Residential tower floorplates, solar access and public views

[jollyburger]

Was this posted before?

CWDG (Mid-to-Late-2025) aims to consolidate and modernize over 2,200 pages of Vancouver’s built form policies and guidelines.

Early Actions (July 2024) focus on Council Motions for solar access, residential tower floorplates and public view

Residential Tower Floorplate Maximums

Existing Practice
• Generally applicable (80% of cases)
• Intended as a ‘rule of thumb’ with flexibility
• Increases or major variances generally supported to achieve City priorities

Response
• No Early Action changes to existing policies needed
• Intent, performance criteria, etc. to be reflected in Citywide Development Guidelines (Mid-to-Late 2025)

Sun in public spaces…
• Is most valuable during the ‘shoulder seasons’ with warm sun and cold shadows
• Supports urban vibrancy by encouraging pedestrian activity in commercial areas and extending sidewalk patio season
• Gets people active after school and work hours, and improves happiness, energy and health
• Supports healthy vegetation growth and dries out areas of standing water
• Requires strategic planning of nearby development
• Is an important part of dense urban living

Solar Access Guidelines for Areas Outside of Downtown
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT from the spring to fall equinoxes

Public parks, schools and high streets
• Exemptions for building less than four storeys, six storey secured rental (where enabled) and 100% social housing developments (case-by-case)

Consequential Amendments
• Cambie Corridor Plan, Joyce-Collingwood Station Precinct Plan, Marpole Community Plan
• Arbutus Centre Policy Statement, Heather Lands Policy Statement, Langara Gardens Policy Statement, Little Mountain Policy Statement
• C-3A Burrard Slopes Guidelines, RT-3 Guidelines

Downtown specialized impact assessments and parametric analysis
• Align and coordinate with downtown planning programs (Granville Street,
Downtown Policy Rationalization, Central Waterfront, etc.)

Process Improvement and Final Deliverables
• Specialized approach for Downtown
• Shadow impact / solar access section(s) of Citywide Development Guide
• Parametric / GIS-based Shadow Assessment process

All the viewcone related items are covered in the view cone that was discussed last year.

https://council.vancouver.ca/2024071...s/pspc1ppt.pdf

[officedweller]

I don't think so, but it was covered by Daily Hive:

City of Vancouver's chief urban planner signals major reforms for more flexible building development
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vanc...pment-policies



https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vanc...pment-policies


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vanc...pment-policies