City Recommends Changes to I-1 Zoning in Mount Pleasant Area

The City of Vancouver is recommending changes to the I-1 Zoning as part of the City’s Metropolitan Core Jobs Plan. The changes are intended to enhance the use of sites within the I-1 zone in Mount Pleasant, which was generally limited to light industrial or mixed use at a density of 1.0 to 3.0 FSR. Included in the changes is more flexiblity for office use.

Summary of Proposed Changes:

• A variety of service uses have been proposed for increase in allowable density, while still remaining within the overall 3.0 FSR density limit.
• Several service uses that were previously not permitted are proposed to be allowed as conditional uses, like entertainment.
• A greater variety of office uses are proposed to be permitted. In the existing zoning, several categories of General Office use are not allowed. In the proposed zoning, all of the categories of General Office use will be allowed.
• This means a mixed use building could be comprised of 1.0 FSR of the identified light industrial/service space on the ground floor and 2.0 FSR of General Office space above.
• There will be an opportunity with a potential Parking Payment-in-lieu District in the area for the developer to partner with new developments in the same area in order to provide additional parking over and above specific site requirements. This will be important for smaller sites to get to 3.0 FAR.