VANCOUVER—Metro Vancouver and its member jurisdictions are updating the Metro 2050 regional growth strategy and are looking for input from residents about the plan.
The plan is intended to accommodate one million new residents over the next 30 years.
“Population growth in this region is largely driven by forces that are beyond the scope of local or regional government, but with this collaborative planning we have the opportunity as a region to manage it in a way that reflects our priorities and values. Working together, cities in this region can implement effective land-use strategies that can help ensure we are able to develop housing, transit and employment opportunities to sustain our growing region while protecting agricultural, ecological and industrial areas,” Metro Vancouver board chair Sav Dhaliwal said in a statement.
Metro 2050, a Metro Vancouver release stated, will be the collective vision for managing growth to support the creation of complete, connected and resilient communities and will update the current regional growth strategy, Metro Vancouver 2040: Shaping our Future.
Proposed policies in Metro 2050 would expand rental housing supply, limit the net loss of existing rental units and advocate for funding for the non-profit housing sector and the provision of permanent, affordable and supportive housing. The strategy sets an aspirational regional target that 15 per cent of new and redeveloped units within the region’s urban centres and transit corridors be affordable rental housing.
The strategy also points to the need for major transit growth corridors to reduce congestion, improve access to transit and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also stresses containment of urban sprawl and preservation of industrial and agricultural lands while expanding green spaces.
“Protecting the Agricultural Land Reserve is fundamental to supporting local food security, just as protecting industrial lands is imperative to maintaining and creating high-quality, well-paying jobs and supporting regional economic growth. At the same time, we must protect and enhance greenspace areas through measures such as containing urban growth and increasing the urban tree canopy. Metro 2050 envisions that 50 per cent of the region’s land base will be lands protected for nature by the year 2050,” explained Mero Vancouver regional planning committee chair Jonathan Cote.
Registration is now open for a free public webinar about the strategy which will be held on Oct. 19 at 11 a.m. PT. Comments can be made by using the Metro 2050 Feedback Form or emailing the project team by Nov. 26, 2021.
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