Council approves Hewlett Packard East master plan for 30-acre Section 30 site
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Summary
The council approved a 30-acre master plan from Hewlett Packard that will govern office, research and development, and related infrastructure in Section 30; the plan anticipates coordination with neighboring developments, sustainability measures, and a future parking study.
The Vancouver City Council on April 28 adopted a resolution approving the Hewlett Packard (HP) East master plan, a 30-acre component of Section 30 intended for office, research-and-development and supporting uses.
City senior planner Mark Person told council the proposal is consistent with the Section 30 Subarea Plan and design guidelines adopted in 2009 and with the HP development agreement. Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval on March 11, 2025.
HP representatives said the master plan provides flexibility for phased development over the next 10–15 years, coordinated public and private street alignments, open spaces and landscape plans incorporating pollinator plantings and native species. Justin Chi, HP program manager, said HP expects the site to help reinforce a local employee base that has grown around HP’s Vancouver operations over four decades. "We know that Vancouver is a desirable location for our employees to live and work," Chi said.
Councilor Perez asked whether the plan included commitments to living-wage jobs and childcare. HP attorney Jennifer Brager pointed to Section 9 of the HP development agreement and said the agreement contemplates worker-relocation and business-license related provisions that support higher-paying jobs; she also said neither the development agreement nor the master plan prohibits future childcare amenities, which would be reviewed at site-plan stage.
Other details: the HP development agreement allows up to 1,500,000 gross square feet across HP’s properties (the prior 68-acre master plan plus this 30-acre plan). Street design calls for a principal collector (Northeast 180 Fourth Avenue) with one travel lane each way and a recreational trail; parking will be provided per the development agreement with a parking study planned after phase 1.
Outcome: Councilmember Stober moved to approve, Councilmember Harless seconded, and the council approved the master plan by roll-call vote with all members aye.
Next steps: Individual phases and specific building designs will return to city staff for site-plan review for consistency with the master plan and the Section 30 design guidelines; HP will coordinate infrastructure timing and public-transit planning with the city and C-Tran.
