Share your ideas – draft West End Community Plan goes to City Council on Weds, November 20

One of the many new public space ideas proposed in the draft West End Community Plan

Next week, City Council will be deliberating over the first in the latest generation of community plans. This one covers the West End.

We’d encourage any public space enthusiasts to take a look at the document. City Council is looking for feedback, and you can share your comments, ideas, suggestions and the like. The draft Plan can be found here.

There’s lots to be found within it’s 126 pages. Community plans are comprehensive policy documents that set out long-term (20-30 year) policy covering housing, local economy, heritage, social facilities and more. The new plan also includes a Public Benefits Strategy, which details how civic investments – in community centres, childcare, etc. – will be prioritized over the next few decades.

Of particular interest to the VPSN are chapters on:

• Built Form Guidelines and Principles (pp.21-23)
• Transportation (including walking, biking and transit) (pp. 61-68)
• Parks, Open Space and Greening (pp. 69-73)

There’s also material relevant to public realm issues to be found in a number of other chapters.

If you live, visit or work in the West End, you’ll want to have a look at this document. If you’re interested in the way neighbourhood-scale planning is evolving in the city, you’ll also want to have a look.

Once you’ve done so, consider sending your feedback to City Council. You can write to them via email at mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca. You can also present your thoughts in person, during the Council Meeting. The session takes place Wednesday, November 30, 2013 at 9:30 am. The agenda for the meeting can be found here.  To find out more about how you present to Council, check out this City webpage.

:: Download – Draft West End Community Plan (PDF)
:: Download – City Staff Report on Draft West End Plan (PDF)
:: Download – Agenda – City Finance & Services Meeting (Committee of Council)