City Centre Area Plan (CCAP) Update
The region is growing rapidly, and its population is expected to increase by 80% from 2.24 million in 2006 to 4.02 million in 2061. Source: Urban Futures, as prepared for Metro Vancouver (MV), formerly the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD).
To ensure Richmond’s portion of regional growth is environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable, the City will be updating its Official Community Plan (OCP) in coordination with MV and other Lower Mainland communities. An important first step in this process is updating Richmond’s City Centre Area Plan (CCAP). This work began in May 2006 and has undergone public review through a series of Open Houses and presentations to Richmond Council. The completed Plan is available via links included below and at Richmond City Hall.
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CCAP UPDATE COMPLETE |
CCAP Highlights
The CCAP sets the stage for future generations to live, work, play and learn in Richmond’s City Centre. The Plan encourages development of the City Centre in a manner that is more sustainable, seeks to enhance the quality of life of its residents, employees and visitors, complement eco-system function and use tax revenues wisely. Some key features of the proposed Plan include:
- A transit-oriented downtown planned to maximize the benefits of the Canada Line light rapid transit system and encourage a shift from car-oriented uses and lifestyles to ones that are more transit- and pedestrian-oriented
- A network of six “urban villages” in the form of higher-density, transit- and pedestrian-oriented communities, each of which:
- Is intended to help focus new, higher-density development in areas that can provide the greatest local and city-wide benefit – near the Canada Line, Richmond Oval, and riverfront
- Provides for a mix of uses and 12,000 to 31,000 residents (where permitted by Richmond’s aircraft noise policy) centred on a transit hub
- Incorporates a range of development densities and building heights, generally with the highest near the transit hub
- A balance of jobs and population, with anticipated increases in:
- Population: From approximately 40,000 (2006) to 120,000 (2100), with the most rapid growth occurring between now and 2031 (50,000 new residents for a total of 90,000)
- Employment: From approximately 30,700 (2006) to 80,000 (2100)
- Enhancement of the riverfront as the signature feature of the City Centre’s public realm
- High standards of public amenity, including arts, culture, heritage and recreation facilities and programs, together with a network of more than 158 ha (390 ac.) of parks and other publicly-accessible open spaces
- Strategies aimed at retaining established City Centre uses (e.g., No. 3 Road commercial spine, lower-density housing in the southeast, industrial uses near the North Arm of the Fraser River) and protecting/enhancing key uses outside the City Centre’s bounds (e.g., stable, lower-density residential neighbourhoods, airport, agriculture)
- Various implementation measures, including:
- High-performance standards for new City Centre buildings
- An implementation strategy addressing the costing, phasing and financing of infrastructure and parks, together with related considerations
The Proposed Plan
At Public Hearing on July 21, 2008, Council approved the proposed consolidated CCAP Bylaw 8383 and related bylaws, including amendments to the boundaries of the Bridgeport Area Plan.
The related staff reports can be viewed via the following links:
Related Staff Reports:
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- Planning Committee, June 17, 2008
- Public Hearing, July 21, 2008
Public Consultation
Public consultation will be undertaken throughout the study. To date the following Open Houses and key presentations to Council have been conducted/planned.
- Open House 1: July 18 to 22, 2006 (Complete)
- Open House 2: November 4 to 17, 2006 (Complete) including a summary of public input received at Open House 1
- Open House 3: CCAP CONCEPT (Approved in principle by Council on February 12, 2007) – March 1 to 16, 2007 (Complete) including a summary of public input received at Open House 2
- Open House 4: Richmond's Growing Downtown - City Centre Population Growth - July 14 to 27, 2007 (Complete) including a summary of public input received at Open House 3 - NOTE: Open House 4 was presented in coordination with the City Centre Transportation Plan (CCTP) Vision (approved by Council, December 2007).
- CCAP Implementation Strategy Highlights, including:
- Planning Committee (Staff Report): CCAP Implementation Strategy Highlights, April 22, 2008 (Complete)
- Planning Committee (Staff Report): Private Developments and LEED Within the City Centre Area Plan and Green Roofs Throughout the City, April 22, 2008 (Complete)
- Open House: July 3, 2008 (Complete)
- 2008 DCC Update, Richmond, July 3, 2008
- Background Information on the Proposed 2008 Development Cost Charges
- Council (Staff Report): Proposed Development Cost Charges Bylaw No. 8024, Amendment Bylaw No. 8396 (Third Reading), July 28, 2008 (Complete)
- Planning Committee: June 17, 2008 (Complete)
- Council (First Reading): June 23, 2008 (Complete)
- Public Hearing (Second & Third Readings): July 21, 2008 (Complete)
Feedback & Clarification
We value your participation in the planning of Richmond's City Centre. If you have any comments or questions, please contact Suzanne Carter-Huffman at:
Email: Suzanne.Carter@richmond.ca
Phone: 604-276-4228
Mail:
City Centre Area Plan Update
Richmond City Hall
6911 No. 3 Road
Richmond, BC, V6Y 2C1
Attention: Suzanne Carter-Huffman
Open House 1 - July 18 to 22, 2006
This stage of consultation, including a public open house, presentation, stakeholder meetings and a public survey, is complete.
The purpose of this stage of the study was to determine what number of residents should be planned for in the downtown over the long-term and the general distribution and composition of development.
Results of the public survey were presented as part of Open House 2 held in November 2006. Display boards and the staff report to Planning Committee prepared for Open House 1 can be downloaded here:
Open House 2 - November 4 to 17, 2006
This is the second and final stage of a public open house, presentation, stakeholder meetings and public survey process during the preparation of a “Concept Plan” for the downtown - planned for presentation for endorsement by Council in January 2007.
The purpose of this stage of the study is to report back on public input received at Open House 1 in July 2006 and provide more detail regarding land use, density, transportation, open space and urban design.
Display boards and the staff report to Planning Committee prepared for Open House 2 can be downloaded here:
Display Boards:
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Open House 3: CCAP CONCEPT – (Approved in principle on February 12, 2007) – March 1 to 16, 2007
This is the final stage of Part 1 of the CCAP study process, and was reviewed by Planning Committee on February 6, 2007, and approved in principle by Council on February 12, 2007. The CCAP CONCEPT is an interim step in the planning process for the City Centre, and the foundation upon which subsequent work and studies are to be based (e.g., demographic and employment projections, transportation vision).
The staff report, dated February 1, 2007, includes background and analysis regarding the CCAP CONCEPT, together with the results of the public consultation process conducted as part of Open House 2 in November 2006.
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- Introduction
- Land Use & Density
- Jobs & Business
- Mobility & Access
- Open Space & Amenity
- Ecology & Adaptability
- Social Equity & Continuity
- Arts & Culture
- Built Form & Urban Design
In July and November 2006, the CCAP completed the first two stages of its Public Consultation process.
This concept was endorsed by Council on February 12, 2007, as a guide for possible future open space and park development along the City Centre riverfront. The concept will be refined through the coming stages of the City Centre Area Plan (CCAP) update process.
Open House 4 - Richmond’s Growing Downtown – City Centre Population Growth - July 14 to 27, 2007
Presented in coordination with the City Centre Transportation Plan (CCTP) Vision
To assist in the CCAP Update, a demographic study has been completed on behalf of the City, by Urban Futures, entitled: “Projecting Community Change in the Richmond City Centre: A Community Lifecycle Approach,” May 2007.
The study explores the factors affecting the City Centre’s rate and amount of population growth, and the mix of residents by age group that are anticipated to make up that growth. The study was received by Council on July 9, 2007, and was presented at Open House 4, July 14 to 27, 2007 (as indicated below).
City Centre Transportation Plan (CCTP) Update
In conjunction with the CCAP update, an update to the existing City Centre Transportation Plan (CCTP) (first adopted in 1997) was completed as part of the CCAP planning process.
The CCTP update builds upon the key objectives of the 1997 CCTP to foster a more balanced transportation system that emphasizes transit, cycling and walking as the preferred modes that will accommodate future travel demand. Together, the updated CCAP and CCTP provide the framework that will guide the City's response to emerging urban issues through the 21st Century in a sustainable manner.
Phase 1 - Creating a Transportation Vision (Final CCTP Vision approved by Council, December 2007)
Phase 1 of the two-phase CCTP Update is the articulation of a Vision that describes the key features of the future transportation system in the City Centre. In February 2007, potential key features of the CCTP Vision were identified and presented for public comment and feedback.
In July 2007, City Council endorsed, in principle, the draft CCTP Vision, which can be summarized as:
"Sustainable mobility for a livable, appealing and viable downtown."
Phase 2 - Developing an Implementation Strategy
Phase 2 is the development of a strategy that identifies the specific improvements, costs, priority and potential timing of the transportation measures necessary to achieve the Vision. This work was completed as part of the CCAP Implementation Strategy.
CCAP Implementation Strategy Highlights
Over the past year, City staff and consultants have been working on an Implementation Strategy for the CCAP, including:
- Updating the water, sanitary sewer and storm drainage models for the City Centre
- Preparing costing, financing and phasing strategies for the City Centre Transportation Plan, park acquisition and development and utilities
- Refining the density bonusing approach for affordable housing, child care and other potential amenities
- Determining a community planning fee in the City Centre
- Reviewing Richmond’s Development Cost Charge (DCC) Program and how it may be amended to address anticipated growth in the City Centre
In addition, City staff and consultants have prepared policy directions with regard to the application of high-performance building standards.
More detailed information regarding the implementation of the CCAP can be viewed via the following links:
- Planning Committee (Staff Report): CCAP Implementation Strategy Highlights, April 22, 2008 (Complete)
- Planning Committee (Staff Report): Private Developments and LEED Within the City Centre Area Plan and Green Roofs Throughout the City, April 22, 2008 (Complete)
- Open House: July 3, 2008 (Complete)
- 2008 DCC Update, Richmond, July 3, 2008
- Background Information on the Proposed 2008 Development Cost Charges
- Council (Staff Report): Proposed Development Cost Charges Bylaw No. 8024, Amendment Bylaw No. 8396 (Third Reading), July 28, 2008 (Complete)
