EcoDensity, Liveability & the Future of Vancouver's Public Realm
City releases Version 3.0 of EcoDensity Charter and Tools
On May 13 2008, the City's Planning Department released the third draft of their EcoDensity Charter and proposed Initial Actions. These documents are available for public review until June 10, 2008. Public input can only be submitted in writing.
- Access the latest version of EcoDensity Charter and Actions on the City's EcoDensity webpages.
To assist residents with understanding how the EcoDensity process, the VPSN has put together a number of useful tools.
- A Summary and Analysis of the Third Draft EcoDensity Documents (PDF) - this brief paper outlines key concerns and considerations pertaining to the new EcoDensity materials. NEW
- A Comparison of the Three EcoDensity Charters (PDF) - to illustrate how they have changed over the last 12 months. NEW
- A Comparison of the Three Tools and Actions documents (PDF) - also showing the evolution (and shifting priorities) of the initiative. NEW
- Read a copy of the Final VPSN EcoDensity & Liveability Report (PDF) - Based on input generated at the VPSN's February Community Workshop on EcoDensity
Please consider reviewing these documents and lending your voice to this important issue!
To submit your feedback to City Council and the Planning Department:
Email: mayorandcouncil@vancouver.ca, Please type "EcoDensity" in the subject line
Write to:Mayor and Council (Re: EcoDensity), Vancouver City Hall, 453 W. 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1V4
Fax: 604-873-7750
The VPSN's Community Consultation on Densification and Quality of Life
On February 18, 2008, the Vancouver Public Space Network (VPSN) organized a community workshop designed around the City’s EcoDensity initiative and its links to Vancouver’s quality of life. The event attracted a capacity audience to the Vancouver Public Library's Alma VanDusen and Peter Kay Rooms.
The evening begain with a presentation by the City’s Director of Planning, Brent Toderian, and was followed by a VPSN-led consultation on Vancouver’s “liveability.” Our aim was to generate a record of community issues, concerns and ideas around liveability issues – material that we used to develop a report that was presented to both City Council and the Planning Department in March 2008.
- Read a copy of the Final VPSN EcoDensity & Liveability Report - Based on input generated at the Community Workshop (PDF)
- Watch video of the VPSN workshop, including VPSN commentary and presentation by Brent Toderian
- View the event photo album on the VPSN Flickr Site
- Download the revised VPSN EcoDensity Backgrounder (PDF, HTML) and Comparative Analysis of the May 2007 EcoDensity Charter and the November 2007 EcoDensity Charter (PDF).
- Download VPSN EcoDensity, Liveability & the Future of Vancouver's Public Realm Event Poster
- Visit the City of Vancouver's EcoDensity webpages (contains all relevant City of Vancouver EcoDensity reports and materials).
Background
In 2006 the City began looking at an initiative that they, under the direction of Sam Sullivan, were calling “Eco-Density” – ostensibly an attempt to encourage a form of urban densification (more people, more homes, same size city) that is environmentally friendly and done in such a way that it reduces the city’s ecological footprint.
Since that time, there have been a number of public consultations and Council reports… as well as the creation of a first “EcoDensity Charter” in May 2007 and then a revised charter and package of “Initial Actions” in November 2007. There has also been a range of responses from the community - ranging from supportive engagment to neighbourhood-organized protest.
Talking About Liveability
From the beginning, residents have been told that the EcoDensity initiative rests on at least three broad principles –sustainability, affordability, and livability. The VPSN's workshop focused on the last of these principles.
A city’s liveability city is defined by many things – including its parks, streetscapes, community centres, public plazas and neighbourhood facilities. And yet present-day Vancouver is already experiencing shortages and capacity-issues with many of its public amenities. How will an ‘EcoDense’ city address this? What will happen if our already burgeoning population continues to increase? What should we be encouraging the City’s elected officials and planners to do now, so the situation doesn’t worsen? Most importantly, how can we ensure that “liveability” issues aren’t given short shrift at the expense of other proposed EcoDensity actions and principles?
These and other issues formed the basis of the VPSN's workshop. They continue to form the basis of our concerns today.
More info
For more information on the VPSN's research and advocacy around EcoDensity send us an email - info | at | vancouverpublicspace.ca.