Speaking at a recent Urban Land Institute series organized to discuss Vancouver in 2050, three of the city's former planning directors expressed grave concerns over the city's ability to adequately handle its future growth, reports Jeff Lee.
For a city renowned for its excellent design, livability, and smart growth, it was somewhat surprising to read that Vancouver's future growth is being imperiled by shortsightedness by the city council and a lack of long-term planning. At least that is the conclusion reached by three of the city's former planning directors - Larry Beasley, Ray Spaxman and Brent Toderian.
According to Spaxman and Toderian, "the city is putting too much emphasis on solving here-and-now issues at the expense of long-term growth."
With affordability becoming a key concern, Beasley said, "the region needs a 'brand new' metropolitan plan, 'a plan that
thinks about the issues of the future, a plan that is not shy, a plan
that does not have parameters and you can't talk about this and you
can't talk about that."
"And until we get that plan, we are not going to
solve the problems of the inner city, the affordability, our heritage
program, our culture, whether we have enough office space. We just are
not going to solve it unless we get a much broader concept of our
metropolitan core and we get a plan for it.'"
FULL STORY: Former Vancouver planning directors say city ill-prepared to deal with growth
Braille Signage Now at All Vancouver Bus Stops
The city completed installation of signage for people with visual impairments at over 8,000 bus stops.
Vancouver Day Care Rejection Poses Larger Questions
What does it mean for cities and civic life when neighborhoods are viewed as products geared for individual consumption rather than ever-evolving communities?
Cascadia High-Speed Rail Corridor Seeking Federal Funding
The state of Washington is hoping federal infrastructure funding can pay for $198 million of the $348 million necessary to plan the Cascadia High-Speed Rail project.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Alaska Village Becomes Test Case for Climate Change Relocation
The Yup’ik village of Newtok is the first Alaska community to begin a full-scale relocation necessitated by the impacts of climate change. Another 31 Alaska communities remain vulnerable.
Amtrak Takes Lead on Texas Central Rail
The high-speed rail project isn’t a done deal, but if it moves forward, trains could begin operating in 2030.
Maine Approves Rent Relief Program
Legislators hope the assistance program will help struggling low-income households avoid eviction.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
