A proposed Official Community Plan (OCP) has been approved by the University of
British Columbia’s Board of Governors and given first and second readings by
the Greater Vancouver Regional District’s Board of Directors.
The OCP covers parts of Electoral Area A, including UBC and two foreshore lots
owned by the GVRD which are part of Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
In September, the GVRD plans to hold an open house followed by a public hearing
on the proposed OCP. UBC will take additional steps to provide opportunity for
comment and input from the campus community. It is anticipated that the OCP
will be finalized and in place by November.
UBC President David Strangway said UBC’s aim is to enrich campus life and
support the university’s academic mission.
“The proposed OCP will guide future decision-making as UBC moves towards the
creation of a unique university community and an endowment which will support
the university’s academic programs for British Columbians in the coming
decades,” Strangway said.
“We are delighted with the progress the GVRD and UBC have made during this
co-operative process,” said GVRD Board Chair Greg Halsey-Brandt, “And we look
forward to further public input on the proposed OCP in the fall.”
Meanwhile, the UBC and GVRD boards have approved an Interim Implementation
Process which will guide land use decisions until June, 1998 or until new
governance arrangements are in place.
The Interim Implementation Process includes the preparation of local area plans
for the campus which will include non-institutional development such as market
housing, a school, a community centre and commercial and related services.
A task force composed of UBC Board of Governors and GVRD Board of Directors
representatives will oversee the process, which also involves the establishment
of an Advisory Planning Committee to represent university and community
interests, as well as opportunities for public review and comment. The area
plans will be approved by UBC’s Board of Governors and reviewed by the GVRD for
conformance with the OCP.
At the request of the GVRD, with UBC support, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs
has approved in principle a governance study for Electoral Area A, which will
review local government options for the area.
