City officials presented final updates to Vancouver's comprehensive plan and Title 20 zoning code to comply with new state mandates requiring increased middle housing, climate action, and capacity for affordable housing. The proposed regulatory overhaul aims to boost density by allowing up to six units and two accessory dwelling units per residential lot, eliminating parking minimums, and establishing medium-scale density zones around parks and schools. Additionally, the presentation outlined the required capital facilities plan, preparations for urban growth area (UGA) annexations, and the results of the environmental impact statement and public comment processes prior to final adoption.
Building_development + Cross_cutting
City Council Workshops · Apr 27, 2026 · 46:08–50:55 · Watch on CVTV ↗
Keywords: capital facilities UGA affordable housing comprehensive plan zoning annexation density infrastructure public comment public hearing
What was said
45:07 state level requirements beyond our code as well. And would it, would the document tier to those? I mean it'll specifically tier within the document to those state codes. Um, we do not like to do that cause state codes change. Okay. Um, but we, but we, these are, these are, I mean, I would say knowledge about state level protections for manufactured home parks is pretty broad if you know about them. Okay. And to your point of state codes can change. Um, so in the situation where a mobile, a manufactured home zone parcel, um, sells, does that zoning stick and are there, and can we identify those mechanisms like right of first refusal, tenant purchase programs to back up and need anti-displacement intent
46:01 of the zone? Well, that is so, so basically the, that, the situation you described where someone, so the zoning goes with the property, it's not the owner. So it essentially putting the zoning on it is like our best local tool to preserve it. So anti-displacement. It will, the zone sticks sticks. That's my point. It's correct. Okay. Thank you. And then second is the timing with this, with this entire process. And I shared with you some feedback that I received. Um, can you just go ahead and summarize the, the extent to which when we started communicating with public, but most importantly how to better involve our neighborhood association so they're not feeling like they're catching up or this is going really fast or especially as you tie into this post adoption final steps discussion
46:58 so that, um, we get our neighborhood associations feeling like they're, they're on task and they're involved and up to speed. Yeah. Um, and apologies. I did send you a response to that. I just saw that and I would love for you to share that for those who are watching. So yeah, I think we've, we started engagement on this in early February, 2023 and we've been at many community events and we've, um, you know, even before we were like organizing our own events for the comp plan, we were out in the community talking to people all the time. We were communicating with neighborhoods in the best ways we know how, which is by directly emailing their chair, their association leadership and using the office of neighborhoods newsletter. I don't know how many times we were in the office of neighborhoods newsletter. I think like most of them, um, during the, the comp plan update or at least during those
47:56 periods where we were really actively seeking feedback and doing engagement. Uh, we've also, you know, presented at the Vancouver neighborhood Alliance, which is a separate but kind of umbrella organization several times. Um, I think we've, we've, like I said, we've been, you know, put information in the direct mailer that goes to everybody's house. Um, uh, as part of the city newsletter, I, I, but I, but you know, we can't reach everyone and I just want to acknowledge that, right? Like it's, it's really hard, um, to get people, um, involved and particularly hard to get them involved while, you know, earlier in the process. Um, but we have been out presenting on, you know, I think one of the comments was, well, the, the, the, these standards, the code and the, um, were, were just made available on February, you know, the February 19th. And that was when we first published
48:54 the full drafts of all that. But we have been socializing this and talking to you all and many, many other people about, um, you know, the, the proposed new zoning districts and the development standards, no parking minimums, the heights, um, the, you know, how we got to the map, um, for years. Um, and I, I totally understand that it is a lot to, for folks to digest and if you're just coming into the process, it can feel, you know, overwhelming, but we really have done quite a bit of engagement. And I just also want to just reiterate, it, this, we, we will keep adjusting things based on new information. Um, and what we hear, I think, you know, the EIS public comment period was last July, between July and September, we got 409 comments, right? Like written comments on that. So people, the information has been out there. Yeah. Um, but, but I mean, there's a lot going on in the world.
49:52 Well, maybe we could follow up with this particular neighborhood association to ensure that. I've been communicating with that specific individual and that neighborhood association directly for quite some time. I've been to their neighborhood in the last month and, but I will keep doing so. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for that. Yeah. And, uh, lastly is the anticipation of a next update, a next iteration. And I'm glad to hear that this isn't final. We're always going to be modifying and updating, and I'm thinking about data centers and how that's just moving forward. And, you know, we don't specifically mention data centers and the EIS, but in the industrial zoning, uh, does it or what are we in a position to be able to, uh, catch up or be smart when that comes to us? And so our, our code does not allow data centers anywhere in the city. Okay. So that wasn't clear in the document.
50:50 And so if it's not mentioned, I will just assume that it's not allowed. Correct? Well, the EIS is not going to analyze every potential use. Right. Um, but, but, um, but the code is where we address every specific use and data centers are prohibited. Um, everywhere in the city, we've consulted extensively with our economic development folks. These are not, these use a lot of energy and don't employ a lot of people. It wasn't mentioned in the final EIS. Yes. Yeah. No, every use won't be measured. Okay. Well, it's not what it's intended to do because that's the hot topic and coming forward. And then we need to wrap it up. We have two other counselors that need to comment. And, um, thank you. I messaged you with some other questions so we could follow up on that later. Councilor Hanson, go ahead. Thank you, mayor. Council member Bart Hanson. Um, Mark, you mentioned, uh,
51:46 what was it? Landscape bonds. Now wouldn't the performance bond cover that? I don't believe we have a Mark person development review. We don't have performance bonds. We're we'll
Evidence (4 matches)
direct keyword 46:08–46:33 capital facilities, UGA, affordable housing, comprehensive plan, zoning, annexation, density, infrastructure
e there, and can we identify those mechanisms like right of first refusal, tenant purchase programs to back up and need anti-displacement intent of the zone? Well, that is so, so basically the, that, the situation you described where someone, so the zoning goes with the property, it's not the owner. So it essentially putting the zoning on it is like our best local tool to preserve it. So anti-displacement. It will, the zone sticks sticks. That's my point. It's correct. Okay. Thank you. And then
direct keyword 48:59–49:23 capital facilities, UGA, affordable housing, comprehensive plan, zoning, annexation, density, infrastructure
ade available on February, you know, the February 19th. And that was when we first published the full drafts of all that. But we have been socializing this and talking to you all and many, many other people about, um, you know, the, the proposed new zoning districts and the development standards, no parking minimums, the heights, um, the, you know, how we got to the map, um, for years. Um, and I, I totally understand that it is a lot to, for folks to digest and if you're just coming into the pro
direct keyword 50:29–50:55 capital facilities, UGA, affordable housing, comprehensive plan, zoning, annexation, density, infrastructure
glad to hear that this isn't final. We're always going to be modifying and updating, and I'm thinking about data centers and how that's just moving forward. And, you know, we don't specifically mention data centers and the EIS, but in the industrial zoning, uh, does it or what are we in a position to be able to, uh, catch up or be smart when that comes to us? And so our, our code does not allow data centers anywhere in the city. Okay. So that wasn't clear in the document. And so if it's not ment
cross_cutting keyword 49:35–49:57 public comment, public hearing
s, it can feel, you know, overwhelming, but we really have done quite a bit of engagement. And I just also want to just reiterate, it, this, we, we will keep adjusting things based on new information. Um, and what we hear, I think, you know, the EIS public comment period was last July, between July and September, we got 409 comments, right? Like written comments on that. So people, the information has been out there. Yeah. Um, but, but I mean, there's a lot going on in the world. Well, maybe we