Transit-Oriented Areas

At the end of 2023, the B.C. Government passed several pieces of legislation that apply across the province and impact the City of Coquitlam’s planning framework and development finance system. 

Among these legislative changes is Bill 47, which mandates increased densities and heights in prescribed Transit-Oriented Areas. 

On July 8, Coquitlam City Council approved the bylaws needed to comply with Bill 47.

Transit-Oriented Areas – Requirements

Under this new legislation, for all lands currently zoned for residential or mixed residential uses and located within 800 metres of a rapid transit station (i.e. SkyTrain station), the City must eliminate minimum residential off-street parking requirements and allow the following minimum densities and heights set out by the Province:

Transit-Oriented Areas in Coquitlam

These new rules affect eight areas in Coquitlam close to SkyTrain stations. 

• Braid Station
• Burquitlam Station
• Coquitlam Central Station
• Inlet Centre Station
• Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station
• Lincoln Station
• Lougheed Town Centre Station
• Moody Centre Station

Implementation Stages for Transit-Oriented Areas

• Stage 1 – Designation of Transit-Oriented Areas (recently approved)
  Officially designating areas within 800 metres of SkyTrain stations as Transit-Oriented Areas and updating related City bylaws to remove parking requirements within these areas, except for spaces designated for people with disabilities. Note there are limitations to the provincial Transit-Oriented Area regulations for housing development. Please see this Planning Bulletin for further information.
• Stage 2 – Alignment with Existing Planning Framework (current phase – targeting completion by spring 2025)
  This work will align the Transit-Oriented Area regulations with areas already planned for growth, such as the City Centre and Burquitlam-Lougheed areas. It will also include updated land use plans for nearby areas in Southwest Coquitlam to ensure the cohesive development of affordable housing, amenities, and servicing requirements.
• Stage 3 – Comprehensive Review (future phase – to be determined)
  The final stage involves a thorough review of land use policies, including exploring affordable housing requirements and incentives, amenities, and servicing needs for unplanned Transit-Oriented Areas and their surrounding areas. 

For details on input opportunities, information sessions, surveys and other details, visit the LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca/TransitOrientedDevelopmentAreas

Planning Bulletins

Updates and advisories to help you understand bylaw and zoning changes due to provincial housing changes.

• Applicability of Transit-Oriented Areas Regulations: Residential Use Compatibility and Eligibility (PDF)
• Development in Unplanned Transit-Oriented Areas (PDF)

Background Documents

• Report to Council-in-Committee - July 29, 2024 - Transit-Oriented Areas Update - Stage 2: Planned Transit-Oriented Areas,Shoulders and Key Southwest Corridors
  
• Report to Council - June 17, 2024 - Transit-Oriented Areas Legislation (Bill 47) Implementation -Stage 1: Transit-Oriented Areas Designation and Parking Updates (PDF)
• Strategic Priorities Standing Committee -May 22, 2024 - Provincial Housing Mandates - Strategic Directions for the Transit-Oriented Areas Update and Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Implementation (PDF)
• Report to Council-in-Committee - May 13, 2024 - Provincial Housing Mandates - Transit-Oriented Areas Update, Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing Implementation, and Southwest Housing Review (PDF)
• Report to Council-in-Committee - December 4, 2023 - Provincial Legislative Mandates on Housing – Implications (PDF)