AUTOPROP's planning and land use tools make it easy to identify properties with redevelopment or rezoning potential. By combining municipal planning data, development applications, listing information, and property records, you can quickly build a targeted prospecting list.
In This Guide
We'll cover how to:
Identify future land use designations and permitted densities
Review active and completed development applications
Find active listings
Evaluate current property use
Load additional property data
Export a prospecting list
In this use-case we will take a look at the Broadway Plan in Vancouver.
Step 1: Identify Future Land Use Designations
The first step is to find areas where future land use plans permit significantly higher density than the current zoning or use.
Access Land Use Layers
Navigate to your target area on the map.
Click the Layers button.
Expand Land Use.
Enable the appropriate planning layer.
Depending on the municipality, this may include:
Local Area Plans (LAP)
Official Community Plans (OCP)
Neighbourhood Concept Plans (NCP)
Once activated, planning designations will be displayed directly on the map.
Review Designations
Click on a property within the plan area to view:
Land use designation
Planning information
Links to municipal planning documents (where available)
These documents often provide details such as:
Maximum density (FSR)
Building heights
Permitted uses
Development policies
Save Time with Land Use Plan Search
If you're interested in a specific designation or density target, use the Land Use Plan Search tool.
Open Land Use Plan Search.
Select the municipality.
Select the plan type.
Choose the desired designation.
Select a highlight colour.
Click Add to Map.
Only the selected designation will be highlighted, making it easier to focus on high-potential properties.
Step 2: Review Development Applications
Next, identify nearby development activity.
Display Development Applications
Open Layers.
Expand Development.
Enable:
Active Development Applications
Inactive Development Applications
Development applications will appear on the map.
Why This Matters
Development applications can help you:
Understand what developers are pursuing nearby
Identify emerging redevelopment trends
Review approved densities and rezoning outcomes
Find useful comparable projects
Click on a development application to view available project details and municipal records.
Step 3: Search for Listings
Before prospecting, it's helpful to see what is already on the market.
Depending on your data access, you can display:
Residential MLS listings
Commercial listings
Exclusive listings
For redevelopment opportunities, land listings are often the most relevant starting point.
This helps you avoid duplicating existing opportunities and identify properties that may already be actively marketed.
Step 4: Determine Current Property Use
Now that you've identified areas with future redevelopment potential, evaluate how properties are currently being used.
Use Aerial Imagery
Switch to aerial view to identify:
Single-family homes
Older low-density developments
Underutilized properties
Keep in mind that aerial imagery may not always be current and should be used as a preliminary indicator only.
Select Candidate Properties
Focus on properties that:
Fall within higher-density future land use areas
Do not have active development applications
Are not currently listed or recently sold
Appear to have low-density existing uses
Use the map selection tools to select these properties.
If a property contains multiple PIDs (often indicating a strata property), you can choose whether to include or exclude it from your selection.
Step 5: Load Property Data
Once you've selected your target properties, load additional property information for further analysis.
Open the Properties Table
Click the circular button in the bottom-left corner of the map to open the Properties Table.
Load Additional Data
Click Load Data.
Select the data fields you'd like to include.
Click Update.
Available information may include:
Lot size
Assessment values
Sales history
Current use
Ownership details
Additional property attributes
Step 6: Analyze Your Results
Review the loaded data to identify the strongest opportunities.
Some indicators to watch for include:
Large lot sizes
Low-density existing uses
Older improvements
Recent planning changes
Multiple Property Transaction sales
Properties adjacent to active developments
These characteristics can help identify sites with redevelopment potential.
Step 7: Export Your Prospecting List
When your analysis is complete:
Click Export Selected.
Choose Export to Excel (CSV).
Your selected properties and loaded data will be exported for further analysis, client presentations, or prospecting campaigns.
Quick Recap
Identify future land use designations.
Review development applications.
Search for active listings.
Evaluate current property use.
Load additional property data.
Analyze redevelopment potential.
Export your prospecting list.
Using these tools together can significantly reduce the time required to identify and evaluate redevelopment opportunities.
Still Need Help?
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