Vancouver’s plan: ecodensity

The City of Vancouver’s EcoDensity initiative is intended to engage public dialogue in regards to how we can reduce our ecological footprint in terms of sustainable housing, accessible amenities, transportation and land use. In conjunction with this the goal is to support new and different housing typologies as a way to promote affordability.

This idea doesn’t take much convincing when you realize that single-family dwellings take up half of the land area of Vancouver whilst only 11% of the city’s land area is dedicated to multi-unit housing. The key to success will be to increase density in a variety of contexts in the city in a way that is high quality, attractive, energy efficient and in keeping with its neighbourhood character.

As of November 2007 the status of the EcoDensity plan is one of consultation and recommendations to Council, including that Council accept the Draft Vancouver EcoDensity Charter and Draft Initial Actions and refer the drafts for public consultation. In a special meeting in February 2008, pending public consultation and staff input, it has been recommended that Council approve both the Vancouver EcoDensity Charter and the Initial Actions 2008-09.

The goals for EcoDensity will be to achieve in Vancouver what is difficult in other urban areas, and for these practices to become commonplace in our built fabric. The plan will also built upon current planning successes in the city and help realize many of the goals articulated by the public stakeholders during the consultation phase.

In practice, EcoDensity will be realized by:
Making alternative transportation more accessible
Using current infrastructure
Encouraging new green systems that reduce energy, water and materials
Encourage food security with urban agriculture
Create more complete community amenities

These are all very important steps in terms of reducing our ecological footprint, but also in terms of meeting the housing needs of most Vancouverites.

However, can the City’s plan keep property values more affordable? Density may be the only way to ‘soften’ the realty market; but even condos and townhouses are still much more expensive than the average Vancouver family can afford, unless the home has a secondary suite. The only small single-family house that many Vancouverites can afford is a small single family dwelling in Maple Ridge – a long commute and certainly not within the purview of a reduced ecological footprint. EcoDensity will probably only be able to make housing more affordable for some, not for all, using the principle of supply and demand. Vision Vancouver councilors Heather Deal and Tim Stevenson slammed the draft for leaving out true affordability, likening EcoDensity to green bonuses for developers, and that condo sales in downtown Vancouver, the result of a steady building boom, are the result of investments rather than local families seeking a primary residence.

For more information about opportunities to get involved, contact ecodensity@vancouver.ca