The City of Vancouver adopted a Heritage Action Plan in December 2013. Since that time, key areas of action and implementation were developed while ongoing public consultation sought feedback from residents regarding the proposed actions and implementation strategies.
CitySpaces, collaborated with Don Luxton & Associates and Coriolis Consulting to research, analyze, and engage with the public on the implementation components of the Heritage Action Plan. This work included reviewing the Heritage Conservation Program, updating the Vancouver Heritage Register, engaging with residents and stakeholders to understand perspectives on character buildings in Vancouver, reviewing specific zones with concentrations of character or heritage sites, and developing recommendations for character home retention.
CitySpaces focused its efforts on public engagement to understand how Vancouverites view heritage and character buildings in the City and on regulatory options to incentivize character home retention in the First Shaughnessy neighbourhood and the RS-3, RS-3A and RS-5 zones.
Public engagement activities provided a baseline of resident and stakeholder perspectives on character for future phases of the Heritage Action Plan. Engagement activities included:
- Three Open Houses
- Online and paper questionnaires
- Interactive activities including visual explorer and a graffiti wall
- Small group “Learning Sessions” with stakeholders and the public
The next phase of the Heritage Action Plan included reviewing regulatory options. The options developed for the RS-3, RS-3A and RS-5 zones provided a foundation for protecting character in the City’s other zones. A report prepared for the City of Vancouver identified gaps in the current zoning including limitations on floor space incentives for existing character homes and the potential implications of regulatory changes as per the implementation tasks of the Heritage Action Plan. The report presented the following options for staff to consider:
- Maintaining current zoning and concurrently continue the use of Heritage Revitalization Agreements and design guidelines to protect character
- Adjustments to the zoning to incentivize and prioritize retention by re-calibrating FSR and creating a “character overlay” for identified areas
- Requiring retention through a Heritage Conservation Area
PROJECT TEAM:
Jada Basi Andy Hiscox Spencer Andres