Vancouver Comprehensive Plan 2011-2030 - City of Vancouver

Planning for growthVancouver and the region will continue to growover the 20-year planning period. Although somechanges will occur throughout Vancouver, mostnew growth will be focused in identified urbancenters and corridors rather than spread uniformlythroughout the city.Table 1-4 estimates existing Vancouver populationand employment in 2011, and capacity for additionalgrowth through 2030. As of 2011 there wereapproximately 162,000 persons and 74,000 jobsin the City of Vancouver, and capacity to accommodatean additional 41,000 persons and 65,000jobs. Approximately half of this capacity is throughlong term development of vacant or underutilizedlands, and half through anticipated redevelopmentof built areas.The unincorporated portion of the VUGA has moreavailable residential land than the city, and greaterpopulation growth capacity. Together the existingVUGA and City have an estimated land capacity toaccommodate 430,000 persons by 2030, approximately15% more than the long term allocationadopted by Clark County for these areas in 2007.For information on the assumptions used todevelop growth capacity estimates, see Appendix C.Annual rates of growth are likely to vary widelyfrom year to year depending on economic conditionsand other factors.Enhancing urban centers and corridorsImplementation of this plan will focus on areas inor near urban centers and corridors. These areasare expected to contain a mixture of employment,housing, and cultural opportunities, as many ofthem do now. The type and intensity of activitiesand development at each will vary depending onlocal circumstances. As Vancouver changes, theseareas can serve as community focal points, buildingon the unique characteristics of individual districts.The areas can also provide opportunities for growthwhere services can be provided more efficiently.The City will involve local citizens and businesses indeveloping focused subarea plans for these areas asthe comprehensive plan is implemented.Figure 1-2 highlights centers and corridors in theCity of Vancouver where subarea planning hasoccurred, or is planned. The areas shown are notintended to depict the precise boundaries of centersand corridors – those are established throughsubarea planning.Completed subarea plans include:• Vancouver Central City Vision Plan (2007),• Fourth Plain Corridor Subarea Plan (2007),• Central Park Plan Update (2008),• Lower Grand Employment Area Subarea Plan(2008),• Riverview Gateway Subarea Plan (2009),• Section 30 Urban Employment Center SubareaPlan (2009),• Fruit Valley Subarea Plan (2010), and the• 112th Avenue Subarea Plan (2011).These subarea plans are adopted as part of theComprehensive Plan by reference. Copies areavailable digitally at the Vancouver CommunityDevelopment Department, Long Range PlanningDivision website, or may be requested in hardcopyform from the Long Range Planning offices. MasterPlans have also been approved for future developmentof the former Evergreen Airport, and theColumbia Tech Center.Centers and corridors identified for future subareaplanning include areas near the Westfield (Vancouver)Mall, MacArthur Blvd, the Southwest WashingtonMedical Center (SWMC), Upper Main St,St Johns Blvd, lower 164th Avenue, and theColumbia Business Center. The timelines shown forfuture planning efforts are approximate and subjectto adjustment as market conditions and otherfactors evolve.Vancouver Comprehensive Plan 2011-2030 Community Development | 1-7