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Downtown Core Area Plan

On Thursday, September 15, at a non-statutory public hearing at City Hall, Council approved the Downtown Core Area Plan - [PDF 8.2MB]. The plan was approved following two years of consultation with residents and industry. The plan was approved with a series of minor changes.

The Downtown Core Area Plan will guide development in the downtown area over the next 30 years, helping to ensure that downtown remains the heart of the region. The plan lays out a vision to encourage and foster the development of an attractive, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly and economically resilient downtown area. Council and staff will look to the 30 year plan as a guide for growth and development downtown in the years ahead.

Victoria's downtown area is expected to see a population increase of about approximately 10,000 new residents along with increased demand for office and hotel development over the next 30 years.

The Downtown Core Area Plan will serve as the local area plan for both Downtown and Harris Green neighbourhoods, replacing the existing 20 year old Downtown Victoria Plan and the Harris Green Neighbourhood Plan. It will also provide additional policy guidance for bordering areas of Rock Bay, Fairfield and James Bay in conjunction with their local area plans.

The next step is for staff to develop a detailed implementation strategy and action plan to identify short and long-term initiatives and will report back to Council once it is complete.

• View the Plan
• Background Information and Supporting Documents
• View the Governance and Priorities Committee Staff Report (July 7, 2011) - [PDF 1.4MB]
• Frequently Asked Questions

Minor changes to Downtown Core Area Plan

As part of the approval of the Downtown Core Area Plan, Council also approved a series of minor changes to the Plan as described below:

1. Section 3.85 is amended as follows:
   Support the continued operation of existing transportation terminals for ferries, sea planes and bus.
2. Map 15 is amended with respect to Area A-2 as follows:
   

   Location	Eligible Uses	Base Density	Maximum Density
   A-2	Commercial	3:1	6:1 5:1
   	Residential	3:1	6:1 3:1

   Map 15 is also amended by adding reference to Area A-2 within the A-1 section under Additional Restrictions.
   
   A revised version of Map 15 is available by clicking here [PNG - 1.4MB].
3. Section 4.15 is amended as follows:
   • 4.15 The City of Victoria will recover the following proportions of the land lift value through a monetary contribution:
     • 4.15.1 50 25 per cent of the land lift value in the portions of area A-1 (as illustrated in Map 15) located between Douglas Street and Blanshard Street and Area A-2 for the first two years following approval of this Plan to allow a transition period period between the approval of this Plan and December 31, 2013 then 50 percent of land lift value will apply from January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2015, then 75 per cent of land lift value will apply beginning on January 1, 2016.
     • 4.15.2 75 per cent of the land lift value in all other density bonus areas

For further information on the Downtown Core Area Plan please contact:

Robert Batallas
Senior Planner
Planning and Development Department
City of Victoria
250.361.0286
E-mail Robert Batallas

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