Trout Lake view cones may shift for transit-oriented development at SkyTrain hub | Daily Hive

City of Vancouver proposes Trout Lake view cone changes for transit-oriented development around SkyTrain's Commercial-Broadway Station

Proposed changes to View Cone 27.1 and View Cone 27.2 emanating from Trout Lake's beach. (City of Vancouver)

Protected mountain view cones emanating from the small beach area at the southernmost end of Trout Lake could see some relaxation to enable higher-density, taller building developments in the vicinity of SkyTrain’s Commercial-Broadway Station.

Public consultation is underway on City of Vancouver staff’s proposed relaxations to view cones 27.1 and 27.2 emanating from this lakeside area within the core of John Hendry Park.

The first view cone at this location was implemented in 1989, when the City’s view cone policies were first created. This is the larger of the two view cones at the location.

Then, in 2018, from the exact same beach area, a secondary view cone was created to protect the northwest view of The Lions’ twin mountain peaks and Wizard Peak.

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An obstacle for Commercial-Broadway Station’s transit-oriented development

However, the existing view cones from the lake limit the potential for taller developments to the east of Commercial-Broadway Station — the busiest public transit hub in Western Canada — and to a lesser extent, the areas to the east of VCC-Clark Station.

As they exist today, the lakeside view cones would particularly counter the prescriptions and stipulations of the provincial government’s new transit-oriented development legislation, especially the designated Transit-Oriented Area (TOA) around Commercial-Broadway Station.

trout lake existing view cone vancouver 1

Existing View Cone 27.1 and View Cone 27.2 emanating from Trout Lake’s beach. (City of Vancouver)

Existing View Cone 27.1 and View Cone 27.2 emanating from Trout Lake’s beach. (City of Vancouver)

Permitted Transit-Oriented Area development forms near SkyTrain’s Commercial-Broadway Station in relation to the existing View Cone 27.1 and View Cone 27.2 emanating from Trout Lake’s beach. (City of Vancouver)

These existing view cones also partly neutralize City Council’s June 2025 decision to expand Commercial-Broadway Station’s TOA’s minimum 20-storey allowance within a radius of 200 metres from the public transit hub to 400 metres — a move to catalyze even more housing near SkyTrain.

It should be emphasized that the previous view cone policies — prior to City Council’s city-wide view cone amendments in July 2024 — did not affect the Safeway redevelopment project next to Commercial–Broadway Station. This is completely unrelated to the redevelopment proposal, which is entering public hearing for a decision this week.

Moreover, the July 2024 view cone changes did not alter the Trout Lake view cones, as City staff instead received permission to conduct further study on potential changes to the view cones originating from both Trout Lake and the centre of the Granville Street Bridge.

Trees in the park already go into the view cones

As well, City staff note that over the decades, ever since the view cone policies were first established, the trees within the north side of John Hendry Park — north of the lake — have matured, growing to a height that now obscures much of the northeast mountain views within View Cone 27.1. The tree growth also impacts the northwest mountain views protected by the newer View Cone 27.2.

The growth of tall trees entering into the existing limits of View Cone 27.1 and View Cone 27.1 emanating from Trout Lake’s beach. (City of Vancouver)

In essence, the crowns of many trees at the park — not building developments — are intruding into the view cones.

“These views are limited in the fall and winter by large branches, and in the spring and summer by thick foliage,” state City staff.

“Many sites within the Trout Lake view cones are now within a TOA, meaning building heights and density requirements could lead to future developments impacting the public views from Trout Lake Beach. As a result, City staff are reviewing the Council-approved public views and are seeking feedback on proposed changes that balance TOA requirements with public enjoyment of the views.”

In consideration of the goal to support higher-density residential development through increased building heights near Commercial–Broadway Station — and given that much of the view is already obscured by tree growth — City staff are proposing to narrow view cones 27.1 and 27.2 and raise their base elevation of these view cones to a height that is just above the tree crowns.

Proposed changes to View Cone 27.1 and View Cone 27.2 emanating from Trout Lake’s beach. (City of Vancouver)

Proposed changes to View Cone 27.1 and View Cone 27.2 emanating from Trout Lake’s beach, and the resulting impact on the Transit-Oriented Area for SkyTrain’s Commercial-Broadway Station. (City of Vancouver)

An online survey on the proposed Trout Lake view cone changes is open until May 19, 2025. City staff will use the feedback to draft the final policy change recommendations for City Council’s consideration in July 2025.

To support the economic revitalization of the Granville Entertainment District in downtown Vancouver, the City is concurrently considering some relaxations to View Cone 12.2 emanating from the middle of the Granville Street Bridge, narrowing the view cone to enable taller mixed-use projects along the Granville Strip, such as hotel, office, and entertainment uses and some residential uses. This is being considered under the City’s proposed Granville Strip master plan, which will be considered by City Council later in Spring 2025.

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