Official Community Plan

B

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THREE KEY LAND USE CONCEPTS

1. Mixing land uses Land use mix refers to the diversity of land uses (e.g., residential, commercial, institutional, etc.) within a given area. Higher degrees of land use mixes are associated with “complete communities,” wherein residents have easy access to a variety of amenities and services within their neighbourhood. These include shops and restaurants, cultural and civic facilities (e.g., museums, libraries, galleries), employment opportunities, recreational destinations (e.g., parks, community centres), and more. This mix allows residents to live, work, shop, play, and learn close to home ideally within a 10-minute walk, resulting in the concept of “ 10-minute neighbourhood s” as a policy objective described further in this plan. Some mixes of uses, such as heavy industrial and residential,

Land use policy is about more than the land use itself, because land use decisions influence numerous other aspects of our daily lives as well as other components of cities. These include, but are not limited to, the transportation network, open spaces, buildings, municipal services, the economy, and the natural environment. Land use policies also influence the ability to achieve the OCP’s core directions of reconciliation, climate action, equity, and community well being. This is because how a community is structured informs future opportunities, and constraints, in the pursuit of community goals and ultimate vision. Key interdependent land use and urban form strategies lay the physical foundation for a city that is responsible for the future, each of which are described in turn: 1 Mixing land uses 2 Increasing densities 3 Supporting high-quality urban form & design

on the other hand, are not suitable. Land use mix is important for creating distinct, vibrant neighbourhoods that

support businesses and offer housing and transportation choice. For example, with other variables such as residential density held as constants, the odds of a person walking are twice as high in areas with a high degree of

PART B Managing Growth