Open Thread 25: Vancouver Upzones

British Columbia has adopted robust zoning minimums around transit stations, as presented by Reece Martin of RMTransit. Currently Skytrain stations have a few highrises surrounded immediately by single-family houses. The new provincial law allows:

• 20 story buildings within 200 meters of stations (657 feet)
• 12 story buildings within 400 meters (1313 feet, or a quarter mile)
• 8 story buildings within 800 meters (2624 feet, or a half mile)

Bus exchanges (transit centers) will allow 6-12 stories within 200 meters, and 4-8 within 400 meters, depending on the size of the exchange. There will be no parking minimums within these train or bus walksheds.

Over time in metro Vancouver, not only will a lot of people be living near stations, but a lot of their destinations will also be relocated to stations where a lot of people are. All this is going to funnel way more people onto TransLink services, especially buses, thanks to the lack of parking minimums and the fact that bus exchanges are included."

Let's play Apply it in Washington". Come on, Kirkland, it will be fun! Each entry names a potential rail/BRT station, and describes the maximum 20 stories for 2-3 blocks around it, 12 stories for 5 blocks, and 8 stories for 10 blocks. Or for bus-only transit centers, 12 stories within 5 blocks, and 8 stories within 10 blocks. No parking minimum in that area. FAR can be whatever you think is best.

This is an open thread.