The university’s goal to transform campus and double its resident population by 2050 has been given a boost with the board of governor’s approval of the updated Wesbrook Place Neighbourhood Plan.
The updated plan focuses on Wesbrook Place South – an area approximately nine hectares in size.
The neighbourhood, which is already seeing rapid development with the construction of rental and UBC faculty and staff housing, is located in south campus and represents roughly a fifth of the total area of the Wesbrook Place neighbourhood area.
Housing
If the plan is fully realized, homes will be built for 4,600 new residents, bringing the projected population of Wesbrook to roughly 16,200. In all, the number of residents across campus is projected to increase to 35,700 by 2050.
To accommodate the projected growth, about 2.1 million square feet of new housing is being planned through a mix of six towers and several mid-rise buildings up to six storeys. The towers are planned to run adjacent to Pacific Spirit Regional Park and will range from 26 to 39 storeys in height.
The university says the updated plan is in alignment with targets set out in its Housing Action Plan. A total of 40 per cent of new housing will be rental, with as much as 25 per cent allocated as below-market faculty and staff rental, and 15 per cent as market rental for residents working or studying on campus. UBC says it is also looking at new home ownership opportunities for qualified staff and faculty.
Transportation improvements
A number of initiatives are included in the plan that campus planners hope will improve the experiences of motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
For motorists, a new left turn lane onto Binning Road from West 16th Avenue and a widening of Binning Road is expected to help move traffic through the neighbourhood. Additionally, a proposed northbound right turn lane at West 16th Avenue roundabout and Wesbrook Mall will help alleviate congestion on Wesbrook Mall.
Planned improvements to the campus cycling network include a dedicated bike lane on Binning Road. which will connect with existing routes.
Essential services and amenities
Following comments by a UNA board member over a perceived lack of concern for expanding essential services, UBC says it is committed to work with the UNA to advocate “for the timely delivery” of a new elementary school in Wesbrook Place to accommodate population growth.
The university also says it will continue “coordination with external infrastructure and service providers (Metro Vancouver, TransLink, Vancouver School Board, RCMP, Vancouver Fire and Rescue, Vancouver Coastal Health) on the delivery of essential services to keep pace with growth.”
The plan also pledges to build a new childcare facility and 30,000 square feet of new retail, of which a portion will be allocated for a “mid-sized grocer”.
An additional 5,000 square feet has been earmarked as “community partnership/ amenity space” and 2,000 square feet for “sustainability program space”.
As part the plan, the boundaries of Wesbrook Place have been extended to the northern boundary of the TRIUMF particle accelerator centre to include an existing treed area which will be the site of a new ecological park. In total, the plan allocated five hectares of open space.
In the leadup to approval of the plan, the UNA board had called on UBC’s Board of Governors to listen to residents and incorporate feedback in campus development plans.
“While the unique governance structure of our neighbourhoods vests decisionmaking authority in the University’s Board of Governors, the locally-elected UNA Board represents resident interests and views on development,” wrote board chair Eagle Glassheim in an opinion piece (‘Listen to Residents on Development, UNA says’ – The Campus Resident, April 3).
“Absent revisions to this governance structure, we can only respectfully request that the University integrate resident feedback into its neighbourhood plans.”
EMMANUEL SAMOGLOU IS THE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE CAMPUS RESIDENT.
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