ABSTRACT
The Dutch instrument of negotiated land use plans seems to respond well to a new, volatile land market characterized by diverse actors owning and developing land. The instrument's success, as Tennekes points out, is its ability to stimulate housing development without relying on institutional actors and comprehensive plans. Of particular interest here are the city's two different cost recovery instruments: the Development Cost Levy (DCL) and the Community Amenity Contribution (CAC). The DCL is calculated in a formal way, for a limited range of costs, and can only be allocated to defined purposes – this is the standard across British Columbia. With the CAC however, the city of Vancouver can levy a negotiable tax on planning and development. The city of Vancouver has gained an international reputation for compact, attractive, and sustainable urban planning. Discretionary zoning is an important instrument in this achievement.
