Port Metro Vancouver recently released a final draft of its Land Use Plan, a longterm vision for all the land that falls under its jurisdiction.
Noting the plan has been two years in the making with extensive consultation, Jim Crandles, the port's director of planning and development, said another round of consultation is now underway, providing opportunity for the public to get information and comment at upcoming meetings or online.
"Some people will ask, 'What's the big announcement you're making about this Land Use Plan?'" said Crandles. "What we're saying is there's no big announcement here. It's about looking at this as normal, organic growth, trying to have a lens that's 10 to 15 years out and have policies that are contemporary for today, how we want to operate the port in a sustainable way, our expectations for anybody who operates on our land and how we deal with our communities."
PMV embarked on the new plan after completing Port 2050, a long-term visioning exercise.
The new plan includes updated land and water designations. According to the port, the plan will need to accommodate increased trade, both in exporting Canadian commodities and importing goods to meet increasing consumer demand.
"We anticipate growth, and this might mean intensifying use of our existing lands and potentially acquiring new lands for port operations. The Land Use Plan will help us plan ahead to ensure we have the capacity to grow sustainability," the port states.
The port also warns that the industrial land supply could be exhausted in as little as 20 years.
When it comes to lands not owned by the port, Crandles said PMV is trying to work with local communities because many areas not under the port's direct jurisdiction still have a role or relationship.
"We have policies in here that we want to encourage the municipality to look at the opportunities that the port brings, making sure it's looking at its land use plans and its policies in a way that we can be supportive of one another," he said.
For more information on the Land Use Plan or how to participate online, check porttalk.ca/landuseplan. The consultation runs until April 13.
