C OMMUNITY C ONTEXT P HYSICAL S ETTING West Vancouver is a waterfront community bounded by the moun- tains to the north, Burrard Inlet and Howe Sound to the south and west, and the Capilano River corridor to the east. Connections to downtown Vancouver and points east and south from West Vancouver are via the Lions Gate Bridge and through North Vancouver via Highway 1 to the Second Narrows Bridge. The Upper Levels Highway serves as the major east/west connection to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99 North) and Whistler to the north, and to the other North Shore municipalities. Marine Drive is the scenic route connecting local neighbourhoods along West Vancouver’s waterfront and providing a lower connec- tion to North Vancouver and the Lions Gate Bridge. West Vancouver’s dramatic topography is one of its defining charac- teristics. The rugged shoreline, steep terrain, numerous creeks and watercourses, and spectacular views provide an extremely attractive setting of international renown. District, regional, and provincial parks throughout the community offer unparalleled opportunities for out- door recreation, open space, and access to natural areas. There is a range of amenities and natural features – from the beaches and ma- rinas along the shores of Burrard Inlet and Howe Sound to the hiking trails and ski areas on Hollyburn Ridge and Cypress Mountain. 8 D EVELOPMENT West Vancouver is a community of residential neighbourhoods generally defined by their pattern and history of development, landscape charac- ter, natural features, local schools, and neighbourhood shopping areas. The commercial areas include the Ambleside town centre, the historic community business core with its concentration of services, amenities and waterfront parks, the Park Royal regional shopping centre at the entrance to the community, and smaller neighbourhood and local commercial ar- eas. U PPER L ANDS Extensive areas above the Upper Levels Highway are mountain wilderness. Most of the uppermost areas will continue to be preserved in their natural forested state for watershed, open space, limited use and recreation, while lands below the 1200’ elevation will be developed over time as attractive neighbourhoods within a framework of significant open space features. The Upper Lands …planning for the future of our mountain lands UPPER LANDS STUDY (2001) AMBLESIDE – STREETSCAPE & THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT HORSESHOE BAY - VILLAGE COMMERCIAL 9 C OMMUNITY C ONTEXT 10 P LANNING H IGHLIGHTS 1912 TO 1950 - WEST VANCOUVER’S INCEPTION & EARLY DAYS 1912 Initial settlement consisted of small, relatively land was later subdivided into single-family lots self-contained shoreline communities served by fer- (beginning in 1937) and became known as “the ries from downtown Vancouver. In 1912, West British Properties”. As a requirement of the sale, Brit- Vancouver separated from the District of North ish Pacific Properties built the Lions Gate Bridge Vancouver as it had sufficient population and a de- (1938). The first comprehensive Zoning Bylaw was sire to avoid the industrialization of eastern areas. also adopted in 1931. 1926 The 1926 Town Planning Act led to the crea- 1946 The first “comprehensive town plan,” the Bar- tion of West Vancouver’s first Planning Commission. tholomew Town Plan, emphasized the protection It supported the desire to prohibit industry and em- of existing residential districts and the best possible phasize residential development. development of future residential areas. The Plan 1929 Marine Drive was extended to Horseshoe Bay led to the adoption of the 1947 Zoning Bylaw that to bring together neighbourhoods and to service resulted in rezoning of a significant area of com- growing residential development. mercially zoned land to single-family residential use. 1931 4000 acres of municipal land were sold to Brit- 1950 British Pacific Properties began construction of ish Pacific Properties to help the municipality avoid Park Royal shopping centre. impending bankruptcy. The eastern portion of this THE 1950’S - WEST VANCOUVER MOVES TOWARDS SUBURBANIZATION This period was an important one of transition in West 1958 A new Community Plan was adopted that as- Vancouver to a major suburban centre, marked by sig- sumed continued significant growth and non-local nificant increases in population and development. employment. It proposed a major apartment area. 1957 The Upper Levels highway was completed 1959 Rezoning of 50 acres to allow high-rise apart- from Taylor Way to Horseshoe Bay and paved the ments in Ambleside was approved to broaden the way for future residential development. tax base, revitalize the older residential area, and support the commercial centre. 1961 TO 1971 - THE DEVELOPMENT BOOM Unparalleled growth in population and development regulations aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of occurred with a boom in apartment and single-family the area and minimizing loss of views. construction. Concerns about the shape and siting of 1967 Start of the Centennial Seawalk along the wa- apartment buildings led to the adoption of revised terfront in Dundarave/Ambleside. 11 C OMMUNITY C ONTEXT 1971 TO 1981 - A TURNING POINT Population growth virtually ceased and construction of charge developers for the costs of on-site devel- apartments and single-family homes slowed signifi- opment (refined in 1977). cantly. Fewer apartment sites remained and most of 1978 The Caulfeild Land Use Contract provided for the remaining undeveloped lands were in the Caulfeild a mix of land use and housing types and the reten- Plateau area and Upper Lands. tion of green belts within the area. 1973 Guidelines were established to regulate de- 1980 A new Official Community Plan was adopted velopment above the Upper Levels Highway and to incorporating the community’s desire to maintain slow, controlled growth. West Vancouver Past Population (1931 - 2001) 1981 TO 2001 - A PERIOD OF SLOW GROWTH 50,000 Increased Interest Rates & Property Values, and Declining Birth Rates Slow Down Population Growth and Development The slow growth that had emerged in the previous 45,000 0.3% 0.9% decade continued. Duplexes and townhouses, which Period of 1.4% represented a small portion of total housing stock, were 40,000 Highest 0.6% 0.5% -0.3% Building Community the only housing forms to increase proportionately. Activity Plan (1988) 35,000 2.6% 1988 The 1988 Official Community Plan reaffirmed Community Upper Levels Plan (1980) the policies of the 1980 Community Plan. Emphasis 30,000 Highway Completed 5.3% Policy to Require DP in continued to be on preserving the low scale and (1957) Apartment Zone and Upper park like character of single-family neighbourhoods. 25,000 Lands/ Adoption of DCC Park Royal Bylaw (1979) Opens 5.8% Apartment (1950) 20,000 Zoning (1959) Lions Gate 6.5% Bridge Opens Community 15,000 (1938) Plan (1958) 6.2% 6.2% 10,000 ANNUAL GROWTH 4.8% RATE Bartholomew 5,000 Additional Town Plan residential (1947) zoning (1944) 0 1931 1936 1941 1946 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 12 P OPULATION C HARACTERISTICS Source: 2001 Census data unless otherwise shown West Vancouver has a population of approximately Age Distribution, West Vancouver Compared to the 43,600 people living in 17,500 dwellings (2001 Census). Regional Average (2001) 9% West Vancouver Average number of persons per household decreased 8% from 3.2 in 1966 to 2.5 in 2001. Increasing housing prices, GVRD 7% an aging population, and a general trend towards smaller families are principal causes. A modest decline 6% in average household size is expected to continue, and 5% is primarily associated with an aging population. 4% 3% Compared to the regional average (Greater Vancou- 2% ver Regional District - GVRD), West Vancouver has: 1% fewer young children (8% under nine years of age, compared to 11% in the region); 0% 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 a comparable proportion of youth (14% ages 10 to Age 19, compared to 13% in the region); fewer young adults (18% ages 20 to 39, compared to 31% in the region); West Vancouver Population Change by Age (2001 to 2031) more older adults (60% ages 40+, compared to 45% 5000 in the region). (2001Census) 4500 2016 4000 Over the decades, West Vancouver’s demographic 3500 profile has shifted from a fairly homogeneous population 2031 of mostly young families with children, to one of a 3000 greater proportion of older residents and smaller fami- 2500 2001 lies. 2000 1500 BC Stats projections indicate that the aging trend in 1000 West Vancouver will continue, with fewer young chil- dren and youth and significantly more older people 500 than today. 0 <1 90+ 1.. 4 1.. 9 5.. 10..14 15..19 20..24 25..29 30..34 35..39 40..44 45..49 50..54 55..59 60..64 65..69 70..74 75..79 80..84 85..89 13 C OMMUNITY C ONTEXT Seniors over the age of 65 represent 22% of West West Vancouver has a high average annual house- Vancouver’s population BC Stats projects that sen- hold income of $115,000 (compared to the GVRD iors will comprise approximately 29% of the average of $63,000) and an average individual in- population by 2031. come of $58,000 (compared to the GVRD average West Vancouver has become increasingly multicul- of $31,000). However, 21% of West Vancouver tural. The proportion of residents whose first households have annual incomes of less than language is not English increased from 9% of the $30,000. population in 1981 to 26% in 2001. In the fast growing seniors’ population (age 65+), West Vancouver includes a neighbouring First Na- 38% or 3500 people have annual individual incomes tions community, the Squamish Nation; 2% of West of less than $20,000, and most in this group are Vancouver’s population is comprised of people of women (some individuals would be part of a house- aboriginal decent.