Official Community Plan - District of North Vancouver

Village Centres
2.2
The Village Centres provide a focus for their surrounding neighbourhoods. They have a
range of shops and services to meet most daily needs, but do not generally include major
“destination” retail establishments such as department stores. Mixed-use development, such
as apartments situated over shops, is a typical building form within the commercial core, with
lower density multifamily housing (such as duplexes or townhouses) forming a peripheral
area adjacent to the core. The District’s objective for the Village Centres is to build on their own
unique characteristics to create distinct urban village environments. More detailed planning
for the Village Centres where growth is anticipated – Maplewood and Capilano - Marine – is
provided for in this OCP in Schedule A. Significant changes to other Village Centres are not
proposed in this plan and pre-existing Local Area Plan land uses have been integrated. The
OCP provides for the opportunity for more detailed Village Centre Implementation Plans to be
prepared or reviewed where appropriate in the future (Chapter 12).
Policies
1. Designate Lower Capilano-Marine, Edgemont, Queensdale, Maplewood, Parkgate and Deep Cove
as the District’s Village Centres
2. Prepare detailed Village Centre Implementation Plans for Maplewood and Lower Capilano-Marine
as these are areas for revitalization and growth
3. Accommodate a range of multifamily, commercial and institutional uses in the Village Centres
4. Encourage the inclusion of upper floor residential units in new commercial development in core or
high street areas
5. Concentrate development in the Village core and transition sensitively outwards with appropriate
ground-oriented housing forms (such as duplex and townhouse) to adjacent residential
neighbourhoods
6. Establish Development Permit Areas and Design Guidelines regulating the form and character of
development to promote design excellence and reflect the unique qualities of each Village Centre
7. Ensure Village Centre Implementation Plans and their peripheral areas are consistent with the
objectives and policies of the OCP and prepare or review Plans as necessary
8. Work with Capilano University to integrate residential, institutional or economic development within
the university precinct into the District’s urban structure
DNV Official Community Plan | Part One 23