Land Use Plan

Overview

UBC's Land Use Plan sets the long-term direction for land use and transportation. The Land Use Plan was created in 2010 from UBC's previous Official Community Plan. The provincial government approves UBC's Land Use Plan. 

The vision is for a compact, complete community that provides daily needs within walking distance and a university community that integrates academic, neighbourhood and natural spaces while respecting its neighbours.

Download the UBC Land Use Plan

Key Components of the Land Use Plan

Land Uses

There are three main land uses in the plan: Academic (teaching, research, and other, including student housing), Green Academic (open areas that support land-based teaching, research, etc), and Neighbourhood Housing Areas (providing a range of rental and long-term lease housing).

Public Amenities

Public amenities have set minimum and / or maximum thresholds. These include open space (Usable Neighbourhood Open Space (UNOS)), greenways, green edges, tree replacement, community centres, schools, daycares, commercial centres and more.

Transportation

Transportation includes measures to reduce car travel and parking, increase public transit and promote walking and bicycles.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure (streets, energy, water, rainwater runoff, sewers, etc.) commitments include ensuring infrastructure will be sustainable, minimizes impacts off campus (e.g. Pacific Spirit Park) and delivered in time for people moving in.

Updates to the Land Use Plan

Land use plans respond the local, regional and global challenges. They set the long term direction, but need to be flexible to respond to changes. UBC engages the community in a Land Use Plan amendment process when changes are required. There have been minor updates to the Land Use Plan made via amendments since 2011, and a full update is recommended every 10 years. 

UBC’s Board of Governors approves detailed policies to carry out the Land Use Plan’s vision. On academic lands, the Vancouver Campus Plan policies guide development. These policies include more student housing, improving outdoor spaces, and using the campus as a living laboratory.

In campus neighbourhoods, UBC’s Board of Governors approves Neighbourhood Plans to guide residential development. These Plans include specific policies for features like park space, recreation, transportation and building height. 

Metro Vancouver is currently updating their 2040 plan to extend to 2050. And UBC is planning on updating our Land Use Plan to 2050 to align with Metro Vancouver and TransLink’s.