University Endowment Lands: multiplexes and apartments
Allowing more housing on some of the most expensive and underused land in the Vancouver area
Left: previously, apartments were allowed only in Area D. Right: multiplexes will be allowed in Areas A, B, and C, and apartments will be allowed within 400 metres of the UBC bus exchange.
This is land that’s directly administered by the province, not by UBC (the Point Grey Campus) or by the city of Vancouver (to the east).
UEL website, New Housing Legislation Updates:
[Multiplexes are] now permitted within all single-family zones (SF-1 and SF-2) within the UEL. Most lots will be subject to a maximum of 4 units, while those lots near frequent transit may have up to 6. More guidance is to come, and some exemptions may apply. Please contact the UEL office for more information.
[Transit-oriented areas:] the Minister of Municipal Affairs has directed the UEL Administration to designate the UBC Bus Exchange as a Transit-Oriented Development Area as it relates to UEL land. The Administration is required to:
Ensure that minimum levels of density, size, and dimension established by the Province in regulations are allowed in TOAs. The UEL can approve densities that exceed the provincial regulations at its discretion.
Remove restrictive parking minimums for off-street residential parking and allow parking volumes to be determined by market need and demand
Consider guidance and details in the provincial policy manual when planning or amending zoning bylaws.
What Area A looks like now: completely suburban, even though it’s down the street from UBC. Last summer, this house was for sale for $10M. It’s on a 12,000 square foot lot (3X the size of a standard 33-foot lot), with a floor space limit of 0.27 (about 3000 square feet).
More
University Endowment Lands: expensive land that can only be used for houses on very large lots. From July 2023.
New legislation decreases barriers to building small-scale multi-unit housing in the UEL. Tova Gaster, Ubyssey, February 2024.