Area Planning & Zoning

Area Planning

Kitsilano has had a number of planning programs from the 1970s onward including:

1. Neighbourhood Improvement Program in the 1970s used Federal funds to improve parks, schools, and social service facilities.
   
2. Area planning in the mid-1970s led to zoning changes eliminating highrise potential from apartment areas, and introducing new design-related zoning to the duplex and commercial areas.

A planning program in the early 1990s did an extensive review of the RT zones The resulting RT-7 and RT-8 zones place a strong emphasis on retention of older, character buildings, as well as on design control of new buildings. At the same time, the Arbutus industrial lands were replanned as a new residential neighbourhood for about 2,250 people, through the Arbutus Neighbourhood Policy Plan (1993) and subsequent CD-1 and C-7/C-8 zonings. Much of the development in the area, as well as the greenway system, is complete. The Kitsilano Traffic, Cycling and Parking Plan (1992) mafe recommendations on cycling routes and traffic calming throughout the area.

In the early 1990s, the Secondary Suites Program dealt with whether residents in the single family area between Broadway and W 16th Avenue supported rental suites, and resulted in RS-1S zoning for suites in that area. In the late 1990s, as a result of the RS Zoning Program, RS-5S which includes design review was adopted, covering the same area.

In 1995, Vancouver City Council approved CityPlan: Directions for Vancouver. CityPlan is a citywide plan that will guide City decisions on programs, priorities and actions through 2021. CityPlan provides general directions for a range of topics and issues in which the City is involved including neighbourhood centres, housing variety and affordability, neighbourhood character, services, safety, arts and culture, public places, economy and jobs, transportation, environment, downtown development, financial accountability, and decision making. [CityPlan]

The Community Visions Program is a component of CityPlan that provides each community with an opportunity to look into its future, determine its needs and aspirations, and set a course that is consistent with CityPlan. Community visioning is being implemented in areas where there has been little or no previous community planning.

Kitsilano has undergone extensive community planning and will not be part of the Community Visioning process. It may be included in a "re-visioning" process in the future.[Community Visions Program]

Zoning

The zoning types found in Kitsilano are listed below.

• RS-1 and RS-1S, One-Family Dwelling Districts: The intent is to maintain the single-family residential character of the RS-1 District and, in the RS1S District, to conditionally permit two-family dwellings and encourage new development that is similar in character to development in the RS-1 District.
• RS-5S: single-family houses with family suites or rental suites. Optional design review.
  
• RT-7 & RT-8: renovation/conversion of older houses in some cases with infill dwelling over the garage; two- to four-unit new dwellings. With design review.
  
• RT-9: two-family dwellings, or renovation/conversion of old houses. Optional design review.
  
• RM-4 and RM-4N, Multiple Dwelling Districts: The intent is to permit medium density residential development, including a variety of multiple dwelling types, to encourage the retention of existing buildings and good design, and to achieve a number of community and social objectives through permitted increases in floor area. The RM-4N District requires evidence of noise mitigation for residential development.C-2: either four-storey commercial/residential mixed use, with design review; or three- to four-storey all commercial, without design review.
  
• C-2B, C-2C, C-2C1, C-7/8: four-storey commercial/residential mixed use, with design review. The zones vary somewhat in the uses and densities permitted, and the nature of the design guidelines.
  
• C-3A: office or apartment buildings with retail on the ground level, heights ranging up to 36.5 m, with design review.
  
• CD-1s: different forms of development under customized, site-specific regulations, with design review. Much of the Arbutus Neighbourhood is zoned CD-1.
  

For more detailed information on what is permitted in various zones call 604.873.7613 or visit the Development Services Enquiry Centre website.