Urban Design as Public Policy: Evaluating the Design Dimension of Vancouver's Planning System

This paper examines Vancouver's system of urban design as public policy utilizing 12 principles derived from critiques of design review in the USA. These principles include community vision; the relationship of design, planning and zoning; substantive design principles; and due process in review. Vancouver's city-wide plan, neighbourhood visions and sub-area development plans provide the vision, while its cooperative planning, development levies and discretionary zoning system and guidelines support the pursuit of quality urban design. Its practices are based on generic and contextual design principles, while its processes are transparent, participative, backed by peer review, predictable and effective.