Land Use

This chapter of the Comprehensive Plan serves as a guide for how we use the City’s land resources. It is based on the following feedback received during the plan development process:

Consider environmental justice.
Promote physical activity.
Reduce car travel.
Address stormwater and wildfire risks.
Strong desire for walkable, mixed‑use neighborhoods and development that integrate housing with daily needs.
Support for increasing and focusing density in corridors, centers, and underutilized areas while protecting agricultural areas and open space from development.
Need for compatibility and thoughtful transitions between land uses.

Below are the key goals that support the vision for this chapter:

Chapter Goals

Goal	Description
LU-1: Connected and Accessible Neighborhoods	Vancouver neighborhoods are places where community members can walk, bike or roll to a diverse mix of community and open spaces, services, retail, fresh food, healthcare, and educational opportunities and amenities within 15 minutes or less.
LU-2: Preserve and Invest in Employment Land	Vancouver preserves and invests in employment land to sustain a strong economic base, provide access to middle- and high-wage jobs, and support community stability and long-term opportunity.
LU-3: Reduced Carbon in the Built Environment	Vancouver has successfully decreased local carbon emissions associated with Vancouver’s built environment through investments in energy-efficient buildings, compact urban design, access to frequent transit, and infrastructure that supports active modes of travel.
LU-4: Efficient Use of Land	Development in Vancouver uses finite land and material resources practically and efficiently, and occurs primarily in previously developed areas with existing infrastructure, minimizing environmental impact, contributing to a compact urban form, and improving efficiency of service provisions.

Explore the full chapter including the policies that help implement it’s vision, or return to the Comprehensive Plan page.