British Columbia

For Vancouver’s Carbon Footprint Reduction Plan, 2030 is the New 2040
Four months after formally recognizing climate change as an emergency, the Vancouver City Council considers six large-scale changes to dramatically reduce city-wide carbon emissions.

'Rental-Only Zoning' a Tough Task
Richmond, British Columbia is trying to develop "rental-only zoning" for 60 properties in the city.

Effectiveness of Vancouver Affordable Housing Program Questioned
With prices listed at $1,600 a month for a studio, $2,800 for a two-bedroom and $3,700 for a three-bedroom, officials in Vancouver, British Columbia are wondering whether the Rent 100 program is achieving its intended goals.

Putting in Condos Without Kicking Out Renters in Vancouver
Transit oriented development doesn’t have to mean evictions and demolitions for existing renters, but often it does.

Vancouver's Ride-Hail-Free Mobility Landscape
While ride-hailing is on the horizon for the Canadian city, the experience so far without the mode provides useful insight into its effects on regional mobility.

Gentrification in Chinatown Harms Social Cohesion, Food Security
A new report focuses on the consequences of gentrification in Vancouver's Chinatown neighborhood.

An Interstate High-Speed Rail Authority on the Legislative Agenda in Washington
A big idea is gaining momentum.

Progressive Carbon Pricing Policy Should Address Social Equity
Putting a price on carbon emissions is widely viewed as an effective tool to reduce emissions. It can also be applied to help those who stand to lose the most from climate change, thus enabling a socially just transition to a low carbon economy.

British Columbia's Climate Plan Bans Sales of Gas and Diesel Passenger Vehicles by 2040
Ten years ago, British Columbia launched North America's first carbon tax. This month, Premier John Horgan unveiled the long awaited climate plan, CleanBC, that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 2007 levels by 2030.

Virgin Trains, Formerly Brightline, Planning Eight Expansion Corridors
November's bombshell news about the partnership between Virgin and Brightline has now yielded ambitious plans for private investment in intercity rail service.

Big Wins for Urbanism in Cascadia
"Yes we actually did that."

British Columbia Wants to Curb Mega-Mansion Construction in the Agricultural Land Reserve
Farmers around Vancouver's Agricultural Land Reserve have been building "mega-mansions" on their farmland. The province wants to limit the scale of such homes, but farmers are pushing back.

Vancouver Launching its First Citywide Plan Since 1928
The Vancouver City Council decided to launch a new housing vision for the British Columbia city. Planners will have their work cut out for them balancing all the stakeholders in the expensive city.

New Vancouver Council Plotting to Rescind Recently Approved Zoning Changes
Local elections have consequences.
A History of State-Mandated Upzonings in the Pacific Northwest
Past examples of state and provincial governments preempting the land use authority of local governments present several lessons on how to do state-mandated upzoning effectively.

Vancouver's Incoming Mayor Has an Ambitious Housing Agenda
Vancouver Mayor-elect Kennedy Stewart has made some big, ambitious promises when it comes to housing construction in the expensive city.

Op-Ed: Treat Vancouver Election as a Referendum on Zoning Decisions
The decision to rezone most of Vancouver to allow for duplexes could have consequences in this weekend's municipal election.

Op-Ed: Seattle Merely 'Inching Forward' on ADUs
They're a good start. But compared to similar policies in cities like Portland and Vancouver, Seattle's new policies around accessory dwelling units may be lackluster.

Duplexes Approved for 99 Percent of Vancouver Single-Family Neighborhoods
The city of Vancouver's new density regulations will be the envy of many a YIMBY.

An International 'Winner' for the Sorriest Bus Stop in America
Streetsblog readers have decided to cross the border in selecting this year's "Sorriest Bus Stop in America."
Pagination
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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