure a green and livable community, “protecting as much park, natural habitat and green space for recreation, community food gardens and protection of biodiversity as possible”6, including designating Charleson Park as a permanent public park.7

3. Development Principles

A. Accommodate a significant increase in population.8,9

B. Develop vacant land and sites currently used for vehicular parking first.8

C. Maintain existing housing to optimize its contribution to affordability as long as the buildings are viable.10

D. Build additional affordable and co-op housing.10

E. Target 1/3 lower income, 1/3 middle income, and 1/3 higher income residents (based on Vancouver renter household income) for all FCS City lands.11

F. Work with the non-profit sector to deliver all forms of housing tenure with the aim of maximizing affordability and deepening it over time.12

G. Adopt a housing model of affordability, social equity and inclusion by targeting a variety of housing unit sizes and tenancy types for 13:

      • 1/3 lower income and 1/3 medium income households
      • families with children
      • essential workers

H. Provide supportive or culturally appropriate housing for vulnerable and marginalized populations, including 13:

      • seniors
      • people who have experienced homelessness
      • people with disabilities
      • under-represented minorities

I. Explore swing siting as an opportunity for residents to remain in the neighbourhood while their existing buildings are redeveloped so they can return to new homes near where they have lived in FCS.14,15

J. Take special pollution mitigation measures to support healthy homes on the southern edges of FCS along 6th. 16

K. Provide for early development of a significant catalyst project (e.g. Campus of Care – RePlan Proposal for a multi-use Care Facility and non-market housing hub).8

L. Ensure fiscal and social responsibility.9, 17

4. Resilience, Sustainability and Connectivity Principles

A. Provide a model of climate action responding to the climate crisis including targeting zero emission new construction and ultra-low or zero emission renovations, as well as climate adaptation measures such as sea level rise mitigation.18

B. Improve pedestrian and bicycle links to public transit and to Fairview Slopes, Senakw and the Molson site.8

C. Make 6th Avenue a great street and ensure it relates appropriately to future adjacent development.8

D. Protect future streetcar alignment to connect Olympic Village, False Creek South, the Molson site and Sen̓áḵw, building off of current streetcar policy.19

1 Oct 2021 Council Motion “C”, 2 Oct 2021 Council Motion “A”, 3 Oct 2021 Council Motion “B”, 4 2018 FCS Engagement Principles “A.2”, 5 Oct 2021 Council Motion “C1.i”, 6 Oct 2021 Council Motion “C2.ii”, 7 Oct 2021 Council motion “F”, 8 Oct 2021 REFM report, 9 2018 Provisional Planning Principles, 10 Oct 2021 Council Motion “C1.iii” (for non-market and co-op; implied for strata and market rental and in 2018 Provisional Residential Protection and Retention Plan), 11 Oct 2021 Council Motion “C1.ii”, 12 Oct 2021 Council Motion “E”, 13 Oct 2021 Council Motion “C2.i”, 14 Oct 2021 Council Motion “H”, 15 2018 Provisional Residential Protection and Retention Plan, 16 Oct 2021 Council Motion “G”, 17 2017 FCS Engagement Principles “B.4”, 18 Oct 2021 Council Motion “C2.iii”, 19 Oct 2021 Council Motion “I”