SURREY CITY CENTRE: Development Principles
Fraser Valley’s metropolitan centre will soon be the Surrey City Centre, as it will be connected to major regional destinations through rapid transit and safe road networks made to support walking, cycling and bus routes. Due to the area’s transformation, Surrey will see a major boost in employment, services, higher-density housing, commercial, cultural, entertainment and institutional activity. Population diversity will increase, as established residents, young professionals and qualified new immigrants will begin to fill out new employment and register with educational institutions.
In order to become a metro centre, it is essential that the neighbourhood be a vibrant, dynamic business sector or area of diverse educational and cultural opportunity. Each area in Surrey City Centre will have its own unique character, creating a unique and environmentally friendly downtown featuring fish bearing creeks, riparian areas and spectacular views of to the North Shore mountains.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The plan is guided by a set of essential principles that drive strategic direction, policy framework and strategies of implementation for the Surrey City Centre. The following are the
re is a set of 8 guiding principles in total:
1. Build Density and Mixed Use
2. Encourage Housing Diversity
3. Break Up the Block Size
4. Design Roads for Multiple Modes
5. Create Vibrant Urban Spaces
6. Green the Downtown
7. Encourage Office & Employment
8. Promote Identity & Sense of Place
Build Density & Mixed Use
A diverse mix of land uses close to transit and higher residential densities differentiate the downtown core from other parts of the city. These new high density areas will provide residents with easy access to shopping, entertainment, urban amenities, higher education and new employment as well as supporting higher levels of transit use, walking and cycling. The mix of uses coupled with density creates a Surrey City Centre more animated, livable and a thriving economic hub.
Encourage Housing Diversity
In order to have a thriving downtown, there must be a range of housing types and tenures to support a diverse metropolitan population. Housing diversity helps provide options for families, students, working professionals, seniors and vulnerable populations. This housing and land use designations accommodate a variety of housing forms and a range of unit sizes and types, along with various spectrums of tenures including ownership and rental as well as supportive social housing.
Break Up the Block Size
Urban-sized blocks and a network of regularly spaced and interconnected streets allows for increased connectivity between residential, commercial, civic, cultural and social activities in City Centre. Frequent intersections provide a variety of routes for increased mobility for walkers, cyclists and drivers alike.
Small block sizes provide shorter walking distances and direct connections to amenities, while providing greater flexibility for transit and bus routes. It also allows for more channels and turning options for drivers. The ideal block in City Centre should be no longer than 80-100 metres before a connection is provided.
Design Roads for Multiple Modes
“Complete” streets, that are well designed, provide safety, facilitate mobility for all modes and provide the framework for sustainable and economically robust places. They are designed to serve multiple roles: connecting people, improving the public environment, sustaining a healthy tree canopy and supporting economic activity, all while providing safety and convenience for its inhabitants and people of all ages. The new urban street network will move all road users while balancing average speeds.
Create Vibrant Urban Spaces
Streetscapes, urban amenities, cultural activities and facilities contribute to the livability and vibrancy of downtown. Throughout redevelopment, urban design standards require premium quality architectural aesthetics and amenities like public art installations and street furniture and green infrastructure which will in turn encourage people to linger and interact in the public realm. The base of high rise buildings will typically have a 2-4 storey podium and weather protection to increase pedestrian comfort.
Green the Downtown
Urban livability is increased by the contribution of natural and recreational space. A green tree canopy and landscaping help soften the urban hardscape. The Surrey City Centre plan includes a wide range of parks, plazas, natural areas all within walking distance of each and every neighbourhood and districts in the area. These include large scale urban, neighbourhood, athletic and mini-parks and plazas. Natural areas create the unique identity of downtown Surrey. Fish bearing creeks will be protected, while eco-friendly setbacks and parkland will help nurture and rehabilitate these natural areas.
Encourage Office & Employment
Why is the City of Surrey growing so quickly? Simple. It is because of it’s economic significance and increasing footprint in the commercial and employment sectors. This is a key factor that defines the City Centre as well. There will be office, retail, cultural and other employment uses in Surrey. Public sector investments will continue to be an important component of the City Centre. University expansions, new government offices and the medical district will not only attract related health technology use, but it will also strengthen economic activity in downtown. Convenient access to transit, especially SkyTrain, contributes to the attraction of office and employment uses in downtown. Future light rail transit will serve as a catalyst for continued investment in the downtown Surrey economy.
In order to support retail expansion and office growth in the downtown City Centre Plan facilitates residential redevelopment densification, providing a sufficient population to support retail and offices, all while enlivening public spaces. Investment will increase as a result of redevelopment, public realm beautification, plazas and parks.
Promote Identity & Sense of Place
The City Centre requires a sense of place and identity that creates a downtown that is unique and memorable. The plan area is approximately 1,300 acres in size. Downtown is too extensive to have a single recognizable identity. So, in order to foster and promote a sense of place, the City Centre needs to be understood at smaller scales with small and diverse sub-areas that people can experience at pedestrian level.
In order to support this framework, the City Centre Plan area has been organized and divided into different neighbourhoods and different districts. Each area has its own form, function and identity. While some existing neighbourhoods have an existing history and character, new distinct identities from newly emerging redevelopment will help mesh together to create a memorable and authentic City Centre and Surrey Downtown.
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