FOLLOWING a public hearing, Vancouver City Council on Tuesday approved the Jericho Lands Official Development Plan (ODP). Together, the ODP and Policy Statement approved by City Council in January 2024, will ensure development at Jericho Lands creates a complete, sustainable community with a range of housing options, shops, services, public amenities and cultural facilities with access to new rapid transit.
The City says the Jericho Lands ODP reflects its commitment to advancing Reconciliation and the goals of its UNDRIP Strategy to support economic self-determination for the Musqueam Indian Band, the Squamish Nation, and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and sustainable, inclusive growth.
While the City’s planning process does not require an ODP for Jericho Lands, the City says it undertook the work at the request of the land-owners, a joint venture partnership between the Musqueam, the Squamish and the Tsleil-Waututh (the MST Partnership) and Canada Lands Company (CLC) to support the next steps in their planning and development of the site.
The ODP reflects the content of the Policy Statement and translates its key requirements related to permitted floor areas, land uses, housing tenures, public amenity and infrastructure requirements, and development phasing into a by-law format.
The Policy Statement was developed through several years of public engagement, which included surveys, workshops, an Inspire Jericho Talks speaker series, pop-up booths in the community, and open houses and presentations to community and interest holders in the local neighbourhood and across the city.
Blanketed with Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh culture and design, Jericho Lands will be a high-density, mixed-use and car-light community, which embraces its natural setting and is welcoming and inclusive to all.
The 90-acre development will include:
- Approximately 13,000 new homes, including 20% social housing and 10% secured rental housing.
- A mix of commercial spaces accommodating around 3,000 jobs.
- A variety of building forms ranging in height from four to 49 storeys, with the highest density development focused on a new SkyTrain station planned as part of UBCX.
- Community amenities including a community centre, public elementary school, five childcare facilities with almost 500 spaces, Indigenous social and cultural spaces, and a non-traditional library or House of Learning.
- 30 acres of parks and open spaces, which includes sport field, playgrounds, natural and forested areas, and public plaza spaces.
The ODP is not a rezoning. Development in Jericho Lands will now progress through a series of phased rezoning applications. Under Provincial Legislation, the City cannot hold public hearings for rezonings on projects that align with an ODP and are at least 50% residential. However, the public will continue to be notified and can comment on all rezoning applications. Each rezoning application will also continue to be considered and voted on by Council. Following a rezoning, the public will also have an opportunity to provide feedback as part of the subsequent development permit process.
To learn more about the Jericho Lands Planning Program and the next steps in the planning and development process, visit: shapeyourcity.ca/jericho-lands
