PlaceSpeak BoardJune 11, 2014

GREATER VANCOUVER URBAN FUTURES OPINION SURVEY 2012

2012 Urban Futures Surveywww.urbanfuturessurvey.com

Ken Cameron, FCIP, RPP kdcameron@kdcameron.com Jacint Simon, Urban Studies Masters Candidate, SFUjsimon@sfu.ca

Definition of Terms

“PlaceSpeak”· A Vancouver-based social enterprise in which Ken Cameron is a director and investor

· An online, interactive consultation platform that allows proponents (municipalities, utilities, developers) to sponsor consultation topics and receive feedback from citizens who can voluntarily participate at no cost to them

“Urban Futures Survey”· A comprehensive survey of public attitudes in Greater Vancouver developed by the late Dr.

Walter Hardwick

· Conducted in 1973, 1990 and 2012

· 2012 survey was a research project of PlaceSpeak conducted with a grant from the Real Estate Foundation of B.C., the Cities of Vancouver, North Vancouver and Surrey, TransLink and Vancity

Survey Characteristics

• 1407 respondents representing 8 sub-regions or 22 municipalities.

• The margin of error is +/- 3.1 at the 95% significance level.

• The survey data was reweighted by gender distribution and geographical location.

• Angus McAllister of McAllister Opinion Research compiled the survey data. Ian McKinnon of Pacific Issues Partners, and Chair, National Statistics Council reviewed the Technical Report.

• 82% of respondents voted in 2011 Municipal Elections

Ranking of Challenges

Ranking of Challenges 2012 1990 1973Change

1990-2012

Provision of health care 1 3 9 +2

Traffic congestion 2 7 6 +5

Homelessness 3 NOT ASKED NOT ASKED NA

Increasing housing supply 4 8 8 +4

Air pollution from industry 5 1 1 -4

Water pollution from industry 6 2 2 -4

Air pollution from cars 7 4 3 -3

Ranking Policy Issues (11 total)

The residents of the region do not support the idea of easing congestion by building more roads.

Ranking of Issues 2012 1990 1973Change

1990-2012

Expanding the public transit system 1 5 2 +4

Making more efficient use of present transportation 2 3 3 +1

Promoting comprehensive community planning 3 6 5 +3

Preserving the natural environment 4 1 1 -3

     

Improving highway transportation 9 9 10 0

“Rank, in order of preference, the issues that you personally feel most urgently require government action.”

Transportation 30%

Housing affordability 27%

Preservation of green spaces 12%

Job creation 8%

K-12 education 7%

Loss of rental housing stock 5%

Rising property taxes 5%

Changing appearance of neighbourhoods 2%

In-migration from outside the Metro Vancouver area 2%

More recreational facilities 1%

Transportation

Congestion is a much bigger issue in outlying areas than in the Burrard Peninsula

The importance of the personal relationship with private automobile increases with age

“Improved transportation” means transit Respondents are receptive to user pay; opposed to general

taxation, especially property tax

2012 - User pay principle supported; property tax strongly rejected

Housing

Homelessness Youth is the most concerned group Vancouver/UEL ranked Homelessness as the most important

challenge, above Provision of Health Care or Increasing the Housing Supply

Concern with housing supply and affordability is highest among Burrard Peninsula respondents

Environment

Concern with air and water pollution in the region has decreased since 1990, reflecting the effect of policy responses

Overwhelming support (88%) in 2012 for waste-to-energy approach for dealing with local waste.

Strong support for protecting agricultural land; different picture for industrial land

Diversity / Density / Family Living

Raising children in an urban environment is more acceptable compared to 1990

Apartment living is no longer a second choice Youth tend to seek out dense urban living environments that

are well served by transit Central city respondents agree to a higher degree that

cultural diversity would make their community a better place

Gender variations

“Rush hour commuters should pay more at peak times.” lower agreement in female

“It is important to maintain existing agricultural land for food production.” higher agreement in female

“Opportunities for urban agriculture should be encouraged.” higher agreement in female

“Local governments should support increasing child care spaces.” higher agreement in female

“It's all very well to have dissident groups but once the majority has reached a decision, everyone should abide by it.”

lower agreement among female 

Publications / Presentations

Past Publications Op. Ed.: Metro Mayors Face Tough Sell in Transit Referendum. 

The Tyee – March 25, 2014

Past Presentations Regional Planning Advisory Committee – May 22, 2014 Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation – April 28, 2014 Moving in a Livable Region – April 14, 2014

Planned Publications Plan Canada – Official magazine of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) Bulletin – 4-6 page summary of findings

Sponsored by

PlaceSpeak BoardJune 11, 2014

GREATER VANCOUVER URBAN FUTURES OPINION SURVEY 2012

2012 Urban Futures Surveywww.urbanfuturessurvey.com

Ken Cameron, FCIP, RPP kdcameron@kdcameron.com Jacint Simon, Urban Studies Masters Candidate, SFUjsimon@sfu.ca