Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Build a Safer Community Individuals, the Community, and the Police Should All Work More Diligently to Create a Safer Community

Vision Highlights

Hastings-Sunrise Today Hastings-Sunrise is a community rich in diversity and history. Its residents value the area’s distinct single family neighbourhoods, views of the mountains and Burrard Inlet, and convenient shopping areas. The area’s community centres and neighbourhood houses are heavily used and its parks and open spaces are considered key assets. The community’s long tradition of grassroots involvement in local issues continues today with active neighbourhood groups, community schools, business improvement association, and community policing office.

The Hastings-Sunrise Vision seeks to enhance an already appealing community. Residents want to do more to protect the environment, improve community safety, and increase the attractiveness of parks, school grounds, and streets. Major roads should be made safer and easier to cross while local streets should be calmed to reduce the impact of short-cutting. Residents want more involvement in decisions which affect them and call for enhanced shopping areas, walking/ biking routes, and recreation programs for youth, seniors, and families. The Vision supports additional seniors’ housing, homes with two suites, and new housing around larger commercial areas.

Create a Cleaner, More Environmentally Aware Community Residents, businesses, and the City should work together to create a clean and litter free Hastings-Sunrise. Individuals and businesses should be supported by the City to increase recycling and composting while improving conservation of energy and water. The City should also work with other levels of government to incorporate sustainable practices in their own operations and to regulate noise, emissions, and water/energy use.

Improve Parks, Streets, Lanes, and Public Places Park design, appearance, and activities should be more varied to serve the diverse population of the community. School grounds should become attractive community spaces usable by people of all ages, particularly in areas which are underserved by neighbourhood parks. Safety in, and crossings of arterials to, parks should be enhanced and access to New Brighton should be improved. The City and residents should continue to improve streets as pleasant green links that connect neighbourhoods and lane paving should allow more greenery and rainwater permeability. Panoramas from parks and streets should be protected and viewpoints made more enjoyable. There should be significant public discussion about the future of the PNE and Playland in Hastings Park, along with their associated impacts and opportunities.

Enhance Important Shopping Areas Hastings Sunrise/North, Vancouver Heights, and First/Renfrew should be enhanced as the heart of their adjacent neighbourhoods. In all areas, shops and services should be continuous along the ground floor of buildings and there should be more street trees, improved pedestrian safety, additional convenient parking, more attractive store fronts, and cleaner streets and lanes. Along Hastings there should be continuous weather protection for shoppers, sidewalk merchandise should be encouraged (provided sidewalks are wide enough), and the 100’ road allowance of side streets should be used to create attractive public spaces and additional parking.

2 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Build a Safer Community Individuals, the community, and the police should all work more diligently to create a safer community. Prevention initiatives, particularly for youth, need to be expanded and the City should take a comprehensive look at prostitution to reduce its negative community impacts.

Move toward Community Decision-making Residents should have greater and more timely input into decision-making about changes in their community including major decisions like the future of the PNE in Hastings Park and port planning as well as recurring decisions on transit and park planning, street and traffic changes, and development proposals. Commu- nity decision-making should be expanded to include a range of issues. An annual community capital program should be established to be spent on unique community priorities.

Protect and Expand Community Services The range of programs offered at community centres, neighbourhood houses, and community schools should be protected. Additional affordable services for seniors, youth, and families are wanted in new or upgraded facilities, including the branch library. Information on all services provided either by the City or others should be available in languages, forms, and locations which are convenient for residents and businesses.

Improve Conditions on Arterials Conditions and safety for residents, pedestrians, and transit users should be substantially improved on all arterial streets in Hastings- Sunrise. Sidewalks and pedestrian crossings should be improved, traffic speeds should be controlled, intersection safety enhanced, and the adverse impacts of trucks reduced. Transit should be more convenient and comfortable with better service to neighbourhood destinations.

Calm Traffic on Local Streets and Improve Walking and Biking Routes More, and more affordable, approaches should be found to address safety and annoyance issues arising from short-cutting through, and event parking on, local streets. Popular walking and biking routes which connect to destinations like schools, community facilities, and parks should be made more attractive and should have safer crossings of busy streets.

Maintain and Enhance Single Family Neighbourhoods Most single family areas of Hastings-Sunrise should be kept. Design controls for new homes should be introduced across the community and incentives should be established to retain the community’s many heritage and character homes and their neighbourhood context. Resolution of complaints arising from rental suites should be handled more consistently and efficiently. Changes to existing comprehensive development zones should require a rezoning process with appropriate community consultation.

Increase Housing Variety Homes with two suites should be encouraged, provided they are designed to fit into single family areas (including good landscaping) and accompanied by the community facilities and services needed by the additional population. Housing variety should also be increased adjacent to existing commercial areas to help support shops and services and put people close to shopping and transit. Some small developments designed for seniors should be permitted near parks, shopping, and transit to allow seniors to stay in the community as their housing needs change.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 3 The following CityPlan Directions provide a checklist for Community Visions: Vision Background Strengthen neighbourhood centres What is This Vision? Provide shops, jobs, and services close to home, and create safe, This Vision describes the kind of community that people who live and work in inviting public places to meet and Hastings-Sunrise want it to become over the next 10 to 20 years, and how CityPlan socialize. Directions should be implemented in Hastings-Sunrise. It identifies what people Improve safety and better target value and want to preserve, what improvements are needed, and how change community services should occur. It will be used at City Hall to help set priorities for capital projects, Identify ways to increase safety; direct City programs and services, and make decisions affecting this community. It to better provide community also provides an opportunity for community organizations and individuals to act on services; and to use arts and cultural activities to support directions that the community has endorsed. community identity and participation. How was this Vision Created?

Reduce reliance on the car The Vision Directions were developed by people who live and work in Hastings- Make it easier to get around on Sunrise. The program began in January 2002 with community outreach and a foot, by bike, and by transit. weekend Visions Fair in April 2002. The heart of the process was a series of inten-

Improve the environment sive public workshops in Spring and Fall 2002 where over 650 people spent many Suggest ways to improve air hours developing ideas and options on a variety of topics. From these sessions, quality, conserve water and Vision Directions were created and published in the Community Vision Choices energy, and reduce waste. Survey which was distributed to all households, businesses, and property owners in June 2003. In addition, a special random sample of households was given the same Increase the variety and affordability of housing survey. Over 1800 people responded to the survey to create a shared Vision for the Find ways to help meet the future. In March 2004 the Vision Directions that were supported by the survey were housing needs of community approved by City Council. residents of all ages and incomes. A Community Liaison Group, which was composed of a wide range of community Define neighbourhood character volunteers, provided continuity throughout the process, served as a ‘watchdog’ to Define what aspects of neighbour- ensure that community input was carried through the process, and advised staff on hood character, heritage, and community outreach and other matters. appearance to retain, and decide the character of new development.

Diversify parks and public places Meet park needs, and identify a variety of designs, activities, and locations for all kinds of public places, from play areas to greenways and gathering places.

Involve people and redirect resources Find new ways to involve people and to redirect resources to bring CityPlan Directions and the Community Vision to life.

4 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Making the Vision Happen An Overview of the Community Vision Program Now that the Hastings-Sunrise Vision has been approved by Council, implemention The Vision is based on CityPlan: begins. Both the City and the community are key players in making the Vision a Directions for Vancouver which reality. was adopted by City Council in 1995 as an overall vision for the For the City, the Vision Directions provide a policy framework for decisions on city. In July 1996 City Council local issues such as development proposals, traffic management, and community approved the Community Visions Program as a way of bringing services. The Vision also helps direct programs such as public art, greenways, park CityPlan’s city-wide directions to stewardship, and crime prevention to where they are most needed. While some the community level and reaching Directions are implemented relatively quickly, others require more detailed plan- all communities within several ning — for example, plans to make major roads safer and more attractive, designs years. The program Terms of for new types of housing, and improvements to local shopping areas. In order to Reference describe the ground rules and process for creating a identify and track the various short-term and long-term City actions, City staff Community Vision. The program develop a Vision Implementation Action Plan. The Action Plan describes how the asks each community to Vision Directions can be met using various City resources and programs such as implement CityPlan directions in a capital funding, business improvement assistance, zoning, traffic calming, and way and at a scale and pace that neighbourhood centre planning programs. The Action Plan is reviewed with the suits the community. community, reported to Council, and posted on the City’s website where the public can monitor its progress.

The Vision also provides the community with a framework for action and volunteer initiatives. City staff help set-up a community-based process to continue resident involvement and co-operation with the City. Most of the communities with approved Visions have formed implementation committees which meet monthly to share information with each other and City staff. Most committees have sub- committees working on specific issues and projects such as traffic calming, neighbourhood greenways, public art, park use conflicts, major development proposals, and community celebrations. An annual newsletter is delivered to all households and businesses which gives an update on implementation activities and invites the community to an annual meeting to review progress and identify priorities for the upcoming year.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 5 Topics Not Included in the Vision Directions Vision Directions The Vision Directions cover the topics that were identified at the community workshops and public Introduction meetings as important for the community. The Vision Directions are grouped into eight themes, with Directions for 28 specific topics. Different types of information are provided: For some topics that were not addressed at the workshops, there are city-wide policies already in Background Information place that will continue to apply in Introductory material for each theme and topic provides information on the exist- Hastings-Sunrise. Examples are policies on non-market housing for ing situation and on existing City policies and practices. lower income households, special needs residential facilities, and Vision Directions heritage preservation. These are described in ‘sidebars’ within this The Survey asked people to respond to draft Directions on a range from ‘Strongly document. Where rezoning is Agree’ to ‘Strongly Disagree’. Each Direction has been classified as Approved, Not required, community consultation Approved (Uncertain), or Not Supported based on community response in the will take place on a project Choices Survey. This classification appears above each Direction. Noted below each specific basis. Direction is the percentage agreement it received in the general and random

For any other topics not included surveys (complete statistics and survey methodology are available in a separate in the Vision Directions, the City publication Report on the General and Random Surveys: Hastings-Sunrise). will still need to consult before major changes are made in the Approved Directions: Most Directions received enough agreement to be classified community. as ‘Approved’. These Directions were supported not only by 50% or more of the general survey respondents but also by at least 55% of the random survey respondents (a level that ensures support for the Direction by a majority of these respondents, taking into account the plus or minus 5% sampling error of the random survey). These Directions have been approved by City Council and are official City policy.

Not Approved (Uncertain) Directions: When a Direction did not receive enough support to be classified as ‘approved’ but the agree votes outweighed disagree votes in both the general and random surveys, the Direction is listed as ‘Not Approved (Uncertain)’. These Directions were not adopted by City Council and although they are not City policy they remain on the table for further community discussion in subsequent planning processes. For these Directions, comments on their future role follows the ‘People’s Ideas’.

Not Supported Directions: When a Direction received more disagree than agree votes in either the general or the random survey it is classified as ‘Not Supported’. These Directions were not adopted by City Council and they will not be considered in future planning processes.

People’s Ideas For most Directions, the specific ideas generated at the community meetings and workshops, are listed here. They are for information and future reference but are not part of the formally approved Directions.

6 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Traffic and Transportation

raffic and its impacts are major issues in Hastings-Sunrise. Hastings-Sunrise has some of the city’s busiest streets — in Tterms of both car and truck traffic. First Avenue carries more than 50,000 vehicles in a 24-hour period, Hastings and Broadway more than 40,000 vehicles each. Many of the arterial streets in Hastings-Sunrise are among the most heavily used for truck travel in the City, with Hastings carrying over 800 trucks per day. Hastings- Sunrise is crossed by key routes to the North Shore and Burnaby with subsequent strong north-south and east-west flows of traffic. Both pedestrians and cyclists face difficulties attempting to get around the neighbourhood, especially during peak periods.

The Vision addresses a number of transportation issues for Hast- ings-Sunrise, including improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and general safety. (Other Directions related to streets are in NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRES and IMPROVING PARKS, STREETS, LANES, AND PUBLIC PLACES).

The specific types of streets included here were identified as priorities at the Vision Fair and the r ne io community workshops. These are: s McGill s i • primary arterials: the busiest streets in Hastings- m m Sunrise (Hastings, McGill, Dundas west of Nanaimo, o C Dundas Cambridge First, Broadway, Nanaimo, and Boundary) • secondary arterials: less-busy streets where pedestrians, bikes, and transit should be encouraged

Semlin E. Hastings (Renfrew and Rupert)

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a an

Boundary C

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Renfre

Nanaimo

E. First

y w H E. Broadway Rupert d ee Lough N Primary arterial Secondary arterial Increased priority for pedestrians, cycling, and transit (from City Transportation Plan) Proposed change to collector (from City Transportation Plan)

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 7 Types of Streets Primary • provide a pedestrian crossing on Primary arterials: serve through Arterials Hastings at Garden traffic and provide access to the 1 • connect Hastings Park to New region’s major roads. They (Hastings, McGill, Dundas west of Brighton Park with a green, safe, generally have two or more Nanaimo, First, Broadway, Nanaimo, moving lanes of traffic in each pedestrian friendly crossing of direction, high traffic volumes, and Boundary) McGill traffic signals, and rush hour • discourage auto-oriented uses, parking or turning restrictions. Hastings, McGill, Dundas (west of more emphasis on pedestrians (e.g. Most are truck and transit routes. Nanaimo), First, Broadway, Nanaimo, on Hastings from Penticton to and Boundary will continue to be Secondary arterials: also serve Renfrew, across Broadway to Van primary arterials used by traffic traveling through traffic but they are Tech) across the city and region. All but First generally narrower and less busy • provide more time for pedestrians than primary arterials (although Avenue are truck and transit routes. to cross at signalized intersections, some, like 12th, have high traffic Broadway and Nanaimo have been especially important for seniors volumes). They may not be bus designated in the Transportation Plan as or truck routes. having potential for ‘increased priority • need speed enforcement on all major streets, especially McGill off- Neighbourhood collectors: are for pedestrians, bicycles, and transit’. intended to give local traffic Traffic volumes, speeds, vehicle mixes, ramp access to the arterial road network and noise make all these streets difficult • provide better pedestrian cross- and are not intended to act as to live on or to cross. Hastings has ings of Nanaimo, especially between arterials by serving through First and Broadway traffic. Traffic volumes should be special needs for pedestrian crossings to lower than on most secondary reach its many retail stores (also see arterials and should not increase Directions in the NEIGHBOURHOOD except when new trips are CENTRES section of the Vision). generated in the local neighbourhood. 1.1 Improve Conditions and Safety Local streets: provide access to on Primary Arterials homes. They are generally (Hastings, McGill, Dundas west of bordered by residential uses and Nanaimo, First, Broadway, Nanaimo, and used primarily by residents of the Boundary) neighbourhood. Traffic volumes are low. Approved Hastings, McGill, Dundas west of Streets with increased priority Nanaimo, First, Broadway, Nanaimo, and First Avenue: primary arterial needs more and for pedestrians, cyclists, and Boundary should have the conditions safer pedestrian crossings transit-users: are arterials and safety for residents, pedestrians, identified in the Transportation 1.2 McGill Truck Route Plan as having the potential for and transit users substantially improved increased use by pedestrians by: Approved (e.g. improved crossings, • improving pedestrian crossings and Study the use of McGill by trucks to pedestrian priority areas), cyclists sidewalks determine if the Port Road Connector (e.g. Bikelanes), and transit users has made it possible to remove McGill (e.g. bus bulges, bus lanes, bus • controlling the speed of traffic, more priority measures). enforcement of traffic rules and as a truck route between Renfrew and regulations Nanaimo. If not, look at responding to Truck routes: provide through adverse impacts of trucks with mitiga- • improving the safety of intersections routes for large trucks (generally tion measures like noise abatement, trucks with three or more axles) • reducing the adverse impacts of trucks stricter enforcement of traffic regula- on designated primary and on neighbourhoods secondary arterial streets. These tions, restricted hours of truck move- trucks must travel on truck routes • adding more planting, landscaping, ment, requiring the use of inside lanes, except when their origin or public art. and/or traffic management measures to destination is not on a truck route Percent agree 84%/80% redistribute traffic onto other truck — then they must take the routes. shortest route to the closest truck route. People’s Ideas… Percent agree 65%/60% • provide traffic light at Hastings and Lillooet to give pedestrians People’s Ideas… (especially seniors) access to Hast- • remove trucks from McGill/ ings Park and to make it easier to Nanaimo — they travel too fast and turn left on Hastings when leaving are too dangerous the community centre

8 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision • look at truck movements on bulges and/or a centre median on City Transportation Plan McGill to see if practical to remove this stretch The City’s Transportation Plan it as a truck route now that the • provide 24-hour left-turn signals was approved by City Council in connector/port road is finished at Broadway/Rupert May 1997. The Plan’s most important directions include: • reduce Renfrew to local use only • not expanding the existing Secondary between Hastings and McGill, add network of arterial roads in the Arterials pedestrian signal at Dundas, have city 2 bus lane to Coliseum and create • improved transit and expanded (Renfrew and Rupert) cycling landscaped plaza in front • better conditions for pedestrians, especially in community Renfrew and Rupert are secondary shopping areas arterials. Renfrew (south of McGill) and • traffic calming to protect Rupert (south of First) are truck routes neighbourhoods from through and both carry transit. Rupert and traffic • improved truck access for Renfrew are designated in the Transpor- moving goods tation Plan as having potential for • future growth in commuter trips ‘increased priority for pedestrians, to the downtown to be served bicycles, and transit’. Vision participants by transit, instead of creating noted problems with traffic speed and more car trips. pedestrian safety, particularly around schools and Hastings Park. Renfrew: secondary arterial needs increased 2.1 Improve Conditions and Safety priority for pedestrians, bicycles, and transit on Renfrew and Rupert Truck Routes Approved The conditions and safety for residents, pedestrians, and transit users along Renfrew and Rupert should be substan- r tially improved by: ne io • improving pedestrian crossings and s McGill is sidewalks, including corner bulges m m o • controlling the speed of traffic, more C Cambridge Dundas enforcement of traffic rules and regulations

• improving the safety of intersections Semlin E. Hastings

• reducing the adverse impacts of trucks y

on neighbourhoods

aHw d

• adding more planting, landscaping, a

n a Boundary

public art. C

Percent agree 77%/75% a Tr

Renfrew

Nanaimo People’s Ideas… E. First • need pedestrian lights on Ren- frew at 2nd, Adanac, and Pandora • narrow Renfrew by Hastings Park

to provide better, safer access to the y w H park Rupert E. Broadway d • add corner and bus bulges on ee Lough Renfrew at First with street furniture N • need more and safer crossings on Renfrew north of Hastings to allow Truck routes people to get to Hastings Park; also remove traffic lanes, allow diagonal parking, and build big corner

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 9 Streets Proposed to of Hastings-Sunrise, there was no con- be Removed from centration in nearby areas. However, 3 respondents in the neighbourhood the Arterial Network adjacent to the street (the subarea (parts of Dundas and Cambridge) bounded by Nanaimo, McGill, Renfrew, and Hastings) supported the Direction in Dundas from Nanaimo to Renfrew is both the general (77%) and the random now a secondary arterial which carries surveys (70%). relatively low traffic volumes and passes through a residential neighbourhood. 3.2 Improve Conditions and Safety on Dundas (Nanaimo to Renfrew) The Transportation Plan proposes its reclassification to a neighbourhood Approved collector. As a neighbourhood collector The conditions and safety for residents, it would continue to give local traffic pedestrians, and transit users along Dundas: change designation to neighbourhood collector access to arterial roads but it would not Dundas should be substantially im- be widened or improved to increase the proved by: amount of traffic it carries and it would • improving pedestrian crossings and be redesigned to discourage through sidewalks traffic. • controlling the speed of traffic, more enforcement of traffic rules and 3.1 Change the Designation of regulations Dundas (Nanaimo to Renfrew) • improving the safety of intersections Not Approved (Uncertain) • adding more planting, landscaping, In accordance with the Transportation public art. Plan proposal, the City should change Percent agree 69%/70% the designation of Dundas (Nanaimo to Renfrew) from secondary arterial to People’s Ideas… neighbourhood collector to ensure it is • provide corner bulges along not widened or changed to accommo- Dundas from Nanaimo to Renfrew date increased traffic volumes or speeds. to give it more of a community feel It should be redesigned to discourage through trips. • stop trucks from short-cutting Percent agree 57%/55% along Dundas to avoid McGill congestion — all commuter traffic People’s Ideas… goes straight through Nanaimo • remove Dundas as an arterial: heading east on Dundas if McGill block through access (east bound) at blocked (dangerous for pedestrians Dundas and Nanaimo crossing Dundas at any intersection east of Nanaimo to Renfrew) • make Dundas a local street, lots of major streets nearby • put aggressive traffic calming in place near schools or routes to Comments: This Direction received school majority support in the general survey • move all trucks off Dundas but fell less than half a percentage point short of the level of agreement required in the random survey to be considered approved. In the random survey, the Direction received more than twice as many agree votes than disagree votes. As a result, this Direction is classed as Not Approved (Uncertain), and remains on the table for consideration and public discussion in future planning. An examination of the distribution of votes found that, in both surveys, the disagree Dundas: improve conditions and safety votes were distributed across the whole

10 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 3.3 Change the Designation of Traffic calming can be put in place using Cambridge (east of Cassiar) from one of three approaches: Secondary Arterial to Local Street • a neighbourhood-wide traffic calming Not Approved (Uncertain) plan Cambridge (east of Cassiar) should have • property owners initiate and pay for a its designation changed from secondary traffic circle or corner bulge at an arterial to local street, given the lack of intersection Traffic circle: raised circular through traffic on this street after the island to slow cars in • City funded traffic calming on streets intersections completion of the Cassiar Connector. with problems confirmed by measur- Percent agree 55%/54% able criteria

People’s Ideas… The Vision Directions support more • make Cambridge east of Cassiar a Other Innovative Traffic traffic calming in Hasting-Sunrise. Calming Measures local street, not a secondary arterial Other traffic calming measures • does not make sense to call this 4.1 More Traffic Calming in have been used in other an arterial of any kind Hastings-Sunrise jurisdictions but were not included Approved as possible Vision Directions Comments: This Direction did not receive The City should do more to make because they are too expensive or specialized to be priorities in high enough agreement in the random Hastings-Sunrise residents aware of its survey to be considered supported, but it Hastings-Sunrise, given the ‘complaint-based’ traffic calming proc- limited funding available for received majority support in the general esses. Residents should put forward calming. Examples include: survey and had more than three times more streets for City evaluation of the • mid-street pedestrian islands/ more agree than disagree votes in the need for City funded traffic calming refuges • ‘curving streets’ which use random survey. As a result, it is classed measures like traffic circles, speed as Not Approved (Uncertain), and curbs to force traffic to weave humps, stop signs, and traffic diverters. from side to side within a block remains on the table for consideration The City should increase the overall • ‘woonerf’ or ‘home street’ a and public discussion in future plan- level of funding for traffic calming. Dutch layout that integrates ning. In both the general and the ran- Percent agree 69%/65% walking, playing, parking, and dom surveys, the disagree votes were movement as equal partners on spread across Hastings-Sunrise. Respond- the street (maximum speed is People’s Ideas… pedestrian speed; parts of ents in the subarea adjacent to this • introduce 40 km/h speed limit on Granville Island work like this) stretch of Cambridge (bounded Hastings, residential streets (30 km/h speed • street reclaiming by use of Boundary, Burrard Inlet, Cassiar Con- limit in higher density areas) block parties and street festivals organized by nector) supported the reclassification in • prevent short-cutting through both the general (64%) and the random residents neighbourhoods/commuter traffic • public art/fountains. (65%) surveys. on residential streets: Adanac, Charles, Triumph, Skeena, Franklin, Traffic Calming on Pandora, Cambridge, Oxford 4 Local Streets Local streets should carry low volumes Partial of local traffic traveling at moderate Closure Full Street speeds. The Transportation Plan recom- Closure Mid-Block mends lowering the speed limit on all Cul de sac Bulge Corner Bulges local streets to 40 km/h. In some cases, Reduced

through and/or speeding traffic consist- Corner "

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ently occurs on local streets. Traffic r Raised t

S Sidewalk Diagonal Right In/Right Out Street calming reduces the speed or volume of g (w/ramp) Trees Diverter n Diverter

r traffic on these streets to increase safety u C Speed " and livability. Traffic calming may Bumps (in lane) employ traffic circles, speed humps, Raised Median Traffic "Skinny Street" corner bulges, traffic diverters, stop on Arterial Circle Stop Signs signs or other types of signs, street one sided two sided closures, street narrowing, raised narrowing narrowing On-Street Speed crosswalks, and pedestrian islands/ Parking Hump refuge areas (sometimes planted). Note: street trees ( ) should be included as part of these measures, wherever appropriate. Neighbourhood Traffic Calming Measures

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 11 Current Traffic Calming • provide traffic calming on Eton to was being repaired, they were Approaches redirect cars back to Nanaimo cheap and they seemed to work Neighbourhood-wide traffic • need corner bulges, speed bumps • need more work to reduce speed calming plan: used when around all schools, especially in calmed areas around First Avenue calming on one street would divert traffic to other residential streets. primary (measures near Templeton This approach can take two to are quite effective), also bring back The Vision Directions also address three years to complete, crossing patrols residents concerns that, on streets involving many public meetings, • need additional stop signs to slow without curbs, the grass boulevards are open houses, and surveys. The City pays for the traffic calming cars on residential streets, too many ‘eaten away’ over time, leading to wider devices. uncontrolled intersections streets that encourage speeding and that • find other sources of funding for some residents would like to pay for Property owner initiated circles traffic-calming; traffic calming traffic calming devices themselves if or bulges: owners decide on and process is cumbersome and woe- their street is not a high priority for City pay for a traffic calming device. funded calming. In both cases, the Enough residents must vote for fully underfunded the initiative and then all residents • provide larger traffic calming current Local Improvement Program contribute to the cost of the budget so the wait for calming is should be less cumbersome and should improvement. shorter (e.g. $300,000/year is not offer more low cost options. enough funding for the entire City) Criteria-based traffic calming: 4.3 Improve the City’s Local used for an individual problem • increase budget for calming local Improvement Program street or street segment. The streets and establish different process starts with a resident criteria; don’t like working with Approved requesting calming on a street (if overall scores when there is a safety The City should change its Local Im- there are no complaints the City issue provement Program to make it easier for assumes there is no problem). residents to use and to increase the City staff evaluate the request number of low cost curbing and traffic using criteria which measure the 4.2 Traffic ‘Tie-Ups’ and Traffic extent of the problem. The criteria Calming calming options which are available to used by the City include: residents. • high traffic volumes and/or Approved Percent agree 69%/65% speeds Some areas of Hastings-Sunrise experi- • proximity to schools, play ence serious short-cutting through the People’s Ideas… grounds, and other pedestrian/ neighbourhood when accidents or traffic generators • revise the City’s ‘local improve- • proximity to a Greenway or hold-ups occur on First Avenue or the ment program’ and lane pavings to Bikeway Second Narrows Bridge. The City include different design solutions • City-initiated projects in the should work with local residents to find • reduce the amount of citizen/ area innovative, low-cost solutions that calm volunteer work required to get • recent increases in traffic due traffic when these ‘tie-ups’ occur, even to new development or other approval for a local improvement traffic changes. if an area has already been calmed. Percent agree 67%/62% • need other types of designs for local improvements: while residents Based on staff’s evaluation, each request is placed on a priority list People’s Ideas… may not want to buy the traditional of streets to be calmed. Each • prevent cut through problems on guttering/paving solutions currently year the City pays for traffic Dundas and the streets to the north offered, they may want improve- calming on the highest priority when accidents occur on the bridge ments in some other, less expensive streets. Streets not funded in one forms year are carried over to the next • prevent speeding on residential year’s list. streets like Eton and Trinity when Second Narrows is backed up 4.4 Traffic Demand Reduction Measures • look at traffic calming from broad perspective — whole neighbour- Approved hood approach as opposed to the Traffic calming should be enhanced by ‘one-off ’ intersection; residents reducing auto-trips taken by residents of tired of fighting corner by corner Hastings-Sunrise. Adopt approaches from other areas that increase walking • add more ‘children playing’ signs and biking to people’s destinations, • reinstall the ‘no right turn during boost transit use, and link trips that evening rush hour’ signs which would normally be taken individually. were put in place when the bridge Percent agree 63%/56%

12 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision People’s Ideas… Public Transit • start the ‘walking school bus’ where a parent will chaperone a 5 group of children as they walk to and from school The Transportation Plan recognized that future growth in trips must be accom- • use trip diaries and other ap- modated on the existing road system proaches to show people how easy (supplemented with rapid transit). it is to reduce car trips Control of transit has passed from the • create partnerships to encourage province to a regional body named people to work from home Translink which plans, finances, and • encourage downtown businesses operates the system. Within Vancouver, to reduce auto-trips by altering the City owns the roads used by the starting and finishing times, adopt- buses; is responsible for bus shelters; ing flexible work weeks, and determines whether traffic signals give providing incentives for carpooling priority to buses; and establishes how and transit rather than free parking the streets are designed for buses.

4.5 On-Street Parking on Local The Transportation Plan recommends Streets (especially around the PNE) that the City work with the region to Approved create: Improve control over parking of cars • better bus stops, bus shelters, and and trucks on local streets to make boarding areas (e.g. with timetables and streets safer and provide more parking maps) for local residents (especially around • more frequent buses the PNE). • measures to give transit priority over Percent agree 59%/55% cars on streets (e.g. bus bulges) • community mini-buses People’s Ideas… • a city-wide network of express bus • stop people from selling yard and routes (including Hastings and Broad- street parking during the PNE fair way) and rapid transit. • prevent people standing on Renfrew trying to sell PNE parking The Vision Directions address how to — it is unsafe make transit more attractive to users. • re-institute parking permits to 5.1 Bus Priority Measures address parking enforcement problems during the PNE Approved The speed and ease of boarding of • make everybody pay to park on buses should be increased on all routes streets (by meter or sticker), allow through bus priority measures such as only homeowners to park on their bus bulges. property during events at Hastings Percent agree 71%/69% Park People’s Ideas… • provide bus bulges and boarding space on transit-oriented streets where road capacity is available • dedicate a bus lane to reduce travel time • allow signal priority for buses at intersections

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 13 People’s Ideas… • establish Renfrew service north of Hastings, change Hastings Express service so that it continues as an express route east of Windermere through Burnaby • increase bus capacity, more buses and bigger buses where needed • have suburban routes pick-up at a few stops in Hastings-Sunrise • make buses come more frequently on all routes, specifically routes that connect with SkyTrain Bus bulge: helps bus priority, more boarding space • provide quicker connections between routes: speedy transfer 5.2 Bus Routings and Frequency between buses especially to Approved SkyTrain stations and within the Within Hastings-Sunrise, Translink neighbourhood should increase the frequency of service • reduce number of bus stops to and the number of express services on increase bus frequency and reduce major streets to provide more attractive travel times service. Add a bus route on First Avenue to bring the bus closer to more homes/ 5.3 Improve Transit Connections destinations. within the Community Percent agree 77%/76% Approved Translink should start innovative serv- Bus Routes ices (like mini-buses) which provide better connections between homes and important community destinations. Percent agree 70%/68%

er n People’s Ideas… io McGill s s i • need easy bus connection to m Hastings shopping area for people m o Cambridge C Dundas living north of Hastings • add bus service to New Brighton E. Hastings Park (and to the port for workers) Semlin • provide mini-bus service in

wy Vancouver Heights or extend H

a existing Burnaby service into Van-

d a

n couver

r T 5.4 Improve the ‘Transit Experience’

Renfre

Nanaimo Boundary Approved E. First The ‘transit experience’ (the comfort, convenience, and sense of safety experi- enced by users as they walk to, wait for, or ride the system) should be improved y w in order to attract riders, for example, E. Broadway Rupert H d with better weather protection, lighting ee Lough and security, sidewalks and pathways, landscaping, information (schedules N Bus routes and route maps), and bike storage. Possible express bus routes Percent agree 76%/76% (from City Transportation Plan)

14 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision People’s Ideas… • encourage companies to provide • provide more covered bus shel- incentives for transit users, espe- ters at heavily used stops and near cially downtown companies schools, community centres, and • provide bike racks on all buses seniors’ housing • provide space for strollers on 5.7 Local Involvement in Transit many buses (especially #4) Decisions • clean buses more frequently Approved • provide more vendors to cater to Local involvement in transit decisions transit users to make stops a con- should be enhanced. venient, relaxing atmosphere to Percent agree 75%/70% Sunrise Bikeway: north/south grab coffee etc. route from the Fraser River to Burrard Inlet • provide more benches at bus Greenways and stops; better capacity for people Bikeways waiting to sit down 6 Greenways, Bikeways, and Bikelanes are 5.5 Examine the Price of networks of routes designed to improve Transit Service the experience of walking and cycling within the city. Work is underway Approved through various City programs: Translink should examine the price of • Greenways to provide enhanced transit services to reduce the barriers walking and cylcing routes encountered by Hastings-Sunrise transit users. • Bikeways and Bikelanes to provide Percent agree 72%/71% more functional routes specifically for bikes People’s Ideas… Greenways and Bikeways • eliminate increased fares for seniors (especially higher fare for two zones) • eliminate zone fares (or expand

r Wall to include Burnaby) e n o lowes i McGill s • fares should be based on distance s i Fel m traveled — ridiculous that two stops m o C Cambridge can mean a second zone Dundas • provide free/discount bus passes r for elementary/high school students

Cassia

Semlin E. Hastings 5.6 Ensure Transit Operations Help

Improve the Environment Kaslo Adanac wy

Approved H

Encourage Translink to make its transit a

n operations environmentally friendly. Ca

Boundary

Renfre Rupert s Nanaimo Slocan

Lakewood

Percent agree 72%/66% n

a r

E. First T People’s Ideas… • retain trolleys, better for the environment and quieter than

diesel buses y w H • use fuel cell buses (tap into d E. Broadway e e alternative energy sources) h Loug • tax cars which want to come into N city centre; permits for certain days Proposed City Greenway • increase parking fees every year City Bikeway Proposed bike corridor

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 15 Greenways are streets and 6.1 Greenway Routes and Bikeways • clean-up of streets and sidewalks in routes enhanced to create an Approved commercial areas. interesting and safe environment Percent agree 80%/75% for walking and recreational Greenways should link major walking cycling. The city-wide Vancouver and biking destinations within and Greenways Plan was developed outside of Hastings-Sunrise and should People’s Ideas… with public consultation and provide safe crossings at major streets. • need more pedestrian activated approved in 1995. It identifies two The planned City Greenways along/near lights (e.g. Rupert/Charles, Hast- kinds of greenways: ings/Kaslo) City Greenways which have been Wall (Portside Route and Trans-Canada planned to create a city-wide Trail), and along/near Rupert/Renfrew • improve access to New Brighton network of 14 routes; and (Eastside Crosscut) should be imple- Park Neighbourhood Greenways which mented as soon as possible. Proposed create pleasant local connections, • provide more public washrooms are smaller in scale, and are city-wide Bikeways within Hastings- — existing ones have to be un- initiated by neighbourhood groups, Sunrise should be planned and final- locked who receive technical and funding ized (e.g. First/2nd and Rupert corri- • improve local streets so people support from the City. dors). Particular attention should be are more inclined to cycle (e.g. paid to providing or expanding biking Bikeways are bike routes which going uphill is difficult on gravel routes between municipalities and cross the city on local streets shoulders) addressing problems with traffic on the which parallel arterials. These • provide better/clearer signage for streets have features that make Adanac Bikeway. cyclists/drivers them ‘bicycle-friendly’. For Percent agree 78%/71% example, traffic circles can be • promote the benefits of walking installed to slow cars but not People’s Ideas… and biking (e.g. pamphlets; a bike bikes and cyclist-activated day or month organized by the crossing signals can be provided • reduce the number of cars using where Bikeways cross busy Adanac Bikeway, too many and they Hastings-Sunrise community) streets. go too fast • encourage co-operation between • improve lighting along Bikeways City, bicycle shops, and community Bikelanes are narrow marked to promote the knowledge and use lanes for bikes on some arterial — Adanac seems dark of bicycles (e.g. two seated bicycles streets. This is a relatively new • provide a pedestrian activated could encourage children riding idea for Vancouver, introduced by signal at Renfrew and Adanac for the Transportation Plan. bikes with parents) bikes on bike route (and pedestrians) • provide a bike route map at main Bikeway intersections so cyclists can determine where they are and where they want to go • build more Bikeways

6.2 General Walking and Biking Improvements Approved The frequently used pedestrian and City-wide Greenway: Central Valley biking routes within Hastings-Sunrise shown on the map (next page) should have additional greening and other types of improvements: • installation of sidewalks on streets without sidewalks and improved maintenance of existing streets and sidewalks • better pedestrian and bike crossings of arterials • beautification of streets and sidewalks (e.g. tree-lined streets, landscaping, flowers, benches, special paving, Neighbourhood Greenway: Napier and lighting) Commercial Drive

16 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 6.3 Bike Parking and Racks General Walking and Biking Approved Improvements Bike parking and secure bike storage should be more readily available in Hastings-Sunrise, particularly at major destinations. Wall Percent agree 73%/66% McGill People’s Ideas…

Garden Cambridge • need more bike posts to lock-up Kamloops Dundas bikes (takes little space and acts as Pandora buffer between pedestrians and Triumph traffic) Semlin E. Hastings E. Pender • make bike racks available on buses on all major transit routes Boundary Cassiar Adanac Skeena • provide more secure places to w leave bikes/bike trailers/children’s

Renfre

Slocan Charles y

bikes to encourage cycling with Nanaimo

children Hw

a d

• need places for bikes which are a

E. First n

a more secure than bike racks C

Rupert

E. 3rd s

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E. 5th r 6.4 Expand Commuter Bike Routes T in Hastings-Sunrise y w E. 8th H d Approved e Lillooet e Create commuter bike routes in Hast- E. Broadway Lough ings-Sunrise that are safe and efficient N and which link to a city-wide network. Percent agree 72%/69% Walking and biking routes for improvement

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 17 Community Safety & Services

astings-Sunrise has a diverse population with many languages, ethnic backgrounds, income levels, and ages. The Hpopulation has been growing and becoming more diverse. These factors create challenges to understanding and meeting people’s safety, recreational, and social service needs.

Out of the broad range of services and service providers within Hastings-Sunrise, the Vision Directions concentrate on the services which are either provided directly, or partly funded, by the City.

Paying for Services and Facilities The City pays for many of the services and facilities involved in policing, recreation, libraries, and so forth, mainly through prop- 2001 Population Vancouver 546,000 erty taxes. Some new sources of funds — user charges and Devel- opment Cost Levies — are now being pursued by the City. HS 33,045 The CityPlan direction on City finances is to continue to be cau- 1981-2001 Population Growth tious about increasing spending. Generally speaking, new services Vancouver 32% would need to be paid for by redirecting funds now spent on HS 23% other items or in other areas. There are also usually more requests for new facilities than can be funded in any one period, so there is often a waiting period of years before a facility is expanded or English Mother Tongue rebuilt. Vancouver 49% HS 36% Non-City Services Most health and social services are funded by the province and provided either directly by Ministries or through various agencies. Chinese Mother Tongue The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is responsible for health and community care services, including many for seniors. Hastings- Vancouver 26% Sunrise is served by the Evergreen Community Health Centre, one HS 41% of six health units in the city. It is located near the Joyce SkyTrain station.

Median Income Non-government Community Services Vancouver $42,026 The community is also served by the Kiwassa and Frog Hollow HS $43,031 Neighbourhood Houses (2425 Oxford and 2131 Renfrew) which are operated by non-profit organizations. They provide social and recreational programs for a variety of groups. The City of Vancou- Population in Low Income ver provides some of their funding. Households Vancouver 27%

HS 26%

Single Parent Families

Vancouver 17% HS 19%

18 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Community • reduce personal risk outside the Community Policing Centres Safety home by walking with a companion, Community Policing Centres 7 not carrying large purses, avoiding (CPCs) are dedicated to reducing Hastings-Sunrise’s overall crime rate is dangerous locations, etc. crime through crime prevention slightly higher than that of most other education, public awareness, and • discourage panhandlers by not community involvement. Each local areas in the city. In 1998, the rate giving them money centre is assigned a neighbour- of property crimes in Hastings-Sunrise hood police officer who is the was about the middle when compared 7.2 Community Policing Centres main individual responsible for the to the city’s other local areas. At 13 per and Community Policing implementation and coordination thousand people, Hastings-Sunrise’s of crime prevention activities. The Approved Hastings North CPC has two rate of crimes against people (‘violent A Community Policing Centre should be offices, one at Nanaimo and crimes’) fell above the mid-point among retained in Hastings-Sunrise with some Hastings the other at 2001 Wall the city’s local areas. Street. on-going funding to ensure stability. The Police Department and the City Vision Directions on community safety should expand their commitment to are oriented towards the major compo- community-based policing. nents of crime prevention: individual Percent agree 84%/85% actions, community initiatives, and policing approaches. In addition, there People’s Ideas… are Directions which look at particular • provide more representation and issues: youth crime, illegal drugs, and continuity in our community prostitution. policing 7.1 Individual Actions to • address the community policing Improve Safety needs in Hastings-Sunrise Approved Individuals should take responsibility for reducing the likelihood they or their property will be affected by crime. Possible actions include making their homes more burglar resistant, getting to know their neighbours, joining Block Watch, and using ‘street proof’ procedures when outside their home. Percent agree 86%/83%

People’s Ideas… • report suspicious drug activities in public places and houses Hastings North Community Policing Centre • make your home more theft 7.3 Community Actions to Reduce resistant (alarms, motion sensitive Crime lights, lights on timers, good locks, Approved trim hedges and trees to ensure Community Policing Centres, the City, visibility, etc.) the Police Department, business groups, • be cautious with people who may and the community should strengthen be checking out your home (door crime prevention efforts, including to door sales etc.), report suspi- more citizen patrols, improved lighting cious activity to police in high crime areas, reviews of building • reduce risk of car theft and theft design and landscaping to reduce from cars (lock, use club, leave opportunities for crime, and wider use glove box and ashtray open, remove of crime prevention and education all valuables from car) programs. Percent agree 88%/85%

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 19 Neighbourhood Integrated People’s Ideas… • improve police response times so Service Teams • develop a program to discourage people will report crimes in City Council created Neighbour- panhandling progress hood Integrated Service Teams • encourage more ‘after hours’ • provide more police patrols (NISTs) in 1994. Each neighbourhood based team is made up of activities so commercial areas will • increase Police/CPC participation representatives from several feel safer (longer hours, street in Block Watch where hard to departments and agencies vendors, etc.) organize (Police, Health, Licenses and • organize neighbourhood clean- Inspections, Fire and Rescue, Planning, etc.). These multi- ups so people can feel pride in the The final three Safety Directions deal departmental teams work to help community with a group of inter-related issues: communities solve problems such • avoid hiding spots on streets and youth crime, drugs, and prostitution. as: unsafe buildings, garbage, in parks by trimming plants noise, and illegal activity in a more coordinated and collabora- • encourage people to use the Youth Crime tive way than departments City’s Graffiti Hotline; create areas Very few youth are engaged in crime. working individually. NISTs work in where graffiti allowed (‘freewalls’) Youth make an important contribution and with communities on a wide • set-up more citizen patrols and towards improving the community. range of quality-of-life issues However, youth crime and some youth from community clean-ups to commercial area security patrols activities make residents feel unsafe: problem premises • review all building and park purse snatching, vandalism, open drug proposals with an eye to safety use, bullying, graffiti, feeling threatened • improve lighting in dark areas by groups of teens, etc. The Direction (parks, around schools, etc.), install seeks to reduce youth crime by enhanc- emergency phones ing youth services. • make more people aware of how to reduce risks of crime in the 7.5 Working to Prevent Youth Crime home, car, and community Approved • help avoid the downward spiral Youth crime should be prevented by enforcing the Standard of Main- through the co-ordinated efforts of tenance By-law on poorly main- schools, community organizations, and tained buildings/yards and by other groups working with youth. requiring landlords to deal with Initiatives could include: problem tenants • more effective self-esteem, positive • help new immigrants to trust choice, and anti-violence programs in police and to report crimes schools • additional facilities and programs in 7.4 Police Services More parks, community centres, schools, Responsive to Community Needs churches, neighbourhood houses, Approved etc. to provide alternatives for youth Police services should be more respon- • youth employment programs. sive to local concerns and needs. There Percent agree 91%/91% should be more patrols by police on foot and bicycle, particularly in areas of People’s Ideas… the community with high crime rates. • provide more money for youth Percent agree 89%/91% recreation; more ‘after-hours’ use of schools for kids’ activities and People’s Ideas… childcare • respond, with other City depart- • create programs for youth to ments, to drug and other problem discourage misbehavior, loitering houses • help parents improve relation- • respond to suspicious drug ships with their kids to discourage activities in public places and youth drug use and crime businesses • provide safe homes for youth in • provide more attention to the need which would provide food area north of Hastings between and shelter Semlin and Nanaimo

20 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision • increase crime education to 7.6 Community Consultation on the Special Needs Residential young generation, involve youth in Location of Treatment Centres Facilities solutions Approved The term ‘Special Needs • teach children about the conse- When the City and the Vancouver Residential Facilities’ (SNRFs) refers to various types of group quences of committing a crime, Coastal Health Authority begin to plan housing for people who need involvement with gangs the number and location of local some form of support or • increase public awareness through treatment centres, needle exchanges, assistance in their living place. TV or school or mass media to and other facilities, they should include People who benefit from this extensive consultation with the local housing include the frail elderly, discourage young people from people with severe physical getting involved in crime community. disabilities, battered women, • discuss concerns about teen Percent agree 72%/68% children in care, people who have harassment of others with their a mental illness, people with developmental delays, people in parents People’s Ideas… • research and plan treatment need of emergency shelter, • more activities and programs for people under the supervision of centres youth so they are less attracted to Corrections, and the terminally ill. drugs • solve lack of drug treatment The City’s zoning permits SNRFs facilities/resources in all residential zones. Within • bring together victims, offenders, Hastings-Sunrise there are 11 • have former addicts speak to teens and community groups to find SNRFs with 286 beds. This solutions (restorative justice pro- about drug addiction, the represents 5% of the SNRF beds gram) unglamourous realities in the city, lower than Hastings- • show visuals of drug effects over Sunrise’s share of the city’s • create community based programs population (7%). Most of the beds time (very unappealing) to offer help to poor families who in Hastings-Sunrise are in 3 large might resort to crime • educate children about needles seniors’ facilities. • impose heavier penalties for drug The City’s Drug Prevention Policy dealers The City has recently adopted a comprehensive approach to the drug problem. Prostitution Despite enforcement efforts, a large Vision participants were concerned share of crime in the city continues to about the impacts of prostitution in the be related to drug use and the drug community: sex acts in cars and public trade. The City is now implementing a places, traffic from people looking for four pillar approach which supplements prostitutes, loud arguments, and con- enforcement with prevention pro- doms on streets and schoolyards where grams to reduce the number of new kids might play with them. Many partici- users, harm reduction to decrease the pants were also concerned about the damage suffered by drug users, and workers in the sex trade: worried about enhanced treatment to help users to their safety, recognizing many were address their dependency. The ap- forced into prostitution by poverty or proach recognizes that drug issues are addiction, anxious that children are not restricted to one area of the city and drawn into prostitution by pimps. A recommends community-based facilities Vision Direction was developed to for treatment and needle exchange. Full address these concerns. implementation is being pursued with the federal and provincial governments 7.7 Addressing Prostitution and their agencies, particularly the Approved Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. The City should initiate a city-wide Over time, there should be more process to examine the complex issues prevention programs and treatment around prostitution, develop workable facilities in the city. solutions that are beneficial to prostitutes and communities, and strive to implement those solutions with the cooperation of senior governments and more local organizations. Percent agree 84%/84%

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 21 People’s Ideas… Although there is a range of outdoor • prevent needles and condoms in facilities and the community centres are parks and public places; clean them heavily used, Vision participants identi- up when they show up fied several opportunities to enhance • don’t create areas where prostitu- the area’s recreation services. tion is ‘unofficially’ permitted Hastings Community Centre • provide intervention to get these victims (prostitutes) off the street • prostitution is legal, so the problems are who (kids) and where (streets and public places) • gain understanding of crime motives, e.g. poverty, drug addiction Kiwassa Neighbourhood • develop a city-wide strategy to House figure out how to solve this prob- Thunderbird Community Centre lem • direct activity away from residen- 8.1 Provide More Space and tial areas Programming for Indoor Recreation • develop a community outreach Approved program for prostitutes that under- More opportunities to participate in stands and addresses their needs indoor recreation should be created in Hastings-Sunrise either by adding to Recreational existing facilities, creating new satellite Frog Hollow Neighbourhood facilities in co-operation with the House 8 Facilities and School Board and other interested Services community organizations, or expanding programming in existing facilities. Both Hastings and Thunderbird Com- Percent agree 76%/72% munity Centres serve Hastings-Sunrise. Community centres are built and main- People’s Ideas… tained by the Park Board but program- • up-grade and provide larger gym ming at each centre is determined by a facilities and equipment in Hastings locally elected association. These Community Centre (e.g. separate facilities provide sport, recreation, art, male and female work-out areas) and social programming for a wide range of residents from infants to • provide more activities for seniors seniors. closer to Nanaimo Street, Hastings Community Centre is a long hike Hastings Community Centre opened in • provide a gathering place for new 1955. The Park Board’s 2001 assessment immigrants to interact with neigh- of the condition, usability, and cost of bours and mainstream culture in operating all 22 of its community order to exchange ideas centres in the city, placed Hastings as a • provide more recreation program- medium priority for a large scale re- ming in the south-west section of newal either on its present site or Hastings-Sunrise somewhere nearby. Thunderbird Com- • enhance use of the community munity Centre opened in 1972 and hall building in Sunrise Park recently expanded. It shares a gym with • make use of industrial areas as Thunderbird Elementary School. opportunities for activity centres • expand the number of Frog In addition to community centres, Hollow Neighbourhood House residents in Hastings-Sunrise use programs for the Chinese speaking Kiwassa and Frog Hollow Neighbour- hood Houses for social and recreation • establish mini-community centres programs. in schools

22 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision • work closely with the School • improve facilities for families (e.g. Aquatic Facilities Review Board in planning satellite programs showers are too high for children) The Park Board has tended to (accessibility to school indoor • open public washrooms during provide an indoor pool for facilities such as gyms, classrooms, daylight hours in New Brighton Pool all approximately every 50,000 and washrooms) year people. There are nine indoor pools to serve the city’s current • construct a pedestrian crosswalk/ population of about 550,000 Hastings-Sunrise is served by an indoor overpass to New Brighton Pool, easier people. Most pools are rapidly pool and an outdoor pool. Both access from North Van than from Hast- reaching the end of their practical Templeton Park Pool (indoor) and New ings-Sunrise service life and a decision is • provide more park features around required about their replacement. Brighton Pool (outdoor) were built in The Park Board has recently the ’70s. Although Templeton pool is the pool so it can be an all-day destina- completed a major study of situated outside the boundary of Hast- tion existing pool facilities and future ings-Sunrise, it is managed by the Park options. It recommended a Board through Hastings Community 8.4 Facilities and Programs renewal plan including one large- for Youth scale ‘city-wide’ destination pool; Centre. Vision participants expressed two expanded community pools the need for improvement to these Approved providing features such as facilities. More facilities for youth should be therapy, longer lengths or outdoor provided such as a separate youth drop- swimming; and four neighbour- 8.2 Templeton Park Pool in centre, teen-oriented playgrounds, hood pools focusing on swim lessons, fitness, and training. Approved and sport facilities. Programs for youth Templeton Park Pool should be retained should be enhanced by a co-ordinated The Aquatic Review noted the and up-graded to better meet the needs initiative of the Park Board, School proximity of Templeton and of the community or be expanded into Board, and other interested parties in Britannia pools (5 minutes apart a bigger indoor pool which draws users the community. by car) and that Britannia pool is under the jurisdiction of the from a larger area. Percent agree 79%/75% Britannia Board of Management Percent agree 77%/74% rather than the Vancouver Park People’s Ideas… Board. The future of Templeton People’s Ideas… • create a youth drop-in centre that and Britannia Pools will be • improve Templeton pool (end up is safe and alcohol free examined, in consultation with the affected communities, prior to going to Eileen Dailly Pool in • build indoor rink for sports such undertaking any aquatic renewal Burnaby or to Britannia or Renfrew as roller hockey, ice skating project in this quadrant of the Pool) • use some under-utilized tennis city. • consider PNE for replacement courts for ball hockey, basketball indoor or outdoor swimming pool • increase park programs for teens, — enlarge indoor/outdoor swim- including more league and drop-in ming pools for different age groups sports and uses • provide more places to skate- • build new, clean, and big pools board, add washrooms for the for leisure (slides, wave pools, and skateboard park, keep ‘Leeside’ towers) and exercise purposes open • keep Templeton open and pro- • provide newer, more sophisti- vide more training sessions and cated playground for teens (tire parking swings, bigger play structures) • develop walking and biking trails 8.3 New Brighton Pool (some paved for roller blading) in Approved Hastings Park New Brighton Pool should be retained • ensure quality youth job program and improved to better meet the needs at Thunderbird Community Centre of the community. • provide workshops on self under- Percent agree 79%/75% standing and developmental changes in adolescence People’s Ideas… • provide longer hours like Kitsilano Pool (open from Victoria weekend to middle of September, including early morning swim)

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 23 Child Care 8.5 Facilities and Programs • initiate employment and compu- The City partners with senior for Seniors ter training programs, especially for governments, the private sector, Approved parents whose first language is not the community, and parents to Provide up-graded facilities for seniors English develop and maintain an affordable, high quality, and in community centres and neighbour- • provide more ‘Parent-to-Parent’ comprehensive child care system hood houses. Programs for seniors and ‘Nobody’s Perfect’ programs in Vancouver. The City helps should be enhanced. support child care by: Percent agree 79%/80% • providing grants to nonprofit societies such as Neighbour- hood Houses and Family People’s Ideas… Places for services to families • improve seniors’ drop-in place at with small children Hastings Community Centre • working with community centres • provide a programmer at Frog to support child care • providing grants to support Hollow Neighbourhood House to nonprofit child care services help self-guided seniors’ groups • leasing land at reduced rates to • recruit younger seniors to volun- nonprofit child care societies teer in seniors’ groups • using development cost levies • initiate more programs and on new development to support More facilities needed for children and families daycare workshops for seniors (e.g. day • negotiating for child care in trips, swimming, fitness, karaoke, Community Schools, with co-ordinators larger projects as part of their English classes, health talks, police rezonings and support staff, perform an important talks) • managing City-owned child care role in providing a broad range of facilities through the Vancouver • provide extra daycare for elderly activities in the community. Currently, Society of Children’s Centres seniors (plus night care) there are three community schools in or near Hastings-Sunrise: Franklin, Hast- Vision participants did not propose changes in the City’s approach to 8.6 Affordable Programs for ings, and Macdonald (just outside of the helping provide child care. Children and Families boundary). Provincial funding to con- Approved tinue the present level of service is The number of affordable programs for threatened. Many participants in the children and parents with a variety of Vision process expressed concern about cultural and linguistic backgrounds any reduction of programs/activities should be increased. provided for the community through Percent agree 74%/71% the schools.

People’s Ideas… 8.7 Retaining Funding for Important • provide daycare for children School Programs under 18 months and child care Approved before and after school Encourage the provincial government • provide before school programs to at least maintain funding for school at community centres or schools programs that are important to Hastings- (even better) Sunrise including the Community • encourage parents to volunteer School Program, Hot Lunch Program, and rotate care giving (money spent and Inner City School Program. on resources rather than staff) Percent agree 80%/74% • consider a centre for children in People’s Ideas… Hastings Park • maintain funding for community • provide workshops on family schools relationships that address genera- • enhance use of all schools by the tion gap issues for single parents rest of the community and grandparents • find more ways to provide lunch programs

24 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 8.8 Accessibility of Programs Library Facilities Accessibility for People with Disabilities Approved and Services All programs should be more accessible 9 City Council established the to people of the community regardless The Vancouver Public Library operates Special Advisory Committee on the Hastings Branch Library at 2674 Disability Issues in 1977. The of age, language, and income. New ways Committee’s objective is to make of raising funds should be considered Hastings. There are currently no plans the city more livable for disabled by the Park Board and service providers to move or expand this branch. residents by removing physical to maintain or increase the number of and social barriers which impede 9.1 Hastings Branch Library programs available to the community, full participation in city life. The Committee consults extensively with special attention to low-income Approved The Hastings Branch Library should be with the public and with City users. staff. In recent years, the Percent agree 75%/72% redesigned or expanded to better serve Committee has been actively the diverse community. involved in enhancing the People’s Ideas… Percent agree 75%/75% accessibility of new apartment- type buildings throughout the City • ensure programs are accessible to People’s Ideas… by changes to the Vancouver low-income users, allow them to Building By-law. A set of apply for fee exemption • provide a larger collection in a amendments was approved by bigger library Council in May 2002 and the • use money made from renting out • need more quiet areas Committee is currently involved facilities to subsidize low income in implementation discussions. programs • provide more table space for • provide more free programs for homework/group work seniors, not all can afford current • add café or snack bar inside the fees library • reduce fees for children’s pro- • add space by enclosing some roof- grams top parking • encourage private donations 9.2 Improve Library Services • encourage corporate sponsorships and engage local businesses and Approved banks in fundraising The services of Hastings Branch Library should be modified to better serve the • incorporate an amenity or design public based on a review of factors such element, when redesigning a park, as opening hours, collections, transla- that can be rented and dedicate the tion of instructions, and availability of revenue to the enhancement of the Internet access. park Percent agree 79%/77%

People’s Ideas… • add more current books, maga- zines, Chinese materials, teen books, videos, CDs, and DVDs • provide better computers with fast access to Internet • promote a positive and friendly atmosphere • make opening hours longer and/ Hastings Branch Library or more compatible with needs of residents • outreach to the community and promote services provided by the library

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 25 Improving 10.3 Welcoming Newcomers Awareness and Approved 10 Newcomers to the community should Accessibility of be provided with information on the Services community including community facilities, programs, and events; parks The City and other service providers in and sports; shopping areas and com- Hastings-Sunrise supply a range of mercial services; employment and services. Participants in the Vision volunteer opportunities; and cultural process felt additional effort should be and religious organizations. put into making these services more Day trips and programs for Percent agree 64%/60% Hastings-Sunrise seniors widely known in the community and more easily accessible to residents. People’s Ideas… 10.1 Information about Services • increase ESL classes in community centres and neighbourhood houses Approved • help immigrants to integrate Information on the services provided by better in the community the City and other service providers should be more consistently available • create a job finding newspaper within the community in locations, like ‘Buy & Sell’ for newcomers forms, and languages which are conven- • provide information on volunteer ient for residents and businesses. opportunities in the community Percent agree 70%/67% centres for newcomers

People’s Ideas… • hire bilingual or multilingual staff in community centres • publicize the availability of the shuttle to New Brighton Pool • translate community centre activity brochures/guides and newsletters • make people more aware of City recycling and traffic calming programs

10.2 Community Services in or near Shopping Areas Approved Whenever community services such as community centres, neighbourhood houses, libraries, health centres, etc. are considering new facilities or relocations, locations in or near the shopping areas should be given strong consideration due to their accessibility and high community profile. Percent agree 69%/67%

26 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Existing Residential Areas

astings-Sunrise has a mix of residential neighbourhoods. An apartment area lies in the north-west corner of the com- Hmunity. East of Rupert there are a variety of duplexes, rowhouses, and apartments scattered in the area south of Hastings. Together these developments account for 33% of the housing units in Hastings-Sunrise. However, most of the community is made up of neighbourhoods of single family homes on 33’ lots. The Vision identifies aspects of housing which should be maintained or improved in the future while proposing some initiatives that would help accommodate the existing population as their housing needs change over time.

Vancouver’s Zoning By-law determines what land uses and building characteristics are permitted on each lot in the city. At the start of the Vision process the single family area of Hastings-Sunrise was zoned RS-1S except for the area north of Hastings between Cassiar and Boundary which was zoned RS-1, and the area bounded by First Ave, Nanaimo, Pentiction, and Charles Streets which was zoned RS-5S. RS-1 and RS-1S zones had the same regulations for house size and position on the lot. In both zones any r house could have a family suite, that is, a suite ne io s occupied by relatives or home support such as is McGill m a nanny or senior’s caregiver. However, only m o the RS-1S zone allowed houses to have a rental C Cambridge Dundas suite. RS-5S zoning also allowed for family and rental suites and regulated house size and position on the lot.

Semlin E. Hastings

y On March 9, 2004, City Council changed the w

H zoning by-law to allow one rental suite per

da single family dwelling in all single family

na a

w zoning districts in the city, including the

n Vancouver Heights area. RS-5 still provides the

r T option of a design review for new

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y w H E. Broadway Rupert d ee Lough N

Single family with rental suites allowed Single family with design review and rental suites allowed Other zones or parks

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 27 Rental Suite Enforcement Single Family • check double garages which are Vision participants expressed Houses and often closed in and rented concern that enforcement of the 11 • reduce the cost and hassle of suites by-laws appears inconsist- Rental Suites putting suites in existing houses ent and ineffective. Action is usually taken only in response to Residents of Hastings-Sunrise value their • ensure suites pay their fair share a complaint. Vision participants single family neighbourhoods. Many of costs (garbage, schools, etc) saw some merit to this approach were attracted to the community by • stop houses with two suites from since most suites peacefully co- housing and a community which met exist with neighbours. However, over-running our neighbourhood they felt that there should be their needs. Vision participants wanted more effective resolution of to maintain the single family character complaints when suites create of much of the community. Design of New impacts like local parking Single Family problems, excessive noise, or 12 poor upkeep. Houses New houses frequently replace older Participants were also concerned ones. Currently the single family zoning about new homes which are designed to easily accommodate (RS-1) in most of Hastings-Sunrise two suites in areas where only a controls the height, yard sizes, total single suite is permitted. Many of floorspace, and garage size of new these homes get their permits and houses. Tree removal is also regulated. are constructed as single family However, present regulations do not homes to avoid the additional requirements imposed on a control the visual appearance, character, development with a suite. After or landscaping of new homes. Typical single family streetscape the final City inspection, minor changes are made to make the 11.1 Maintain Most Single Family The City has some single family zones suites operational and then they Areas (RS-5, 6, and 7) that include some level are rented. Vision participants felt this illegal use was accelerating Approved of design review for new houses and the demolition of existing houses. In order to retain the basic character of their landscaping. Under a program Hastings-Sunrise, most of the area that is which lasted several years, when a Since rental suites have been now single family (including areas neighbourhood group demonstrated permitted, relatively few owners permitting rental suites) should be kept there was sufficient community interest, have made their suites legal by the City undertook detailed surveys to taking out a City permit. City that way (exceptions would only be Council changed regulations in considered where the community determine whether there was support March 2004 to reduce the hurdles supports new housing choices as for zoning that included design review. required to legalize a suite. Future described in Directions 15.1 – 16.6, Now about a third of the single family enforcement will focus on safety 18.16, 19.8, and 20.13). areas in Vancouver have zoning with and standards of maintenance some form of design review, including a issues as well as the closure of Percent agree 76%/70% multiple suites (one-family portion of Hastings-Sunrise (First Ave, dwellings with two or more 11.2 Improve Enforcement Nanaimo, Pentiction, and Charles). secondary suites). Enforcement Although no other sub-areas of Hast- Approved will continue to be triggered by a ings-Sunrise expressed interest in the The City should improve its enforce- complaint. program at that time, participants felt ment procedures to solve complaints residents should be offered the choice generated by rental suites such as of whether to pursue design review. parking problems, poor maintenance of the dwelling or yard, and noise. New homes suspected of being designed to include two or more rental suites should be regularly inspected to ensure they are complying with the Zoning By- law. Percent agree 69%/66%

People’s Ideas… • enforce clean-up and repair of rundown houses and illegal suites New house: example with no design review

28 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision historical or architectural significance. Design Review in Single Their owners can take advantage of Family Zones some zoning relaxations which may The RS-1 zone which covers most make it easier to keep and renovate of the single family areas of them. Hastings-Sunrise has 56 buildings Hastings-Sunrise only controls the uses, size, and placement of on the VHR; most are found in the the building, with no controls on Hastings Townsite area. design at all. The RS-6 and RS-7 single family zones include Vision participants felt that character regulations on some basic design homes should be retained, the character aspects such as limiting some types of exterior building of less distinguished buildings should materials or requiring trim around New house: example in design review area be improved, and that new develop- windows. They also have some ment in character areas should be basic guidelines for landscaping. 12.1 Design Review for New Single compatible with nearby buildings and The RS-5 single family zone Family Houses the neighbourhood as a whole. provides the option of no design review or full design review. Full Approved design review is based on design The design of new single family houses 13.1 Retain Buildings on the guidelines that address style or should be improved through putting in Vancouver Heritage Register character, massing, entry design, place one of the design review zones Approved materials, details, and landscaping. Projects agreeing to design that the City has already developed, if For structures listed in the Vancouver review get to build slightly more there is sufficient support within a sub- Heritage Register, the City should floorspace than a non-design area of the community. encourage retention by implementing review project. A permit for a Percent agree 74%/68% additional incentives which are suitable design review project takes longer in areas like Hastings-Sunrise. to approve and has a higher processing fee. People’s Ideas… Percent agree 78%/75% • encourage better house design People’s Ideas… The City’s Tree Bylaw controls and more variety, less box-like the removal of larger trees (over housing • provide incentives for retention 8" in diameter) in all single family and preservation of heritage build- • no more ugly pink houses, design zones. For new development, ings removal is only permitted under guidelines please • allow infill (granny flats) to certain conditions. Owners of • provide some form of character existing houses may obtain a encourage retention of heritage zoning in areas with lots of pre-war permit to remove one tree a year. homes homes In both cases, replacement trees are required. • require some landscaping with all new homes More Planning and Consulta- • ensure character features on all tion Before Changes new homes: porches, trim around Vision Directions 12.1 and 13.3 windows and doors, etc would require a rezoning. Given community support for design • stop same design from being built review, residents of smaller side by side or several times on a neighbourhoods would need to block approach and work with the Planning Department to initiate the process leading to rezoning. Retaining Character Additional community involve- Buildings and ment and surveys would be 13 required before City Council considers a new zoning with Enhancing Heritage house design guideline Character Areas By the start of the Second War, a building boom during the 1920s and subsequent development had brought housing to most of the residential areas north of First Avenue. Many pre-war homes remain north of Adanac. The Vancouver Heritage Register (VHR) lists pre-1940 buildings that have particular

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 29 13.2 Retaining Other Character 13.3 Enhancing Character Areas Buildings Approved Approved Where there is sufficient support within In order to encourage retention of a ‘character’ sub-area (e.g. Burrardview, ‘character’ buildings not on the Vancou- Hastings Townsite, or Vancouver ver Heritage Register, there should be Heights), the Planning Department incentives to renovate and disincentives should introduce a zoning schedule to demolish. with guidelines to encourage redevel- Percent agree 75%/70% opment which is consistent with the character of the surrounding street and People’s Ideas… neighbourhood. Older character home • exempt renovations which retain Percent agree 73%/69% character from increased taxation on improvements People’s Ideas… • charge higher fees for demolition • use zoning which is contextual in and disposal areas with lots of heritage buildings • provide incentives for renovation • have City supply stock plans for that keeps character character houses • provide incentives to retain • provide tax breaks that encourage smaller character houses traditional materials and low site coverage Character Areas • encourage porches that are proportioned to the size of the house • use more traditional materials like

er Burrardview wood rather than metal and stucco n io s McGill • encourage balconies that are is m recessed in the face of a building or m o Hastings C Townsite Cambridge covered by a roof Dundas Vancouver • discourage building fronts which Heights are too ‘flat’ and windows which

Semlin are out of proportion for the size of

E. Hastings y the house

r T

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E. First

y w H E. Broadway Rupert d ee Lough N Streetscape of character homes Character area Parks

30 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Changes in 14.1 Process for CD-1 Zoned Sites CD-1 Zones Anywhere in Hastings-Sunrise 14 Approved Some developments in Hastings-Sunrise When anything other than a small are on large parcels zoned CD-1, or change is proposed to a development Comprehensive Development. CD-1s on a site zoned CD-1 — whether in its are ‘tailor-made’ zonings used by the buildings or uses — the City should Adanac Village Co-op: an City where standard zoning isn’t suit- undertake a rezoning process in order example of a development able for the proposed uses or building to ensure appropriate community with CD-1 zoning design. consultation and to provide the City with the ability to deny or impose Since the ‘80s CD-1 regulations have conditions on the proposed develop- included a lot of detailed requirements, ment. but earlier CD-1 regulations were often Percent agree 68%/66% quite vague and general. In addition, older CD-1 sites are often built to CD-1 Zones densities lower than those common today. Across the city, these older parcels are being redeveloped to higher densities. Examples include Arbutus r Gardens (at Arbutus and 33rd), ne io Champlain Mall, and a recently s McGill is approved proposal to increase the m m o density of Beulah Gardens (at Rupert C Cambridge and Fifth). Dundas

The City has generally required changes Semlin E. Hastings

to developments on CD-1 sites to y undergo a rezoning process, culminat- w

ing in a public hearing. However, in aH

some cases, redevelopment of older n Boundary a

CD-1s was treated as a change in regula- C

tions which did not require a rezoning. a r Renfrew T While decisions on these sites did Nanaimo include community consultation, Vision E. First participants felt residents’ interests would be better protected, and the City’s powers over the development would be greater, if all significant y w changes to a CD-1 zone were treated as H d E. Broadway Rupert e a rezoning. e Lough N Note: Hastings-Sunrise has two unusual CD-1s (on the port lands and Hastings CD-1 zoning Park) enacted to show the City’s position on the future development of lands that were owned or controlled by senior governments or crown corpora- tions (these lands are usually not subject to municipal regulations).

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 31 New Housing ision participants looked at the future housing needs of Hastings-Sunrise residents including young singles and Vcouples, families with kids, and seniors. Some, like singles and couples, prefer apartments or rental suites in houses. Families with children want the features of single family homes like bigger units, private yards, basements, and individual front doors — but at an affordable price. Many couples whose children have left home also want these features and continue to stay in their single family homes.

The Demand for New Housing By 2021 Hastings-Sunrise’s existing residents will have created the demand for almost 2,500 (18%) more households — today’s children will grow-up and have their own families; some couples will separate and become two households. Some will move away, but others will want to stay in Hastings-Sunrise. Besides the increased housing demand from existing residents as they age, people will also move to Vancouver from elsewhere and some will settle in the community.

Supply Does Not Match Demand Today there is capacity for only a few types of additional housing units in the community. Very few new single family lots can be created. Under existing zoning, some apartments can be built in the area north of Hastings and west of Nanaimo or above stores in the commercial areas, primarily on Hastings, Renfrew, and Nanaimo. In addition, the existing zoning allows additional rental suites in all single family areas in the community. In total, the capacity stands at about 3,000 more housing units, split almost equally between apartments above stores and additional rental suites. Vision participants considered the various types of housing that would be desired by Hastings-Sunrise residents as they age and created options for providing mainly new ‘ground-oriented’ housing.

Addressing Possible Impacts of New Housing Participants wanted the impacts which might be associated with new housing to be addressed. They did not want additional people to reduce the level of service existing residents enjoy with parks and other community facilities. They were also concerned about potential parking and traffic impacts arising from additional units. As a result, each proposal for a new housing type has been made conditional not only on an increase in community facilities and programs needed to serve any population growth generated by the new housing type but also on an assurance that parking and traffic impacts would be addressed.

32 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision The Directions on new housing options wish to retain access to a garden and Development Cost Levies which follow are divided into two sec- contact with other people, and to and Community Amenity tions. The Directions first focus on several extended families who would like to Contributions housing types, then possible locations for stay together but have a little more In June 2003, City Council new housing are described. Combining independence than living within a decided to make interim Development Cost Levies (DCLs) various options for new housing types and single unit. The main unit would likely permanent and to increase the locations results in the potential for be smaller than a new single family amount new development is different numbers of new units. The table home (with or without a suite). This, charged. Starting in February at the end of this section (page 49) pro- combined with the income from two 2004, each newly built square vides statistics on both the demand for rental suites, would tend to provide a foot of commercial and residential (in projects with more than three housing and a ‘ball park’ estimate of the more affordable housing option for units) space will pay a $6.00 DCL units which could result from some of families with children or established while new industrial development the choices. couples. will be charged $2.40 per square foot. The revenue will be used to Note that several housing type and 15.1 Homes with Two Suites help finance the parks, daycare, transportation, and affordable location Directions did not receive the Approved housing needed to serve the necessary agreement in both surveys to Housing variety should be increased in additional residents and be classed as approved. In some cases, a Hastings-Sunrise by allowing the devel- employees occupying new Direction was supported in the general opment of some homes with two legal floorspace. Some uses such as survey and received majority support in daycare and social housing will suites, provided that the units are: pay lower rates or be exempt the random survey (but at an insufficient • designed to fit into the single family from DCLs. City Council also level to ensure it had community area, with good landscaping asked the province for permission support, given the margin of error in • provided with adequate community to use DCL funds for public libraries and to charge a DCL on the survey). In other cases, a Direction facilities (parks, schools, etc.) and did not receive majority support in residential projects with less than services for the additional population four units. either the general or the random survey • accompanied by a plan to address any but did receive more agree than disa- parking and traffic impacts. At the same time, City Council gree votes. In both these cases a Direc- decided to make temporary city- tion is classed as Not Approved (Uncer- Percent agree 62%/60% wide Community Amenity tain), it remains a topic for more public Contributions (CACs) permanent. CACs are applied when zoning is discussion should planning on this People’s Ideas… • provide more secondary suites for changed to increase the amount topic occur in the future. Where disa- of development which can occur gree votes outweigh agree votes in the rental market on a site. The standard rate is either survey, a Direction is classed as • look at micro suites to create $3.00 per added square foot (in Not Supported. more rental housing addition to the city-wide DCLs). Starting in February 2004, non- • create standards for these suites standard CACs will be negotiated Possible New which allow them to be more for rezonings on sites larger than Housing Types for affordable to build and livable for 2 acres (1 acre in Neighbourhood 15 tenants Centres) and all rezonings on the Hastings-Sunrise downtown peninsula. Again, some • ensure privacy between units uses are exempt or subject to • encourage one level (for seniors) reduced rates. CACs provide City Homes with Two Suites but avoid poor environment (lack of Council approved amenities located either on the rezoned site light, small space, dampness) Description: Workshop participants or in the immediate community. created the option of a home with two legal rental suites and about 25% more floorspace than permitted under the current zoning. Additional space may be in a full rather than a partial basement. Extra floorspace may be permitted only where design guidelines are met. Each unit would require a parking space. Status: A new housing type. Attractive to: Suites appeal to people moving out of their parental home, to seniors who want less space but who

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 33 Infill 15.2 Infill as a New Housing Type Description: A smaller second home on a in Hastings-Sunrise lot, usually behind the main house. Also Not Approved (Uncertain) called a ‘coach house’ or ‘granny flat’. Housing variety should be increased in Usually the garage is on the main floor Hastings-Sunrise by allowing some infill with the infill dwelling above. Size and development, provided that the units height are regulated by zoning but they are: usually look like a small one and a half or • designed to fit into the single family two storey house located at the rear lane. area, with good landscaping On wider lots (50’ or more) it is possible • provided with adequate community to build infill while keeping the existing facilities (parks, schools, etc.) and home. However, on smaller lots, the side services for the additional population yards of existing houses are rarely wide • accompanied by a plan to address any enough to provide the required fire- parking and traffic impacts. fighting access. As a result, small lot infill Percent agree 54%/47% is only feasible when built with a new main house. People’s Ideas… Status: A new housing type for Hastings- • makes lanes more attractive Sunrise but permitted on lots 50’ or wider in Kitsilano and Mount Pleasant (east and • allow throughout the single south of City Hall) since the ’80s. Units family area but make rear units are usually strata-titled but may be rental. smaller/shorter to ensure they don’t Attractive to: Young people who have overwhelm rear yards recently left home, older singles and • makes purchase of main house couples, and seniors who want access to a more affordable if the infill is yard and can manage stairs. rented • creates a good option for extended families

Comment: This Direction received majority support in the general survey but did not receive enough support in the random survey to be classed as ‘approved’. In the random survey the agree votes out numbered the disagree votes by a ratio of 2 to 1. As a result, infill remains a topic for more public discussion if additional housing planning occurs in the community.

Small lot infill

34 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Duplexes 15.3 Duplexes More Planning and Consulta- tion Before Changes Description: A duplex provides two Not Approved (Uncertain) units on a parcel of land. Since each Housing variety should be increased in For approved Vision Directions half of a duplex uses less land and is Hastings-Sunrise by allowing more proposing a new housing type or location, a rezoning would be smaller than a new single family house, duplexes provided that the units are: required before the new housing they are more affordable than a new • designed to fit into the single family could be built. More detailed single family home. The units may be area, with good landscaping planning with community side by side, front-to-back, or up-and- • provided with adequate community involvement would take place down. Each unit can be individually before the rezoning occurred. This facilities (parks, schools, etc.) and planning would deal with precise owned. Duplexes provide many of the services for the additional population boundaries, phasing the features of a single family home includ- • accompanied by a plan to address any development over time, traffic ing yards, individual entrances, garages, parking and traffic impacts. and parking impacts, fire-fighting and enough floorspace to meet the access, the need for additional Percent agree 59%/52% services and facilities (including needs of a family. parks), developer contributions for Status: Duplexes are currently permit- People’s Ideas… costs, etc. ted on a few blocks near Rupert/Fifth • prefer over rowhouses because and Nanaimo/Charles in Hastings- more space for children, no man- Sunrise and are common in other areas agement fees like Kitsilano. Units may be owned, strata titled, or rented. • provides families with large Attractive to: Families, couples, and outdoor space for physical activities parents whose children have left home. to burn off energy before bed • recognize these larger units allow flexibility to house different combinations of parents, kids, grandchil- dren • permit in all single family areas: small change from house with suite but creates more evenly sized units with little community impact • locate close to schools: very important for families

Comment: This Direction received majority support in both the general and random survey but did not receive Duplex enough support in the random survey to be classed as ‘approved’. In the random survey the agree votes out numbered the disagree votes by a ratio of 2.5 to 1. As a result, duplexes remain a topic for more public discussion if additional housing planning occurs in the community.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 35 Small Houses on Shared Lots 15.4 Small Houses on Shared Lots Description: Two 33’ lots developed Not Approved (Uncertain) together to accommodate four free Housing variety should be increased in standing homes, each with attached Hastings-Sunrise by allowing some small parking. The two units facing the street houses on shared lots, provided that the would have shorter front yards (16' units are: versus the usual 24'). A passage separat- • designed to fit into the single ing the front units acts as a walkway to family area, with good landscaping the two rear units and provides fire- • provided with adequate commu- fighting access. The rear units are nity facilities (parks, schools, etc.) constructed over the area typically used and services for the additional for a garage and extend into the rear population yard. A driveway from the lane would • accompanied by a plan to address go between the rear units to a central any parking and traffic impacts. ‘carriage court’ and the parking space Percent agree 56%/41% for each front unit. The size of each home would be about 1,600 square feet People’s Ideas… with 2 - 3 bedrooms and a family room/ • makes lanes more attractive den/home office (rear units could be somewhat smaller). There would be • design so each unit is differenti- private open space for each home. ated and has the feeling of ‘home’ Status: A new housing type in the city. • ensure pleasing to look at with Units could be individually owned. nice community ambience Attractive to: Families with children, • private open space is important to two income couples, parents whose families children have left home, and seniors who can manage stairs. Comment: This Direction received majority support in the general survey but did not receive enough support in the random survey to be classed as ‘approved’. In the random survey the agree votes out numbered the disagree votes by a ratio of 1.3 to 1. As a result, small houses on small lots remain a topic for more public discussion if additional housing planning occurs in the community.

Small houses on shared lots

36 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Cottages People’s Ideas… Description: Seven or eight free stand- • attractive to established singles ing housing units, built around a central and couples because of size and garden courtyard, on an assembly of limited outdoor space three 33’ lots (compared to the six units • very desirable option for families allowed by the current zoning: three because of inner courtyard for play main units and three suites). Each and relaxation cottage would have an individual • appealing to seniors who might entrance, front porch, private outdoor want to get together in the court- space, and two or three bedrooms in yard for various social activities and about 1,200 square feet of floorspace. family gatherings They would provide many of the • consider smaller front yards to features of a single family home includ- allow more rear yard play space ing individual buildings, and a size usable by families, at a more affordable Comment: This Direction received price. majority support in the general survey Status: Cottages would be a new but did not receive enough support in housing type for the city. the random survey to be classed as Attractive to: Especially attractive to ‘approved’. In the random survey the families with children as well as couples agree votes out numbered the disagree whose children have left home, work- votes by a ratio of 1.3 to 1. As a result, ing couples, and younger seniors. cottages remain a topic for more public discussion if additional housing plan- 15.5 Cottages ning occurs in the community. Not Approved (Uncertain) Housing variety should be increased in Hastings-Sunrise by allowing some cottage developments, provided that the units are: • designed to fit into the single family area, with good landscaping • provided with adequate community facilities (parks, schools, etc.) and services for the additional population • accompanied by a plan to address any parking and traffic impacts. Percent agree 54%/41% Cottages

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 37 Sixplexes 15.6 Sixplexes Description: Six units on two 33' lots. A Not Supported pair of front to back duplexes would Housing variety should be increased in occupy the space usually filled by single Hastings-Sunrise by allowing some family homes (front yards would be the sixplex developments, provided that same depth [24'] now required for the units are: single family homes). A path/fire- • designed to fit into the single family fighting access between the front area, with good landscaping duplexes would connect the street to • provided with adequate community two side by side units at the rear. All facilities (parks, schools, etc.) and parking would be at the lane with the services for the additional population two rear units built over the garage and • accompanied by a plan to address any extending into part of the rear yard. parking and traffic impacts. Each home would feature separate Percent agree 35%/25% ground access, private outdoor space, and about 1,200 square feet of People’s Ideas… floorspace. • design with ground floor studio Status: A new type of strata-titled for handicapped, in-laws, or seniors housing in the city. (good option for seniors from size Attractive to: Smaller families, couples, perspective and because of the and parents whose children have left small individual gardens but many home. The multi-level configuration of seniors would prefer a version that these homes would be a negative had a unit on the ground floor with feature for many seniors. a second unit above) • locate close to major streets or shopping areas • consider allowing on small commercial sites no longer needed for stores

Comment: This Direction is ‘not supported’ because disagree votes out numbered agree votes in both the general and random surveys. Sixplexes will not be considered further even if additional housing planning occurs in the commu- Sixplexes nity.

38 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Traditional Rowhouses People’s Ideas… Description: A single row of attached • create rowhousing where seniors, housing units with separate front and families, and couples/singles can rear entrances. They usually have live near each other individual garages or parking areas on • creates a more affordable option the lane. Front yards and building with outdoor space for families with depths would be the same as a new children (most needed size is 2-3 single family house but each rowhouse bedrooms plus den) unit would be about 13' wide so that 7 • working singles and couples would fit on an assembly of three 33’ prefer two bedrooms, one for guest lots. Each unit would have 1,500 to or other uses (e.g. computer), 2,000 square feet of floorspace. The affordability a key issue homes may be individually owned or • need sound privacy from other Rowhouse strata titled. units and outside; also storage space Status: Hastings-Sunrise has some • more affordable than single existing rowhousing as part of larger family, more privacy and space than developments like Adanac Co-op. apartments Attractive to: Families with children, couples without children or whose • need more in Hastings-Sunrise children had left home, and seniors who could manage the stairs in the Comment: This Direction did not receive units. enough support in either the general or the random survey to be classed as 15.7 Additional Traditional ‘approved’. However, the agree votes out Rowhouses numbered the disagree votes in each Not Approved (Uncertain) survey. As a result, traditional Housing variety in Hastings-Sunrise rowhouses remain a topic for more should be increased by permitting some public discussion if additional housing additional traditional rowhouses, planning occurs in the community. provided they are: • designed to be compatible with single family neighbourhoods and adjacent homes; with good landscaping • located in select areas and built as small projects rather than as a wide- spread replacement for existing housing types • provided with adequate community facilities (parks, schools, etc.) and services for the additional population • accompanied by a plan to address any parking and traffic impacts. Percent agree 47%/37% Traditional Rowhouses

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 39 Courtyard or Carriage Court 15.8 Additional Courtyard or Rowhouses Carriage Court Rowhouses Description: Two rows of attached units Not Approved (Uncertain) grouped around a common open space. Housing variety should be increased in Courtyard rowhouses have parking for Hastings-Sunrise by allowing some all units in a single row that backs additional Courtyard or Carriage Court directly onto the lane. Carriage court rowhouses, provided they are: rowhouses have their parking integrated • designed to be compatible with single with each unit, requiring part of the family neighbourhoods and adjacent courtyard for car movement. An assem- homes; with good landscaping bly of three 33’ lots could accommodate • located in select areas and built as 8 courtyard or 7 carriage court units small projects rather than as a wide- (the driveway connecting the lane to spread replacement for existing the carriage court takes the space of one housing types unit). Both styles have a pathway provid- • provided with adequate community ing pedestrian/fire-fighter access to the facilities (parks, schools, etc.) and rear units from the street. Courtyard services for the additional population rowhouses would each feature about • accompanied by a plan to address any 1,200 square feet of floorspace, enough parking and traffic impacts. for two bedrooms plus an additional bedroom, family room, den, or home Percent agree 43%/37% office. The front yard would be shorter (16' versus 24') and the front units People’s Ideas… shallower than a new single family • preferred by older singles and home. The courtyard would be 30' couples because they spend more deep. The rear units would be built time at home than younger house- partly above the garage and partly in the holds and therefore place a higher area required for a rear yard in new value on outdoor space single family homes. Carriage court • provide good space, variety, and rowhouses would be slightly larger choice (1,350 square feet), with a 14' front • consider on C-1 sites (small yard. Rear units would extend into the commercial sites which now allow rear yard. The 30’ courtyard would be housing above commercial) divided into private open space and maneuvering space for cars (which Comment: This Direction did not receive could be finished in pavers to make it enough support in the general or ran- more attractive). dom survey to be classed as ‘approved’. Status: Both types would be new to the However, the agree votes out numbered city. the disagree votes in each survey. As a Attractive to: Families with children, result, courtyard/carriage court established couples, and seniors who rowhouses remain a topic for more could manage stairs. public discussion if additional housing planning occurs in the community.

Courtyard Rowhouses

40 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Low-rise Apartments People’s Ideas… Description: Low-rise apartments have • attractive to first households a maximum height of four storeys. They because no yard maintenance, generally feature smaller, lower cost relatively inexpensive units. The units usually are on a single • feel secure for single women floor and accessible by elevator. • good choice for established Status: Low-rise apartments are com- singles and couples mon in the north-west corner of Hast- • preferred by many seniors who ings-Sunrise. need a one level unit and an Attractive to: People just entering the elevator (no stairs) housing market, singles, and seniors • recognize elevators don’t work if who are no longer willing or able to you have two young kids and maintain single family homes. groceries 15.9 Low-rise Apartments • need more new developments, existing apartments look too old Not Approved (Uncertain) and rundown A limited number of low-rise apartments, with a maximum height of four • build concrete buildings to block storeys, should be permitted in Hast- noise between units and from ings-Sunrise provided that they are: outside • designed to be compatible with single family neighbourhoods and adjacent Comment: This Direction did not receive homes; with good landscaping enough support in the general or random • located in select areas and built as survey to be classed as ‘approved’. small projects rather than as a wide- However, the agree votes out numbered spread replacement for single family the disagree votes in each survey. As a housing types result, low-rise apartments remain as a topic for public discussion if additional • provided with adequate community housing planning occurs in the commu- facilities (parks, schools, etc.) and nity. services for the additional population • accompanied by a plan to address any parking and traffic impacts. Percent agree 45%/39%

Low-rise apartment

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 41 Seniors’ Housing Rezonings At Least One New Housing Type Seniors’ Housing The strong community support for This section of the Vision has described Despite changing housing needs, long- Vision Direction 15.11 will likely the housing types which Vision partici- term residents frequently want to stay in lead to individual ‘site specific’ pants felt would be attractive to existing their neighbourhood because they rezonings. That means when a group organizing housing for Hastings-Sunrise residents as they age know the local shops and services, have seniors finds a site, they would and their housing needs change. In friends in the community, and want to apply for rezoning to permit their order to get a clear reading of the stay near their doctors and dentists. project. Each rezoning would number of people who are interested in Vision participants looked at housing require consultation with some type of new housing in the options which would allow older neighbours prior to being considered by City Council. community, this Direction asked if the residents to stay in the community when respondent supported (somewhat or they are no longer able or willing to strongly) at least one of the housing look after a single family home. In types in Directions 15.1 – 15.9. addition to the types outlined in the previous Directions, options include 15.10 At Least One New Housing additional traditional apartments and Type smaller scale seniors’ homes. These Several new housing types have been projects would be purpose-built for described in this section. Did you seniors and some would provide for different levels of care. Abbeyfield House support at least one of the new housing types (Homes with Two Suites, Infill, 15.11 Seniors’ Housing Duplexes, Small Houses on Small Lots, Cottages, Sixplexes, Rowhouses, Court- Approved yard/Carriage Court Rowhouses, or Some small developments designed for Low-Rise Apartments) in the Directions seniors should be considered near above? parks, shopping, and transit to allow Percent supporting at least one type seniors to stay in the community as their 83%/83% housing needs change. Percent agree 81%/82% Comment: This Direction is not classed as ‘approved’ because it refers to the People’s Ideas… previous Directions rather than asking a • provide much more seniors’ specific policy question. For future housing planning purposes, it is interesting that a • allow some units with supervision high proportion of respondents in the and/or care general and random surveys supported • design accessible units with at least one new housing type in Hast- enough space, no ‘micro’ bedrooms ings-Sunrise. • recognize that garden space can be critical to some seniors • may need second bedroom for caregiver if not provided in building • encourage a variety of types with a variety of services (Abbeyfield houses, low-rise, maybe even some high-rises) • close to programs in neighbourhood houses and community centres • avoid locations near steep hills

42 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Possible 16.1 New Housing Types Adjacent Locations for to Commercial Areas 16 Approved New Housing New housing types should be permitted Vision participants identified locations adjacent to commercial areas such as which were important for different Hastings, First/Renfrew, and First/ types of households. In each of the Nanaimo, subject to detailed planning possible Directions listed below, the and impact mitigation. reasons Vision participants supported Percent agree 67%/58% the location are given before the Direc- tion itself. Adjacent to Commercial

New Housing Types Adjacent to Commercial Areas The current zoning along the major r e n commercial streets of Hastings-Sunrise o McGill i s s permits new development to have a i m m maximum height of four storeys. New o Cambridge developments often consist of ground C Dundas floor retail with three storeys of residential above. Vision participants felt Semlin E. Hastings additional housing adjacent to commer-

cial areas has a number advantages: aHwy

• additional population in the new nad a

Boundary

housing would help support local s

Nanaimo

r shops and services T

Renfre • transit service on commercial streets would be convenient to residents in E. First new housing • additional housing would offer easy access to shopping and services for wy households without cars H Rupert d e E. Broadway e h • new housing could serve as a transi- Lou g tion between the potential four storey N development on the commercial street and single family areas Around commercial areas • large areas of single family use would be retained • Vision participants felt this location would be most attractive to people first leaving home, to seniors, and to lower income households.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 43 New Housing Types Along Arterials • may shield, to some extent, adjacent Most of the arterials in Hastings-Sunrise single family homes from the noise of (Nanaimo, Renfrew, Rupert, Boundary, arterial traffic as the new homes and McGill, First, and Broadway) are lined their landscaping act as a buffer with single-family homes. The exception • leave large areas in single family use. is Hastings which has commercial uses and a zoning which allows up to three 16.2 New Housing Types Along storeys of residential above shops. Vision Arterials participants identified arterials as a Not Approved (Uncertain) location for other housing types. This New housing types should be permitted location would: along major arterials such as Nanaimo, • provide convenient access to transit for Renfrew, Rupert, Boundary, McGill, new residents without cars First, and Broadway, subject to detailed • allow construction of new housing planning and impact mitigation. types which could be designed to Percent agree 56%/50% include features which reduce the impact of traffic noise from the arterials Comment: This Direction received (such as double glazing, insulated walls, majority support in the general survey bedrooms away from the street, etc.) but did not receive enough support in • provide convenient access by transit, the random survey to be classed as bike, and walking to new stations on ‘approved’. In the random survey the the Millennium Line (and the proposed agree votes out numbered the disagree high tech nodes around the stations) votes by a ratio of 2.5 to 1. As a result, for additional people living on arterials new housing types along arterials in the south of Hastings-Sunrise remains a topic for more public discussion if additional housing planning occurs in the community. Along Arterials

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Along arterials Commercial/mixed use zones

44 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision New Housing Types Around the Around Arterial Intersections Intersection of Arterials A variation of new housing along arterials is to locate a node of new housing around the intersection of two r e n arterials. These locations would: io McGill s s • provide transit access in north/south i m m and east/west directions reducing the o Cambridge C need for a car Dundas • recognize the high level of accessibility offered by these locations Semlin E. Hastings

• allow new housing forms which H

could be designed to minimize d

a n

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arterial noise within the units w

• may help shield adjacent single family a r T

Renfre areas from traffic noise Nanaimo • support local shops and services with E. First additional population • leave large areas in single family use.

y 16.3 New Housing Types Around w Rupert H d E. Broadway e the Intersection of Arterials e Loug h Not Approved (Uncertain) N New housing types should be permitted around the intersection of arterials, Around arterial intersections subject to detailed planning and impact mitigation. Percent agree 51%/45%

Comment: This Direction received majority support in the general survey but did not receive enough support in the random survey to be classed as ‘approved’. In the random survey the agree votes out numbered the disagree votes by a ratio of 2 to 1. As a result, new housing types around the intersections of arterials remains a topic for more public discussion if additional housing planning occurs in the community.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 45 New Housing Types on Sites which 16.4 New Housing Types on Sites Incorporate Large Lots or Corner which Incorporate Large Lots or Lots Corner Lots This choice recognizes that current land Not Approved (Uncertain) values would tend to result in the rede- New housing types should be permitted velopment of most older homes on larger on sites which incorporate large lots or lots. It is also consistent with the existing corner lots throughout Hastings-Sun- pattern in parts of Vancouver where rise, subject to detailed planning and smaller lots face the side streets. These impact mitigation. locations: Percent agree 52%/48% • permit a gradual change to new housing types on large lots which would Comment: This Direction received likely redevelop to larger homes under majority support in the general survey existing zoning but did not receive enough support in the • limit the interface between new hous- random survey to be classed as ‘ap- ing and adjacent existing homes to one proved’. In the random survey the agree side (corner lots) votes out numbered the disagree votes by • allow new forms to take advantage of a ratio of 2 to 1. As a result, new hous- direct access from the side street rather ing types on sites which incorporate large than only from the lane (corner lots) or corner lots remains a topic for more public discussion if additional housing • limit the total amount of change in planning occurs in the community. single family areas • make the location of change predictable • leave large areas in single family use • provide new housing in locations which Vision participants felt would be attractive to families with children, working couples, and seniors who still had cars.

46 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision New Housing Types Around Around Elementary Schools Elementary Schools Elementary schools can be an important focal point for a community. Younger r children are generally escorted to e n o McGill school. Parents tend to be more in- i s s i volved in elementary school events than m m o Cambridge their children’s activities in high school. C Dundas Vision participants developed the option of locating new family housing within a few blocks of elementary Semlin E. Hastings

y schools. These locations would: w

• provide direct access to elementary d

n schools from more housing suitable a

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Renfre s

Nanaimo

for families with children n a

• make walking to school a more viable Tr option • ensure play grounds are accessible E. First without crossing busy arterials • support existing schools wy • leave some areas in single family use. H

Rupert d e E. Broadway e h Lou g 16.5 New Housing Types Around N Elementary Schools Not Approved (Uncertain) Around elementary schools New housing types should be permitted Commercial/mixed use zones around elementary schools in Hastings- Sunrise, subject to detailed planning and impact mitigation. Percent agree 56%/48%

Comment: This Direction received majority support in the general survey but did not receive enough support in the random survey to be classed as ‘approved’. In the random survey the agree votes out numbered the disagree votes by a ratio of 2 to 1. As a result, new housing types around elementary schools remains a topic for more public discussion if additional housing planning occurs in the community.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 47 New Housing Types Scattered 16.6 New Housing Types Scattered Throughout the Single Family Areas Throughout the Single Family Areas The final location proposed by Vision Not Approved (Uncertain) participants was a broad option: permit- New housing types should be permitted ting new housing variety throughout in scattered locations throughout the the single family areas. This option was single family areas of Hastings-Sunrise, not intended to replace all existing subject to detailed planning and impact single family homes but rather to allow mitigation. new housing forms to be scattered Percent agree 47%/40% within generally single family areas, provided that the new housing was Comment: This Direction did not receive designed to be compatible with adjacent enough support in either the general or single family homes. The new housing the random survey to be classed as could be limited to ‘clumps’ as small as ‘approved’. However, in both surveys the one half block. The option: agree votes out numbered the disagree • allows more affordable housing in a votes. As a result, new housing types wide variety of locations scattered throughout the single family area remains a topic for more public • permits some existing owners to discussion if additional housing plan- redevelop their properties with a ning occurs in the community. housing form which would allow them to stay in their community • lets neighbourhoods determine the types of housing which are suitable • provides housing in locations attractive to families with children, working couples, and seniors.

Throughout Single Family Areas

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Single family with rental suites allowed Single family with design review and rental suites allowed Other zones or parks

48 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Support for New Housing Types in Comment: This Direction is not classed At Least One Possible Location as ‘approved’ because it refers to the The Directions above identify locations previous Directions rather than asking a which Vision participants felt made specific policy question. For future sense for new housing to accommodate planning purpoes, it is interesting that a the changing needs of Hastings-Sunrise high proportion of respondents in the residents as they age. In order to get a general and random surveys supported clear picture of how many people at least one location for new housing supported new housing in any of the types in Hastings-Sunrise. locations, this Direction asked if the respondent supported at least one of the possible locations in Directions 16.1 – 16.6.

16.7 Support for New Housing in At Least One Possible Location Did you support at least one of the possible locations for new housing identified in Directions 16.1 – 16.6 above (Adjacent to Commercial Areas, Along Arterials, At the Intersection of Arterials, On Large Lots or Corner Lots, Around Elementary Schools or Scattered Throughout the Single Family Area)? Percent supporting at least one location 85%/86%

Meeting Future Demand The Demand for New Housing in Hastings-Sunrise by 2021 New households from existing residents 2,500 New households from in-migration 800 Total new households looking for housing 3,300

Today’s Potential Supply of New Housing in Hastings-Sunrise New housing units allowed by existing zoning (apartments, suites) 3,000

Today’s ‘Shortfall’ in Housing Units Demand minus Supply 300

Additional Housing Possible with Different Type and Location Combinations Low: (infill, duplexes, small houses) + Adjacent to Commercial Areas 300 Medium: (cottages) + Along Arterials 850 High: (sixplexes) + Around Elementary Schools 3,000

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 49 Housing Affordability Housing 17.1 Housing Affordability The affordability of market Affordability Approved housing was a significant concern 17 The City should urge senior govern- of Vision participants. They Housing affordability is a major concern ments to reinstate programs that fund developed Vision Directions that in Hastings-Sunrise. Participants were include proposals for additional non-market housing and to develop suites, infill, cottages, duplexes, concerned that housing is becoming new initiatives that make housing more sixplexes, rowhouses, and low-rise unreachable for many in the community. affordable for low income households. apartments. These Directions This applies to all housing from rental Percent agree 71%/64% would allow housing that meets apartments to single family housing. the changing housing needs of People are worried for themselves, that existing residents as they age. People’s Ideas… The additional homes should be they could be forced to leave the • more affordable housing (we more affordable than new single community if their income falls. They should all advocate for this) family homes because they use are also worried that higher housing • urge the province to put more the land more intensively and prices will start to erode the rich texture funds into affordable housing they are usually smaller. An of incomes, backgrounds, and occupa- increased supply of housing may tions that characterize the community • mix market rental and subsidized also help to moderate price housing in the same area increases. today. • allow deduction of mortgage New housing that is built in the interest from income tax as in U.S. normal development market — ‘market housing’ — is usually not affordable to lower income households, regardless of the type of housing it is. The City assists in providing more affordable ‘non-market housing’ for lower income households in a number of ways: • directly funding affordable housing with money approved in Capital Plan plebiscites • leasing City land, in some cases at substantial discounts, to nonprofit housing sponsors who build housing funded by senior governments • using housing agreements with developers, where they include lower cost or guaranteed rental suites in their market projects in return for additional density • using funds from Development Cost Levies to assist in buying land or paying for housing units directly.

These non-market projects generally require a site specific rezoning, with community consultation taking place in each case. New non-market housing Directions did not emerge from the Vision process but participants did want to reinstate senior government funding for non- market housing.

50 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Neighbourhood Centres

ancouver’s CityPlan contains directions to develop ‘neighbourhood centres’ to serve as the ‘heart’ of a community. V Neighbourhood centres are places where people can find shops, jobs, neighbourhood-based services, public places that are safe and inviting, and places to meet with neighbours and join in community life. Centres may also cluster new housing for various ages and incomes. All this will help the environment by reducing the need to travel long distances from home to jobs and services.

The Vision identifies key shopping areas in Hastings-Sunrise: Hastings Sunrise/North; First and Renfrew; and Vancouver Heights. It sets out ways to make these areas more convenient, safe, comfortable, and enjoyable places to shop and visit. The Vision also has Directions about limiting additional major malls and ‘big box’ stores and supporting the role of business associations.

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Shopping area Possible new housing Other commercial/mixed use zones

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 51 Hastings Sunrise/ • place more emphasis on the North pedestrian, not cars (e.g. don’t 18 allow visible parking lots) The section of Hastings from Semlin to • add community notice boards and Renfrew (Hasting Sunrise/North) is an kiosks (like in the West End) important neighbourhood shopping area and potential neighbourhood centre. Assets include several popular small supermarkets and produce stores; London Drugs; the Hastings Branch Library; and many local-serving shops. The Vision addresses various problems including traffic speed and volume along Hastings, the narrowness of sidewalks, and the ‘unfriendly’ appearance of some buildings which face Hastings. Hastings Sunrise/North shopping area 18.1 Important Shopping Area 18.2 Shops and Services Approved Continuous The ‘heart’ of the Hastings Sunrise/ North shopping area, from Garden to Approved Slocan, should be strengthened as the In the shopping area, shops and serv- major neighbourhood shopping area ices should be continuous along the and should be the focus for improve- ground floor of buildings. Ground ments and investments in the floor uses should be ‘community- streetscape. The area from Garden to friendly’ as well as ‘pedestrian friendly’ Semlin needs more continuity and Percent agree 83%/84% should be more pedestrian-oriented. The area from Slocan to Renfrew should People’s Ideas… address and take advantage of the • discourage additional auto- important pedestrian connection it oriented services provides to Hastings Park. • discourage businesses that don’t Percent agree 84%/81% have friendly fronts — need visibility and connection to the sidewalk People’s Ideas… • require offices to present an • concentrate investment in the open, friendly street face ‘heart’ to make it really work and • barred windows are unattractive create a positive spillover effect for and unfriendly — they discourage adjacent areas people from frequenting the busi- • improve the connection with the ness (prefer roll-down grates that library to make it feel part of the you can see shop displays through) core • discourage ‘predatory’ businesses, • ‘book end’ the main shopping such as cheque-cashing services that area with attractive commercial uses screen their interior from the street to the east and west • encourage mixed use develop- 18.3 Sidewalk Safety and Comfort ments here, 2 - 3 storeys above Approved retail, not higher (fits with the Sidewalks should be made safer for medium density residential around pedestrians by: creating wider it) sidewalks; prohibiting sidewalk cross- • fill in the gaps in the streetscape ings to parking lots or drive-throughs; • address non-inviting non-pedes- discouraging parking lots fronting the trian appearance of some stores street; and improving the condition of (razor wire at top of fence, service/ sidewalks. storage yards adjacent to the street) Percent agree 81%/80%

52 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision People’s Ideas… shopping needs of different people • require setbacks for new buildings in the community (medium super- for sidewalk widening markets cater to different needs • keep parking exits to side streets/ than large supermarkets) lanes • landscape existing front-facing Comment: This Direction did not receive parking lots to create a visual buffer sufficient support in the random survey from the sidewalk to be categorized as ‘approved’ but the • repair sidewalk surface, it is in random survey did have more than bad condition, unattractive twice as many agree votes than disagree • provide grates around trees which votes. As a result, this Direction will are level with sidewalk remain a topic for public discussion during any future planning for the area. Local shops and services 18.4 Support Local Shops and 18.6 Pedestrian Safety Services Approved Approved It should be easier and safer for pedes- Businesses moving into the area should trians to cross Hastings Street. serve the surrounding community and Percent agree 76%/76% be similar in scale to existing businesses. Percent agree 77%/74% People’s Ideas… • provide better lighting at People’s Ideas… crosswalks • variety of shops should reflect the make-up of residents of Hastings- • need more time to cross the street Sunrise • provide additional pedestrian • need additional shops and serv- crossing at Garden ices: clothing; books (with outdoor • consider restricting hours for gathering space nearby); hardware loading and unloading from the store; health clinic; meat and fish; street leisure sports; live music; neigh- • need to slow traffic down using a bourhood pub (with outdoor variety of traffic calming measures seating but no parking); restaurants; • retain parking on Hastings as a health food store; mid-size super- buffer for pedestrians market; cafes with moderate prices; ‘fun’ upbeat cafes or gathering 18.7 Encourage Sidewalk places (no alcohol) with loud/live Merchandise Displays music to attract youth; lumber store Approved • discourage certain businesses Merchandise displays on the sidewalk from locating on Hastings: hair add interest and vitality to the street, but salons, dollar stores, fast food the amount of sidewalk they take up outlets should be limited. They should leave enough room for pedestrians (including 18.5 Discourage Large wheelchairs and strollers) to pass each Supermarkets other, and should leave more sidewalk Not Approved (Uncertain) space at bus stops and crosswalks where Large supermarkets should be discour- more people gather. The limit should aged from entering the Hastings Sun- be enforced. rise/North shopping area. Percent agree 64%/61% Percent agree 52%/49% People’s Ideas… People’s Ideas… • sidewalk displays great except • maintain medium-sized supermar- where bikeracks/other street furni- kets as anchor stores in the area ture compete for pedestrian space • may be good to have a larger supermarket to meet the diverse

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 53 • do not allow sandwich boards to People’s Ideas… block sidewalk or replace them with • solid canopy of the ex-Wool- signs that hang from storefronts worths store creates a dark and • control appearance and neatness uninviting pedestrian space, modify of goods displays to allow more light to street • set back new development at • break up the awning/signage ground level to provide more styles on large developments so pedestrian/display space they are interesting instead of boring 18.8 Encourage Street Trees/ • keep eclectic/organic character of Greening existing signs and awnings Approved 18.10 Improve the Area’s Weather protection The existing street trees contribute to the experience of the street. More trees Appearance should be planted in areas where they Approved are missing, such as Garden to Semlin, The appearance of the Hasting Sunrise/ and in new corner bulges on side North shopping area should be im- streets. Trees should not have invasive proved through efforts of private roots. Use a variety of strategies to owners, the BIA, and the City (e.g. increase the ‘greening’ of commercial street furniture, murals, public art, areas. sculpture, bike racks, public notice Percent agree 85%/82% boards, directory to the area, drinking fountains). Special streetscape treatment People’s Ideas… and ‘branding’ should be implemented • plant big trees on Hastings to to enhance the identity, cultural herit- greatly enhance the street and age, and viability of the shopping area. reduce the perceived impact of Percent agree 83%/79% traffic • green all empty lots People’s Ideas… • plant flower baskets on lamp posts • provide special, ornate pedestrian or on new bollards separating lights, sidewalk treatment, tree sidewalk from road grates, hanging baskets, banners, benches, and garbage cans • create small plazas on corner bulges on side streets with benches, • establish identity — build on washroom, pavers, planters, public spontaneous momentum of Hast- art, and maybe kids play area ings Sunrise/North, or link with history • ensure street trees do not have invasive root systems — existing • discourage ugly security bars in trees on Hastings are plugging store windows, replace with roll sewers and lifting sidewalks down grates which provide security but still let people see window displays when they are shut 18.9 Provide Continuous Weather Protection • more bus shelters — develop a design which decreases the amount Approved of sidewalk space taken by integrat- There should be continuous weather ing the bus shelter with the front of protection provided by canopies and buildings awnings. Awnings and canopies should be designed to be interesting and to • use flags, projecting signs, ban- ensure the sidewalk doesn’t become ners below awnings, and iconic dark and uninviting. signs (those where shape has Percent agree 64%/68% meaning)

54 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 18.11 Building Character 18.13 Better Utilize Wide Approved Side Streets New buildings and renovations should Approved follow design guidelines developed The extra wide (100') road allowances specifically for Hastings Sunrise/North. of side streets (such as Kamloops, Percent agree 76%/72% Penticton, Slocan, Kaslo) are a major opportunity to create public spaces, to People’s Ideas… bring greater amenity and greening to • store buildings should be attrac- the area, and to provide a respite from tive; City should provide tax breaks the noise of Hastings. Emphasis should to business owners for up-keep be placed on the development of these • develop distinct styles for this area as public spaces, rather than seeking with uniform colour and building public space in larger developments. height Percent agree 75%/66% Sidewalk merchandise • allow 3 to 4 stories maximum People’s Ideas… height • create green public space with • encourage unique characteristics style and amenities of individual stores • close street to vehicles in some • require each store to repaint and places update storefront, awnings, and • make Garden a ‘green street’ signs every 3 to 4 years (Singapore linking the shopping area with the has such a program) park, greenways, and mini-parks • encourage variety of signs: neon, that already exist further north on projecting or blade type — signs Garden which are distinguishable from a • maximize use of sunny areas, use block away different paving; use plantings to separate people from traffic 18.12 A Cleaner Place • build corner bulges to narrow the Approved crossings (on side streets and Sidewalks, gutters, lanes, parking lots, Hastings); have benches and plant- storefronts, garbage areas, and loading ing in bulges bays should be kept cleaner and main- • allow businesses to open onto the tained better by both private businesses right-of-way (recent McDonald’s and the City. outdoor area is well done) Percent agree 95%/92%

People’s Ideas… 18.14 Parking on Some Wide Side Streets • provide several garbage receptacles on each block Approved • City and BIA should encourage Some of the extra wide (100') road and enforce cleanliness of streets allowances of side streets should be and storefronts used for some small scale, convenient parking areas. • make individual shop owner Percent agree 68%/67% responsible for the upkeep of the area outside their store People’s Ideas… • address graffiti problems more • allow perpendicular or diagonal quickly parking, with trees and landscaping • follow Toronto’s use of 3-part • replace lost parking on Hastings containers for cans, newspapers, with small parking squares on 100' and rubbish which allow on-street wide side streets separation of recyclables • provide Granville Island like parking areas with trees between the spaces

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 55 18.15 Convenient Parking • allow more duplexes to be built Approved to the south and north of Hastings The convenient short-term parking lot Sunrise/North shopping area within and on-street parking should be pre- a 15-minute walking distance served and enhanced to help keep retail • consider focusing new housing uses viable and limit parking pressure on the 100' wide side north-south on neighbouring streets. The parking streets because they connect directly lot behind the London Drugs is a major to the shopping area and provide asset that should be better advertised, opportunities for a green outlook better connected to the street, en- • new buildings should be compat- hanced as a public space, and designed ible with the scale of existing as a better neighbour to homes across buildings, no overwhelming mass Franklin. • build rowhousing; heritage style Percent agree 84%/82% duplexes, triplexes; small projects, small frontages — not big develop- People’s Ideas… ments • need signs on Hastings alerting • consider residential development people to London Drugs parking on lane at back of commercial along lot; create a passage between stores Hastings to Hastings near the middle of the block to link the lot to the street • introduce trees to the parking First and area, add green space, small park- 19 Renfrew like areas • create pathways within the lot and Participants saw First and Renfrew as especially along the lane for people another important neighbourhood who have left their cars (no clear or centre. Traffic and accessibility to shops attractive paths now) are problems addressed in the Vision, • enforce 2 hour limit and handi- along with the need for more parking capped parking and a cleaner, better maintained neigh- • look at buffer treatments to bourhood centre. reduce the impacts of the lot on houses across Franklin • have more parking lots available behind shops on Hastings like on Fraser Street and in Burnaby

18.16 A Neighbourhood Centre with Housing Approved Hastings Sunrise/North should become more of a neighbourhood centre. Additional housing is important to Possible improvements: more planting, more support shops and services, it could pedestrian comfort and safety range from apartments above stores on Hastings to more ground-oriented 19.1 Important Shopping Area housing within walking distance of Approved Hastings. Any new housing should be in The shopping area located at First and keeping with the character and scale of Renfrew should be strengthened as a the neighbourhood. neighbourhood shopping area and Percent agree 66%/61% special community place. Percent agree 79%/75% People’s Ideas… • generally support the idea of neighbourhood centre for Hastings Sunrise/North shopping area

56 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision People’s Ideas… • provide no stopping signs near • community development stems the intersections of Renfrew at First, from community involvement in Renfrew at Broadway events, parades, celebrations • address jay-walking across First • provide better links to the new through the boulevard to get to the SkyTrain station — extend the Mall shopping area southwards • need complete redesign of First First and Renfrew shopping • spread shoppers out from T&T and Renfrew: allow turns on left- area shopping centre; too inward facing hand turn signal only from First to • make First and Renfrew a destina- allow safe crossing for pedestrians; tion shopping area, could make it add signs along Renfrew from First more ethnic; Chinese or Italian to 3rd indicating ‘slow down’/‘yield similar to Victoria and 41st to pedestrians’ in symbols that are • need support from local business clear to all language groups owners to attract a wider variety of shops 19.4 Street Trees Approved 19.2 Shops and Services Street trees contribute to the pleasant Continuous character of the street, as well as bring- Approved ing visual consistency. Trees should be In the shopping area, shops and services planted on Renfrew as well as in new should be continuous along the ground corner bulges and on side streets. floor of buildings. Ground floor front- Percent agree 80%/74% age should not be interrupted by driveways, drive-throughs, parking lots, People’s Ideas… or building fronts and uses that are not • plant street trees along Renfrew ‘pedestrian friendly’. (e.g. between Graveley and East 3rd ) Percent agree 73%/72% • need boulevard trees and shrubs on First between Nanaimo and People’s Ideas… Rupert • continue storefronts some distance around corner (turn corner 19.5 A More Attractive Place part way to lane) Approved • avoid steps up or down to shops The appearance of the shopping area to improve accessibility for aging should be improved through beautifica- population tion by private owners and the City. • support mixed retail and whole- Percent agree 83%/78% sale use People’s Ideas… 19.3 Pedestrian Safety • area needs major ‘face lift’ paint job or clean-up (currently ‘looks Approved poor’/‘unattractive’) Make it safer and easier for pedestrians to cross at or near First Avenue. • add bike racks (posts) Percent agree 81%/79% • consider heritage character • fill-up empty buildings in area People’s Ideas… • provide marked crosswalks (e.g. 19.6 Cleaner Place on Renfrew at intersections of Approved Graveley, First, 2nd, and 3rd) Sidewalks, gutters, lanes, parking lots, • provide medians and corner storefronts, garbage areas, and loading bulges on Renfrew as good ways to bays should be kept cleaner and main- increase opportunities for landscap- tained better by both private businesses ing; improve safety for pedestrians and the City. Percent agree 88%/83%

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 57 People’s Ideas… People’s Ideas… • need more litter receptacles: too • allow low scale housing for a few much litter around shops and on block radius around the commercial streets area • more frequent pick-ups needed • allow mixed use buildings with from bus stop receptacles retail/service shops on ground floor • need a public bin for garbage on on Renfrew alleyway parallel to Renfrew be- • consider buildings up to 4 storeys tween First and 2nd (volunteers at or near First and Renfrew picking up litter don’t have any • allow for growth, prefer to go up place to put it) first (consider buildings with a few • residents and business owners storeys), then out could adopt a street or an area to • rezone in order to increase the keep clean, be supplied with number of residential units allowed gloves, organize a group clean-up above commercial activity 3 times a year Comments: This Direction did not have 19.7 Convenient Parking enough support in the random survey to Approved be classified as ‘approved’. However, Convenient short-term parking, includ- there was majority support in the gen- ing curbside parking, should be avail- eral survey and there were more than able for customers to help keep the three times as many ‘agree’ votes as retail viable and reduce impacts on ‘disagree’ votes in the random survey. As neighbours. a result, this Direction will remain a Percent agree 78%/75% topic for public discussion in future planning programs in this area. People’s Ideas… • strengthen the shopping area by making parking a first priority — Vancouver lack of parking and high volume of 20 Heights car traffic discourage motorists from Participants saw Vancouver Heights as stopping having the potential to become a • provide parking off lane to serve smaller-scale neighbourhood centre. shops There are significant problems to • protect on-street parking on overcome: the area is not pedestrian Renfrew friendly (narrow sidewalks, stores with • favour diagonal parking — easier ‘unwelcoming’ facades, and lots of to park; consider diagonal parking traffic). The area does come with some placed on side streets if space advantages like the flanking streets with permits 100’ right-of-ways and its proximity to • encourage commercial businesses the Burnaby Heights commercial area. to share each other’s parking spaces • consider using width of Renfrew for angle parking on one or both sides

19.8 A Neighbourhood Centre with Housing Not Approved (Uncertain) Consider adding new housing around First and Renfrew to help support the commercial area. Try to promote and Vancouver Heights shopping area improve the area around First and Renfrew (increase business, recreational, and residential opportunities). Percent agree 63%/53%

58 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 20.1 Important Shopping Area 20.3 A Range of Shops and Approved Services The shopping area on Hastings between Approved Cassiar and Boundary (Vancouver There should be a wider range of local- Heights) should be strengthened as a serving shops and services in the shop- neighbourhood shopping area and ping areas. Additional auto-oriented special community place. services (e.g. gas stations, auto repair) Percent agree 75%/73% should be discouraged. Smaller supermarket in mixed Percent agree 73%/71% use development People’s Ideas… • consider the core shopping area People’s Ideas… to include all three blocks with • need bank, more or bigger Skeena to Kootenay being the market, pharmacy, farmers market, ‘heart’ because of central location, book store, bakery, butcher/fish, better topography, both corners can stationary be improved to look nicer • need less competition — don’t • address challenges of connection drive out ‘mom and pop’ stores to Burnaby • need strategy to get different • provide tree-lined streets and stores in and more shoppers banners and attractive store fronts • attract a medium-sized grocery • take advantage of 100' wide side store as an attraction streets, encourage new retail to face • conduct street festivals to increase side streets, and create ‘village business for shops — creates vitality squares’ on Skeena and Kootenay and fun for customers intersections • add drop-in centre to centre section; add BIA and Community 20.2 Shops and Services Policing to drop-in; add angle Continuous parking to the side streets; add Approved tables for cafés on the side streets Shops and services should be continuous along the ground floor of build- 20.4 Adding a Supermarket ings. Ground floor frontage should not Approved be interrupted by driveways, drive- Supermarkets are important ‘anchors’ throughs, parking lots, or building for neighbourhood shopping areas. The fronts and uses that are not ‘pedestrian City, in consultation with the neigh- friendly’. bourhood, should work with supermar- Percent agree 71%/71% ket owners to identify, assemble, and rezone an adequate site for a conven- People’s Ideas… tional size supermarket in a mixed use • may be occasional exceptions for development, with adequate parking long-term services — these should provided. be ‘grand-fathered’ Percent agree 61%/58% • insist that Kootenay Loop fits in; disguise the asphalt or hide it a bit, People’s Ideas… without detriment to area safety • encourage Thrifty’s to locate in • disguise ‘loop’ with a streetwall area: B.C. owned and operated full- feature; seek landscape improve- service supermarket ments, and explore corner potential • may not be practical, we want to • build up the space in between — be sensitive to smaller scale stores lots of empty lots • like markets, not supermarkets

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 59 20.5 Sidewalk Safety and Comfort People’s Ideas… Approved • provide street trees on both sides Make sidewalks safer and more attractive of Hastings between Cassiar and for pedestrians by: creating wider Boundary — may need to stagger sidewalks; prohibiting sidewalk cross- trees with weather awnings to have ings to parking lots or drive-throughs; enough sidewalk space discouraging parking lots fronting the • put bulges on Skeena and street; and improving the condition of Kootenay — maybe just put trees on sidewalks. the right-of-ways and get benches Percent agree 77%/79% and get more pedestrian friendly areas, more flanking commercial People’s Ideas… • maximize the walkability of the 20.8 Weather Protection Improve sidewalk safety and sidewalk comfort Approved • create space for trees There should be continuous weather • widen sidewalks where there are protection for shoppers in the form of bus stops so there is enough room canopies or awnings. for circulation Percent agree 62%/56%

20.6 Control Sidewalk Merchandise People’s Ideas… Approved • minimum 5’ or 6’ over walking Merchandise displays on the sidewalk corridor for adequate clearance; add vitality and interest to the street, but especially near bus stops across from the amount of sidewalk they take up McDonald’s should be limited. They should leave enough room for pedestrians (including 20.9 A More Attractive Place wheelchairs and strollers) to pass each Approved other, and should leave more sidewalk The appearance of the shopping area space at bus stops and crosswalks where should be improved through beautifica- more people gather. The limit should tion by private owners and the City. be enforced. Percent agree 81%/79% Percent agree 63%/63% People’s Ideas… People’s Ideas… • improve visual quality of • address problem with bus stop Kootenay Loop location, don’t have very much • improve street wall appearance — sidewalk space, not much room for less blank wall trees, etc • group the services — bus stop, • do something positive with the bike rack, telephone, etc. — around extra space on the corners of the Skeena and Kootenay intersec- Skeena and Hastings tions • use weather protection from • provide neighbourhood focus in storefronts rather than bus shelters the intersections of Skeena and • limit displays, maximize the Kootenay — corner bulges, walkability, consider weather benches, etc. — to take advantage protection where vegetable stands of the large right-of-ways and on sidewalk perhaps extend back to the streets parallel to Hastings 20.7 Plant Street Trees • make pedestrian friendly with Approved street trees Street trees contribute to the pleasant • landscape existing parking areas character of a street, as well as bringing visual consistency. Street trees should be added on Hastings and side streets. Percent agree 78%/74%

60 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 20.10 A Cleaner Place 20.13 Neighbourhood Centres and Approved Housing Sidewalks, gutters, lanes, parking lots, Not Approved (Uncertain) storefronts, garbage areas, and loading Consider increasing the residential bays should be kept cleaner and main- density around the Vancouver Heights tained better by both private businesses shopping area to include medium and the City. density housing above storefronts along Percent agree 87%/87% Hastings, new housing forms on the 100' wide streets perpendicular to People’s Ideas… Hastings, and duplexes across the alleys • avoid recessed alcoves on either side of Hastings. • prevent graffiti with better light- Percent agree 58%/53% ing, better design, etc. People’s Ideas… Burnaby Heights: an improved • need garbage receptacles at bus • more residential across the lane side street stops from Hastings to attract more people, create a better area 20.11 Convenient Parking • take advantage of 100' wide side Approved streets for proposed residential Convenient short-term parking, includ- units behind Hastings and along ing curbside parking, should be avail- Hastings able for customers to help keep the • locate more residential above retail viable and reduce impacts on storefronts — but need to make neighbours. attractive to people — double Percent agree 76%/77% glazing, high quality exterior walls, good ventilation. Density will bring People’s Ideas… in more local service stores • parking needed on the block from Skeena to Cassiar • address concerns about medium density because area has always • add angle parking to some of the been single family and residents side streets may feel uncomfortable; if medium • remove the HOV lanes/introduce density, should have maximum street parking; retain typical surface height of 3 or 4 storeys parking • discuss zoning for two family dwellings on the street that shares 20.12 Better Utilize Wide Side the lane with Hastings Streets • could be a neighbourhood centre Approved but on a small scale, because it is a The 100' road allowance of side streets small scale area should be used to create attractive public spaces and additional parking in Comments: This Direction did not have the area. enough support in the random survey to Percent agree 68%/67% be classified as ‘approved’. However, there was majority support in the ran- People’s Ideas… dom survey and there were more than • take advantage of 100' right-of- five times as many ‘agree’ votes as ways on north south streets for a ‘disagree’ votes. As a result, this Direc- mini-park at Kootenay tion will remain a topic for public • use some wide right-of-ways for discussion in future planning programs angle parking in this area.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 61 ‘Big Box’ Stores People’s Ideas… and Shopping • already have lots of malls and ‘big 21 box’ stores nearby Malls • no need to draw market from Shopping malls are clusters of stores in further a field to support the area, one development where the stores face would work against the local inside instead of onto a public street. community focus of the shopping Malls come in various sizes from quite street small to very large and they may be on one or several levels. Under current 21.2 Specialty ‘Big Box’ Stores zoning, internal malls can theoretically Approved locate anywhere in the C-2 zoning that Smaller specialty ‘big box’ outlets (e.g. ‘Big box’ grocery store lines the city’s arterial streets electronics, toys, pets) should not be permitted to locate in Hastings-Sunrise’s There are also different types and sizes existing shopping areas (Hastings of ‘big box’ store. Some are very large, Sunrise/North, First and Renfrew, and and sell a wide range of goods. Some Vancouver Heights) because they may specialize in particular types of goods, harm existing businesses. and are smaller. The large ‘big box’ Percent agree 60%/57% stores have sought large, cheap, indus- trially zoned sites. The City has permit- People’s Ideas… ted some ‘big box’ stores (usually • would threaten the viability of through rezonings), but has recently local businesses in that specialty adopted policies that restrict these • protect the smaller stores, but add rezonings to parts of the Grandview services; maybe rezone the bigger Highway and the Marine Drive front- lots if those stores close so we can ages. If the ‘big box’ stores are to sell have a fallback plan food or clothing, a retail impact study is required. Some smaller specialty ‘big • need complexity — different size box’ stores have recently fit into existing stores, etc. smaller frontages C-zoned blocks along major streets. • no spill-over from these ‘big box’ stores: people come, shop, and Participants in the Vision process, while leave acknowledging that existing malls and ‘big box’ stores provide shopping Small Commercial choices for consumers, were concerned Areas that additional projects would work 22 against providing strong neighbourhood shopping at Hastings Sunrise/ Hastings-Sunrise has several small North, First and Renfrew, and commercially zoned sites which are Vancouver Heights. either scattered in single family areas or located at the intersection of larger 21.1 Additional Major Malls or ‘Big streets. The C-1 zoning on these parcels Box’ Stores allows a mixture of commercial and residential uses but it does not permit Approved an all residential development. On Additional major shopping malls, and some of these sites, businesses are not ‘big box’ stores which sell groceries, doing well. Some Vision participants clothing, and other daily needs, should felt that the sites should continue to not be permitted to locate where they require ground floor commercial uses will harm the economic health of the to serve the surrounding residential Hastings Sunrise/North, First and Ren- areas. Others felt they would be good frew, Vancouver Heights, or other local sites to consider different types of all shopping areas in Hastings-Sunrise. residential developments. Percent agree 66%/64%

62 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 22.1 Future Development of Small Business Commercial Sites Associations or Not Approved (Uncertain) 23 Where commercial uses are struggling Business on C-1 zoned sites in Hastings-Sunrise, Improvement Areas the City should consider approving Business associations are formed by two-family dwellings or small scale business and property owners in shop- multi-unit residential development, if ping areas. They can also apply to the the proposal is limited to the maximum City to become a Business Improvement size permitted under the existing Area (BIA). Through a BIA, each com- zoning and is designed to be compat- mercial property owner pays into a fund ible with adjacent residential uses. that is administered by the BIA and used Banners help to beautify Percent agree 60%/49% neighbourhood shopping areas to benefit the shopping area through promotion, crime prevention, beautifi- People’s Ideas… cation, etc. The Hastings Sunrise/North • allow cottages on the corner of area has an active BIA but First and Nanaimo and Charles because Renfrew, and Vancouver Heights do not. location is on transit routes, close to services 23.1 Business Associations • permit multi-family demonstration or BIAs projects on small commercially Approved zoned parcels located in neighbour- Business Associations and BIAs should hoods where they are under uti- be encouraged, with organizational lized for commercial assistance from the City. They should be involved, together with residents, in Comment: This Direction did not receive promoting shopping in their areas and adequate support in the random survey organizing services and activities to to be classified as ‘approved’, although attract shoppers. it did receive three times as many Percent agree 74%/63% ‘approve’ votes as ‘disapprove’ votes. Since there are not enough of these sites People’s Ideas… to warrant additional planning, future • need a Vancouver Heights residential proposals will be considered Business Improvement Area on a site by site basis, provided that the • BIAs can help in crime prevention existing commercial use is struggling and too the proposal has: • community support • Vancouver Heights should work with Burnaby Heights businesses • a design compatible with adjacent because Hastings Park creates too residential uses large a gap from the commercial • a density limited to the maximum size area to the west permitted under the existing zoning and consists of two-family dwellings or a small scale multi-unit residential development.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 63 Improving Parks, Streets, Lanes, and Public Places

ision participants noted that parks, trees, public places, green areas bordering streets, and the gardens and landscaping Varound homes all contribute to the overall character of Hastings-Sunrise. The Vision Directions in this section deal with improving parks, school grounds, streets, lanes, public views, and industrial areas (Vision Direction 12.1 covers landscaping on private sites and Directions 18.8, 19.4, and 20.7 cover greening and street trees in commercial areas).

DUSTY GREENWELL PARK BATES PARK BURRARD r e VIEW n PARK NEW io MCGILL s BRIGHTON s PARK McGill i PARK m mCAMBRIDGE o C PARK CALLISTER OXFORD PARK Cambridge PARK Dundas

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Old streams Parks Park land now occupied by other uses

64 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Parks, Streets, 24 Lanes, and Views

Parks The Vision recognizes that parks are very important for recreation, beauty, and refreshment. Hastings-Sunrise is fortunate to have a variety of park spaces, including naturalized areas, woodlands, shoreline, and more con- ventional play grounds and play fields. In total, Hastings-Sunrise has 19 parks, Franklin Elementary: usable community space with a total area of 47 hectares (115 24.1 More Usable Parks and acres) of neighbourhood park and an School Grounds additional 10 hectares (25 acres) of city- Approved wide park. Hastings-Sunrise has 1.2 Park design, appearance, and activities hectares of neighbourhood park per should be more varied in order to serve thousand residents, which is higher a variety of ages and a more diverse than the City standard of 1.1 hectares population. School grounds should be per thousand. However, the apartment transformed into attractive community area west of Nanaimo does not have spaces usable by people of all ages, enough neighbourhood park area to particularly in areas which are serve its population and other parts of underserved by neighbourhood parks. the community do not have a neigh- Percent agree 89%/85% bourhood park within easy walking distance. School grounds totaling 9 People’s Ideas… hectares (22 acres) are also important • provide more benches, covered public spaces. rest areas, decorated entrances, community gardens, and quiet spots Streets • include more natural landscaping, Streets and lanes typically make up and features such as gardens, plants, about 30% of a community’s land area flowers, and trees and make an important contribution to • establish separate areas in parks the image of an area. The City provides for different activities; include and maintains street trees, and has a separate walking routes and Play area: Sunrise Park program to plant them in all suitable bikeways; add landscaping at park locations. The City also has a ‘Green edges to better separate parks from Streets’ program which encourages streets and to reduce noise from residents to landscape traffic circles and traffic corner bulges that are installed for traffic calming. • provide facilities for all ages including picnic/barbeque areas, Public Views water play areas, skateboard parks, ball hockey and basketball courts, In 1989, the City began to protect graffiti walls, and both structured selected public views which develop- and unstructured play spaces for ment threatened to block. The pro- children and youth; add more tected views are mainly from within the programmed activities in parks downtown looking outward or from the • incorporate multicultural themes Central Broadway and False Creek area into the design of park facilities and looking over the downtown. Except for structures limited views from Queen Elizabeth and John Hendry Parks, public views are not • allow for wheelchair accessibility; protected elsewhere in the city. include more parking around parks; add more washrooms with longer washroom hours

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 65 • treat school grounds as valuable 24.4 Maintenance of Parks open space, make sure they are Approved usable to a range of ages so they are Park grounds, structures, and facilities not wasted evenings, weekends, should be better maintained and ori- and all summer ented to serve park users. • grass all school grounds Percent agree 88%/84%

24.2 Safety in and around Parks People’s Ideas… Approved • improve maintenance of fields Safety concerns should be a more and bushes; leaves should be swept important aspect of park use, design, • add more recycling and garbage and maintenance. Accessing parks across containers in convenient locations Community art project arterials should be easier and safer. throughout parks example Specifically, access to New Brighton Park • ensure regular upkeep of park from the community should be im- amenities such as play structures, proved. pools, field houses, and washrooms Percent agree 90%/89% 24.5 Dogs in Parks and Public People’s Ideas… Places • add better night lighting; limit Approved bush areas; add resilient surfaces in Parks should have separate areas for play areas dogs. Off-leash areas and off-leash times • encourage park partner programs Enhanced picnic and play should be strictly observed. More areas such as Pooch Patrol, Park Ambassa- should be done to ensure dog owners dors Program, and Park Watch clean-up after their dogs and keep their • provide pedestrian signals and pets under control. crosswalks to cross arterials; provide Percent agree 75%/73% shuttle bus to New Brighton Park • stop naturalizing Hastings Park if People’s Ideas… it is going to be swamped by prosti- • provide separate bins for dog tutes turning tricks and the home- waste; provide plastic bag dispens- less ers for disposal of dog waste • New Brighton is more accessible • increase public education to from North Van than from Hasting- encourage dog owners to pick up Sunrise after their dogs; include better signage at parks and in public 24.3 Community Involvement places in Parks • expand enforcement initiatives to Approved make sure off-leash areas are ob- More public involvement in the design served; ticket dog owners who do and stewardship of parks should be not clean up after their dogs encouraged. Percent agree 81%/73% 24.6 Public Art Approved People’s Ideas… There should be more public art in • encourage neighbourhood parks and public spaces. involvement in community gardens Percent agree 68%/59% and beautification projects; more community events in parks; encour- People’s Ideas… age clean-up days • encourage community art projects such as mosaics, sculptures, statues, positive graffiti art, decorative fences and garbage bins • paint murals on industrial buildings and the sides of commercial buildings

66 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 24.7 Greening and Beautifying 24.8 Greening Lanes Public Streets Approved Approved Many lanes in Hastings-Sunrise are Streets should continue to be pleasant unattractive and not environmentally green links that connect the neighbour- friendly. There should be alternatives to hood, including: fully paved lanes that allow for more • protect existing boulevards and street greenery and more permeability for rain trees, and plant new trees wherever water. All the alternatives should be possible offered to homeowners when they vote • encourage residents to extend their on lane improvements. gardens into the space between the Percent agree 80%/75% sidewalk and curb • encourage residents to landscape People’s Ideas… traffic calming devices (e.g. traffic • use lanes to offer alternatives for Green Streets Program: circles and corner bulges) through the walking landscaped corner bulge ‘Green Streets’ program • encourage ‘country lanes’ (paving • provide amenities like benches for strips with grass between and grass people to socialize and rest before planting on the borders) walking further • underground all overhead wiring • consider alternate, less expensive designs and materials for curbs • improve landscaping of streets by adding medians and creating mini- parks. Percent agree 85%/83%

People’s Ideas… • traffic circles need something big and solid (e.g. big tree or boulder) • increase the variety of plants on corner bulges (including big trees) • plant trees even where boulevard ‘Country Lanes’: alternative to paved lanes is less than one metre • Park Board should maintain traffic 24.9 Preserve Views calming devices where adjacent to Approved parks Views of the water, North Shore moun- • add street furniture on wide tains, downtown Vancouver, and other residential streets (e.g. Charles) panoramas from public places, like • more creative benches (e.g. public parks and streets, should be protected. art and design contests) Viewpoints should be made more enjoyable. • use wood curbs, gravel shoulders Percent agree 88%/83% Scenic view from New to cut down on costs and to in- Brighton Park crease permeability People’s Ideas… • create a central boulevard along • provide benches and rest areas arterials like Nanaimo and Rupert • regulate height of buildings; • plant more flowers and trees better maintenance of buildings in • close side streets to vehicles in the industrial areas, along water- some places and make into mini- front parks • create viewing gardens • more public art (e.g. graffiti • make viewpoints to the waterfront murals, banners) and North Shore mountains more accessible

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 67 Vision Directions, Hastings • views over the water, to the The province also transferred the PNE Park, and the Port mountains, and of port activities (formerly a crown corporation) to the The Vision process is designed to should continue to be available City. A process was initiated in early set long-term Directions for the from parks, street ends, and adja- 2004 to determine if, and in what form, future of Hastings-Sunrise. The cent residences the PNE annual fair and/or Playland Vision process is not capable of researching, negotiating, and • objects that protrude into views continues in Hastings Park and how concluding the detailed work should be limited their future forms will fit within the required for major initiatives like continuing restoration of the park. the East Port Lands Plan and the future of an annual fair and/or Hastings Park The existence of a recently adopted Playland in Hastings Park. These Restoration Plan, a community steward- issues can only be addressed to 25 the satisfaction of the adjacent ship group (The Hastings Park Conserv- neighbourhoods with detailed Hastings Park was originally granted to ancy), and the anticipated detailed subarea plans. When concluded, the City by the province in 1888, with consideration of the future of the ‘PNE’ these plans will combine with the site to be used as a public park. For in the park, all combined to limit Vision Directions to define the desired long-term future of most of the twentieth century, it was discussion about Hastings Park in the Hastings-Sunrise. home to the Pacific National Exhibition Vision process. (PNE) and a thoroughbred racetrack. Over the years, the site lost its park 25.1 Public Consultation about the character as more buildings and parking Future of the PNE in Hastings Park lots were constructed. Approved Significant public discussion should A Restoration Plan for Hastings Park was precede any decision on whether, and prepared with neighbourhood residents in what form, a ‘PNE’ annual fair and/or and approved by the City in 1997. Work Playland should remain in Hastings began in the fall of 1997. Several com- Park. The Italian Gardens at ponents are now in place. The ‘Sanctu- Percent agree 80%/83% Hastings Park ary’, 4 hectares (9.9 acres) containing a pond and surrounding natural landscap- 25.2 Addressing the Impacts of an ing, was completed in 1999. The Italian Annual Fair Gardens, 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres) that Approved includes fountains, gargoyles, gardens, If an annual fair and/or Playland con- plus a children’s playground and tinue in Hastings Park, the impacts and skateboard park, was completed in opportunities associated with the fair 2000. The Empire Fields, a 5.5 hectare should be evaluated and resolved with (13.6 acre) section that includes sports the community. This should include: fields and a new fieldhouse on the site • parking and traffic issues of Empire Stadium, opened in 2003. • noise and lighting impacts The Capital Plan includes almost five million dollars to be spent in 2003-2005 • opportunities for local hiring of fair on the next components of the restora- staff, etc. tion. Percent agree 78%/84%

The Restoration Plan was based on the assumption that the racetrack would remain while the PNE would leave the Park. The racetrack is now pursuing a new operating agreement. The City has also committed to allow the use of the Coliseum and the Agrodome as venues for the 2010 Olympics. However, the planned relocation of the PNE to Surrey was been cancelled by the provincial government.

68 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Industrial/ • look for less expensive ap- Residential proaches to curbing streets to make 26 it easier to improve the look of Interfaces industrial area streets Vision participants recognized the • solve the problem of horrible economic importance of industrial odours coming from industrial areas areas, particularly their role as job • require new residential develop- generators. They also felt these areas ment near industrial areas to have were important to the character of better acoustical shielding Hastings-Sunrise. They developed several ideas to improve the relation- Port Issues and Planning ship between industrial areas and Most of the waterfront bordering the adjacent residential communities. northern edge of Hastings-Sunrise is administered by the Vancouver Port Authority (VPA). Proposals for new waterfront uses have periodically A portion of the East Port become major community issues. The Lands Lafarge barge unloading facility and cement batch plant is a recent, high profile example.

At the time the City was considering initiating a Vision process in Hastings- Sunrise, City staff met with leaders of several community groups to discuss Industrial uses adjacent to homes whether the Vision could proceed at 26.1 Improving Industrial/ the same time as the Lafarge contro- Residential Interfaces versy. It was agreed that the Vision could and should go ahead because it Approved covered a wide range of topics which Where industrial uses are adjacent to would be beneficial to the community residential areas there should be initia- as a whole. It was also agreed that the tives to reduce conflicts including: Vision process was not designed to • improved landscaping (e.g. landscape deliver either the level of detail or the buffers, street trees, etc.) binding commitment required in a port • new building designs and uses which lands plan that would be useful to the respect adjacent uses (e.g. avoid neighbourhood. heights and massing which are not sensitive to shading, views) To address port/community issues, the • standards of maintenance which keep City and the VPA begin a port lands industrial buildings and streets from planning process. An independent looking rundown facilitator worked with the VPA, the City, • regulations which reduce impacts and area residents to establish mutually such as noise, odours, dust, etc. agreed definitions of the study’s final product, process principles, participants’ Percent agree 83%/83% roles and responsibilities, program and schedule, and issue list. The final terms People’s Ideas… of reference were approved by the VPA • soften the industrial character and and City Council in April 2003, with the hard surfaces with trees, climbing full study originally slated to vines on walls, etc. take just over a year to complete. • include public art like murals on walls Because of the satisfactory progress • outlaw billboards and large signs towards establishing a comprehensive facing residential areas port lands plan, the Vision process did not consider (and the Choices Survey did not ask about) port related issues.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 69 Environment

ision participants identified many environmental issues, including the need for residents and businesses to be more Vinvolved in actions which promote a healthier environment. Participants also expressed concern that the community is largely unaware of many City programs which already address environmental issues. The Vision contains several Directions to improve the environment grouped into three categories — actions that start in the home or business with City support, actions that require a joint community/City effort, and broad actions that require co-ordination with other levels of government.

Other Vision Directions which would enhance the environment are found in IMPROVING PARKS, STREETS, LANES, AND PUBLIC PLACES (Greening Streets, and Dogs), and in TRAFFIC AND TRANS- PORTATION (Walking and Biking, and Traffic Demand Manage- ment).

Recycling, Composting, and Garbage The City collects garbage from ‘single family’ residences, including most properties with up to four units. The garbage can limit for single family properties was lowered from three to two cans per week in order to encourage residents to reduce waste and use recycling and composting programs. The City collects paper, plastic, metal, and glass for recycling from houses and apartments if the residents separate and set out the materials. Large items, like old fridges and hot water tanks, can be recycled at the Vancouver South Transfer Station on West Kent Avenue North. The City also provides regular yard waste collection from single family properties and subsidizes backyard composters and apartment worm compost bins. These programs, combined with others in the region, have reduced the amount of residential garbage sent to the landfill by about 48%.

Energy and Water Conservation The City has adopted several policies aimed at reducing energy use. CityPlan and the City’s land use policies promote complete communities with jobs close to home, thereby reducing fuel consumption for traveling to work. The Transportation Plan gives priority to pedestrians, transit, and bicycles over the automobile. By-laws and regulations require buildings to be more energy efficient and trees to be retained or replaced during residential development. The conversion of over 24,000 street lights to more energy-efficient lamps has also saved energy.

Vancouver has higher per capita water consumption than most North American cities with similar climates. The City supports public and school education programs on water conservation, restricts lawn watering in summer, sells barrels to store rain water for yard irrigation, and requires water saving fixtures and devices in new buildings. These initiatives have reduced water consumption by 20% since summer water shortages in 1990 and 1992.

70 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Environment People’s Ideas… Sustainable Development • use water and energy saving The City is working to be more 27 devices in the home (e.g. low-flow environmentally responsible. In toilets, shower-heads, and washers; 2002, City Council adopted a At Home and at Work energy efficient light bulbs) definition of sustainability and a set of principles to evaluate City Vision participants discussed many • use less water when watering programs, policies, and practices. different measures to improve environ- gardens and lawns, or washing cars These include being accountable mental practices in their homes. These • be more conscientious about for individual and collective ideas included increasing recycling and actions, using renewable electricity use in homes (e.g. make resources fairly and reasonably, composting, conserving water and sure lights are turned off when not not compromising the choices of energy, and encouraging the use of in use, use less heat, use better future generations, and collaborat- environmentally friendly products. insulation) ing with community and other levels of government. The City Almost all of these actions could also be • meter water use and create a true undertaken by businesses. also established an Office of user-pay system Sustainable Development to further its commitment to 27.1 Individual Actions to Increase In the Community preserve Vancouver’s unique Recycling and Composting flavour — its natural environ- Approved Vision participants discussed a number ment, heritage, sense of design, and diverse communities — as a Individuals and businesses should take of ways the community and the City can work together to create a healthy key component to Vancouver’s the initiative (with City support) to future success. increase the amount they recycle and environment. These areas of collabora- reuse materials, reduce waste, and tion include keeping the community compost. They should also use more clean and working to conserve natural environmentally friendly products. water courses. Percent agree 90%/87% 27.3 A Clean Community People’s Ideas… Approved • re-use shopping bags, water The community and the City should bottles, containers, wood, tires, and work together to keep Hastings-Sunrise Recycling and yard waste sound building materials clean and litter free. These efforts collection • talk to neighbours to educate should include: them about City recycling and • encouraging individual actions and composting programs co-operative efforts by the community • donate used clothes, shoes, and to solve garbage, litter, and cleanliness household items issues • encourage proper disposal of • increasing enforcement and penalties hazardous waste (e.g. paints); when co-operative actions fail to discourage use of pesticides resolve a problem • provide incentives and awards to • improving education of residents and individuals and businesses business owners about the recycling, composting, garbage, and disposal • avoid purchasing products that (hazardous waste) services offered by are harmful to the environment or the City have excessive packaging • recycling a broader range of items • increase recycling and waste (e.g. plastic bags) reduction by businesses • picking-up hard-to-dispose-of items 27.2 Individual Actions to Conserve on special days Energy and Water • adding more garbage/recycling bins in Approved parks, schools, and public places Individuals and businesses should act • providing separate dog waste disposal (with City support) to conserve water units in parks and public places. and energy. Percent agree 94%/94% Percent agree 89%/86%

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 71 Air Quality People’s Ideas… At the City and with Other Levels of The (1990) City of Vancouver • provide incentives for residents to Government Task Force on Atmospheric reduce the volume of garbage they While the City can play an important Change was created by City produce role in building a healthier environ- Council to study climate change • provide needle and condom as it relates to global warming and ment for its citizens, Vision participants ozone depletion. It recommended disposal units in parks and public recognized that senior governments specific actions that the City places hold much of the power to change the could take to reduce its contribu- • promote information/reporting laws that would improve the environ- tion to factors causing climate ment. change. A major implementation hotlines for graffiti and garbage in action was the development of public places the City’s Transportation Plan, • encourage neighbourhood 27.5 Working with Other Levels of which sets out a long-term businesses to sweep the sidewalk Government strategy to find transportation Approved alternatives to the single occupant more often and clean-up the lane at automobile. City initiatives like the back of businesses, or hire The City should provide leadership and Greenways and Bikeways, which residents to do this cleaning partner with the regional, provincial, encourage walking and cycling, • support community initiatives and federal governments to preserve combine with better public transit like: block-cleaning parties, adopt- and enhance the environment, includ- (through Translink) to support the ing: plan. ing garbage cans, community clean- ups and recycling days, special days • incorporating more sustainable for disposal of large household practices within their own operations items, involvement of schools, and • adopting measures to increase water holding environmental workshops and energy conservation • adopting measures to reduce noise 27.4 Conservation of Natural from vehicles, leafblowers, etc. Water Courses • adopting tougher emissions standards Approved to improve air quality The community and the City should • promoting the development and use Tougher emissions standards support initiatives that improve the of environmentally friendly products. would improve air quality quality of community streams (The Percent agree 82%/79% Sanctuary and Still Creek) and reduce rainwater going into sewers. People’s Ideas… Percent agree 89%/87% • adopt building standards which People’s Ideas… require environmentally friendly • discourage paving in parks and buildings (e.g. R2000 [high insula- public places; use alternative meth- tion levels] and LEEDS [standards ods to maintain roads and lanes (e.g. for sustainable construction of new country lanes, drought resistant buildings]) plantings, ‘un-paving’ projects) • encourage the development of • educate the public to dispose of more fuel efficient automobiles; toxic substances properly, discourage consider new taxes on fuel and the use of pesticides and herbicides cars; more stringent emissions to avoid polluting water sources standards • consider some daylighting of old • test older vehicles and trucks for streams which have been put in excessive emissions and require culverts adequate vehicle maintenance • legislate against excessive product packaging • add more trolley buses; plant more trees along arterials to reduce air and noise pollution

The ‘Sanctuary’ in Hastings Park

72 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Community Involvement in Decision Making

he City regularly provides information to, and consults with, residents and groups on many different types of decisions, in Tmany different ways. Examples of current processes include: • local improvement petitions for new curbs and sidewalks • referendums on the three year Capital Plans • public processes for planning programs and rezonings • advisory committees to City Council like the Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Seniors Committee • on-going outreach to youth as part of the Civic Youth Strategy • notification letters on development proposals • the City’s homepage on the Internet • some park planning processes.

Public input is important to the City. The City’s recent initiative to improve public involvement (the Public Involvement Review) has resulted in: • new initiatives (such as a Newcomers Guide to City Services and a Civics Manual for high school students) • Community Web Pages — an expansion of the City’s website to give the public more information (www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ community_profiles/) • improvements to various City processes (such as notifications concerning development/rezoning proposals, and/or traffic management initiatives) • improved structures for City Council’s advisory committees • multicultural outreach and translation guidelines.

While recognizing these practices, these Vision Directions call for improvements: people could be made more aware of their opportunities to participate; the ways of co-ordinating input could be improved; and the input could have more influence on the decisions which are made. These improvements are especially important in Hastings-Sunrise because the community is not only dealing with all the issues faced by other communities in the city but it also must engage in the processes around major decisions like the future of the PNE in Hastings Park and port lands planning.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 73 Community 28.2 Community Decision Making Involvement in Approved 28 The City should expand community Decision Making decision making to include a range of issues. The representative community 28.1 Community Involvement in body which makes the decisions should Decision Making be inclusive and accountable. Approved Percent agree 81%/82% Community residents should have greater, and more timely, input into People’s Ideas… decision making about changes in their • need more accountability from community on matters ranging from City government, community repre- major initiatives like the Port planning sentation when decisions are made Workshop participants process and the future of the PNE in • the City should facilitate greater Hastings Park to recurring decisions community participation in planning relating to street and traffic changes; the or development decisions, with provision of facilities and services; and ‘targeted’ involvement for interested development proposals. groups Percent agree 86%/85% • create some form of on-going local panel or governing body to People’s Ideas… speak for the community • want an efficient way of participat- • different areas of the community ing in multiple planning processes should be represented when provid- • need a well organized way to get ing facilities and services input from the community • bring back the Hastings-Sunrise • undertake decision making for Action Council which had repre- Hastings Park on a co-operative basis sentatives from all community and (e.g. decisions on land develop- school groups and which looked at ment or on-going operations in community issues Hastings Park which affect the • need to proceed with ‘Portland- community must involve residents, style’ planning the City, and the PNE or its successor) 28.3 Community Capital Grants • consult the public regarding Approved industrial development on the The City should establish a new pro- waterfront, and in the Lougheed gram of annual community capital and Boundary area to ensure it is grants which would see a fixed sum of sensitive to adjacent residential money given to each community to be areas spent on community priorities. • ensure the Port, CPR, and others Percent agree 80%/78% are better neighbours, especially their willingness to tackle on-going People’s Ideas… or recurrent operational problems • each community should receive a — there should be a liaison person small sum of money annually for to call to get action on problems, local improvements not currently regardless of jurisdiction funded under existing City programs • hold fewer resident meetings to • make it easier to get money for work on projects like port planning needs which are specific to this and Hastings Park community and, as such, are not • develop a standing community funded in city-wide programs advisory committee to City Council • need a ‘Seattle-style’ system of (combined residents and busi- grants to communities nesses) • implementing some Vision Direc- tions would be easier if the community had money to spend on its biggest needs

74 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Rezoning Policy Following the Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision

1. About Zoning in General 1.1 How Zoning Works The Zoning and Development Bylaw is the main way the City controls development – new buildings, additions to existing buildings, or changes in the use of buildings and land.

There are different zoning districts, labeled by letters and numbers. For example RS-1 covers most of Hastings-Sunrise’s residential areas and C-2C zones cover the larger shopping areas. Every lot in a zoning district is governed by the same regulations and guidelines. The regulations are contained in a District Schedule. They control the kind of activities (uses) that may take place, such as office, retail, dwelling, or manufacturing. District Schedules also control various quantitative aspects of the development including the maximum height of buildings, the position of building on the lot (yards and setbacks), the amount of total development (floorspace or density), and the amount of parking required.

In addition to the District Schedule with its regulations, some zones also have design review, using Design Guidelines. Design review looks at the more qualitative factors such as style or character, the materials used, or the landscaping. Legally, districts with design review are structured to have two types of projects: those that may go ahead without design review (often called ‘outright’) and those that are subject to design review (often called ‘conditional’ or ‘discretionary’) because they receive additional density, or approval of a conditional use, in return for meeting the design guidelines.

Another type of district is the CD-1 or Comprehensive Development district. Many of these are tailored to a specific site, such as Britannia Community Services Centre and the Adanac Village Co-op. Others cover a broad area, such as First Shaughnessy or the Downtown. This tool is used where a typical District Schedule and Guidelines approach is not suitable.

1.2 How Zoning is Changed Anyone may apply to alter the zoning – property owner, resident, or the Director of Planning. However, only City Council may actually adopt or change zoning or guidelines. Staff do the analysis and processing of applications and then make recommendations to City Council. During processing there is always public notification and some consultation. A formal Public Hearing is always required at the end of the rezoning process before City Council decides if the zoning will change.

Because rezoning is time-consuming and expensive, City staff usually advise potential applicants before they make an application whether or not staff would ‘consider’ the rezoning (that is, fully process it), rather than quickly reporting it to Council with a recommendation to refuse the application. Staff give this advice based on existing City plans and policies, including Community Visions.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 75 2. Rezoning Under the Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Making some of the Hasting-Sunrise Vision Directions happen will require rezoning or amendments to zoning. For most, additional area planning will be required before any zoning changes would be considered, and individual rezonings would not be considered prior to this planning (section 2.2 below). However, there are some cases where individual rezoning could be considered without additional area planning (section 2.1 below). Note that ‘considered’ refers to being taken into the system for processing, it does not necessarily mean that the applications will receive support from staff or approval from City Council.

2.1 Additional Area Planning Not Required Before Rezoning Rezoning applications for the types of projects listed below could be considered without additional area planning because they further adopted city-wide policies, would further an adopted Vision Direction, or are normal practice in the public interest. Most are ‘site specific’ rezonings on individual sites. There would be community consultation in each case. In considering these rezonings, staff would look at not only the needs of the project but also how it relates to its existing surroundings, and to the future of the area as described in the Community Vision.

Table 2.1: Additional Area Planning Not Required Before Rezoning

Type of Project that Could be Considered for Comments Site Specific Rezoning Heritage Retention Projects City-wide policy to - involving retention of buildings on the Vancouver Heritage Register encourage retention of (also Vision Direction 13.1) heritage resources Social or Affordable Housing Projects City-wide policy to - non-profit projects, housing agreement projects, special needs encourage housing for residential facilities (SNRFs) lower income and special needs residents Note on definitions Housing agreement: a contract between the City and developer to guarantee some of the housing units as rental or low income, etc. SNRFs: housing and support services for people with special needs including the elderly, children in care, the mentally or physically handicapped, people with substance abuse problems, etc. Housing Demonstration Projects (HDP) City-wide policy to permit - in order to be considered as an HDP, a project ‘must demonstrate a demonstration of new new housing form in the neighbourhood, improved affordability, and a housing types degree of neighbourhood support; any increase in land value beyond the normal profit allowed by the City’s standard bonussing process, must be converted into improved affordability’ (January 3, 1996 City Council report) - in addition, in Hastings-Sunrise, any HDP proposals would need to conform to Visions directions about type, location, scale, etc. Institutional uses Normal City practice Projects focusing on expansion, downsizing, or reuse of publicly owned or non-profit institutional, cultural, recreational, utility, or public authority uses Housekeeping amendments; zoning text amendments Normal City practice - initiated by the Director of Planning to update, correct, or make minor revisions to District Schedules or Guidelines In Hastings-Sunrise: Hastings-Sunrise Change to Existing CD-1 Zones Community Vision - as per Vision Direction 14.1 Seniors' Housing - as per Vision Direction 15.11 Adding a Supermarket in Vancouver Heights - as per Vision Direction 20.4

76 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 2.2 Additional Planning Required Before Rezoning The Hastings-Sunrise Vision Directions listed below require additional planning study before rezoning occurs. For some Directions, the study would cover a portion of Hastings-Sunrise, others might be city-wide in scope. The types of things that would be studied could include the size, height, locations, and design of developments, traffic and parking, parks and green space, service needs, developer contributions to cost, phasing, and so forth. Planning studies would be initiated by the City, but might be undertaken by City staff, consultants, community members, or a combination. In all cases, there would be community consultation throughout the study.

Timing and priorities for these studies, as well as other aspects of implementing the Visions, will be determined with community input, as well as through City Council consideration of available resources and competing work priorities. Individual site rezonings will not be considered in advance of the planning, other than as noted in Section 2.1.

Table 2.2: Additional Planning Required Before Rezoning

Possible types of additional Hastings-Sunrise Vision Direction planning study

Design of New Single Family Homes Mini-program to make design review 12.1 Design Review for New Single Family Houses available again in interested areas Older Character Buildings and Heritage 13.2 Retaining Other Character Buildings Specific planning study on feasibility of this in Vision areas

13.3 Enhancing Character Areas Follow-up if design review indicates a desire to add an option which requires compatibility with designs in a broader geographic context Possible New Housing Types 15.1 Homes with Two Suites More detailed planning for specific areas of Hastings-Sunrise

Several Directions classified as 'Uncertain' identify housing Detailed local planning and types (15.2-15.4, 15.6, 15.8) or locations (16.2-16.6) which consultation of housing options in a had more community support than opposition. These could City initiated process. be the subject of more community discussion.

Possible Locations for New Housing More detailed planning for specific 16.1 New Housing Types Adjacent to Commercial Areas areas of Hastings-Sunrise

Hastings Sunrise/North Shopping Area More detailed planning for the area 18.16 A Neighbourhood Centre with Housing around Hastings from Semlin to Renfrew

2.3 Other The sections above provide guidance for most rezoning inquiries. However, there may be rare sites for which development under the existing zoning would involve the loss of features which the community, in its Vision, views as assets. The prime example is trees and landscaping, but in some cases buildings or structures may also be valued (but not qualify as heritage). In these cases, rezoning that would maintain the assets may be considered. Further, this will apply only to large sites that were in single ownership at the time of the Vision adoption. Finally, achieving Vision Directions would remain the focus while considering the rezoning.

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 77 Acknowledgements

The Hastings-Sunrise Vision Team thanks the residents, workers, volunteers, students, and business people in Hastings-Sunrise who attended the many meetings, workshops, and other events in the Vision process. We appreciate the time and energy you contributed to considering the future of your community.

The team would particularly like to thank the Community Liaison Group and City Perspectives Panel for their dedication, creativity, and positive help throughout the program including advising staff, participating in workshops, and reviewing drafts.

The Community Liaison Group Stewart Anderson Sue Hollick-Kenyon Jennie Bao Kai-Sing Hui Grace Bardi David Kalashnikov Steve Bardi Tanya Kalashnikov Patricia Barnes Mark Lim David Bornman Tonya Louie Art Cader Ed MacAulay Shilin Chen Diana Millar Steve Cheung Shannon Miller Katherine Doyle Barry Morris Jessie Ens Patrick Mueller Karen Epp Josie Padro James Fletcher Raj Sihota Joan Fletcher Marsha Simmons Albo Galligani Emil Udovich Debra Graham Joanne Van Snellenberg Betty Greenwell Mike Young Eric Harms Jessie Wu Steve Hart

The City Perspectives Panel Darren Chung Marta Farevaag Judith Glick James Lee Andrea Rolls Louise Seto Suzanne Strutt

78 Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision Full and Part-time Support from Planning Department Staff Hastings-Sunrise Team Joanne Franko Angela Ko Ted Sebastian

Community Visions Support Bonnie Allen (Bridge Communications) Susan Anderson Peter Burch Edna Cho Trish French Wesley Joe Michelle Larigakis Ann McAfee Paul Nowlan Marlie Oden (Bridge Communications) Nancy Wormald

Support from Other Departments, Agencies, and Consultants Ivana Cappelletto (Cappeletto Design Group) Michel Desrochers (Parks) Hastings Community Centre Board and Staff Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House Staff Kiwassa Neighbourhood House Staff Andrew Mak (Engineering) Don Myler (Engineering) Paul Raynor (Housing) Thunderbird Community Centre Board and Staff

Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision 79