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Downtown Draft Plan Highlights

Highlights

The Downtown Core Area Plan includes several initiatives that seek to achieve the various goals of the Plan:

The economic vitality of the downtown area is strengthened through the expansion of the Central Business District in order to accommodate short and long-term forecasts for office and commercial development.
The role of the working harbour as an essential part of Victoria’s economic base is enhanced through land use and development policies.
Redevelop the Rock Bay District as a “green” sustainability precinct that accommodates a mix of employment such as light industrial, high tech and offices with a balance of residential development.
Develop a long-term Retail Strategy to confirm the economic importance of retail activity within the Downtown Core Area and to identify opportunities to strengthen its role.

Extend the retail and pedestrian character of the Government Street Mall northward from Yates Street to Pembroke Street through streetscaping, public realm improvements and appropriate land use.
Introduce a new Density Bonus System that seeks to balance increased growth and development with the capacity to secure public amenities such as additional park spaces, completion of the harbour pathway and other key public realm improvements.

A comprehensive set of urban design guidelines are introduced to help guide the design and evolution of all physical elements of the city ranging from the skyline form to detailed building designs.
Urban design guidelines help create memorable streets and places that serve both to attract people and to benefit the community.
Increased building height and density are concentrated along the Douglas/Blanshard Street Corridor and along Yates Street (east of Douglas Street) in order to support forecast growth and development in a sustainable manner while diverting redevelopment pressure away from the historic Old Town Area and the Inner Harbour.
Changes to building height and density help support compact built forms as well as transit supportive development along Douglas/Blanshard Street corridor.
Develop a detailed master plan and redevelopment strategy in partnership with affected land owners to guide the redevelopment of Ship Point and the lower Wharf Street parking lot.

Walking, cycling and public transit are identified as the preferred modes of transport within the Downtown Core Area. Priority for sustainable transportation modes is reflected through urban design guidelines, land use policies and various initiatives.
Continue to work in partnership with BC Transit to establish a rapid transit system focused along the Douglas Street corridor.
Cycling and pedestrian networks are introduced, including related urban design objectives to create attractive, efficient and safe links that connect the Downtown Core Area with regional networks.
Transit-supportive land use is concentrated within walking distance of the Douglas Street transit corridor.
The completion of the Harbour Pathway as a key public amenity is supported through urban design guidelines as well as through the new Density Bonus System.

A new Heritage Density Transfer System provides a further incentive to protect and encourage the physical rehabilitation, seismic upgrading and re-use of heritage buildings, primarily in the Old Town Area and Chinatown.
The continued success of encouraging the conversion of existing upper storeys in Downtown heritage buildings to residential uses is supported with the financial incentives available through the City’s Tax Incentive Program. The opportunity to broaden the program’s base to eventually include the Rock Bay District is also identified.

Three new park/open spaces are proposed to be located in the Rock Bay District, the north part of the Downtown neighbourhood and the Harris Green neighbourhood.
Supports the development of a broader range of housing options including affordable and rental housing to support a more diverse mix of households.