New Community Plan to Remake Canada's Capital of Sprawl

"Sprawling, lacking a downtown core and yet hemmed in by the very agricultural economy that has made it what it is, B.C.’s largest city by land mass is rethinking its future," according to an article by Jeff Lee.

The city recently finished public consultations on a new draft official community plan (OCP) [pdf] that would allow for new levels of density in the city. Brent Toderian, who also blogs for Planetizen, is working with the city on the plan.

The OCP calls for four new “urban centres” around the old downtown, the University of the Fraser Valley and at the South Fraser Way intersections of McCallum and Clearbrook. Of the 60,000 new residents anticipated, 45,000 will be in the urban core and surrounding neighbourhoods. The remaining 15,000 will be in new neighbourhoods developed within the urban boundaries.

Lee includes a lot of details about the unique planning and land use case study presented by Abbotsford, which includes assets like a large airport, a strong agricultural industry, and a diverse population.