The City of Coquitlam is moving on to Stage 2 of implementing Transit-Oriented Development Areas, with a focus on aligning existing areas already planned for growth with new provincial mandates.
COQUITLAM, B.C., August 1, 2024 – The City of Coquitlam is moving on to Stage 2 of implementing Transit-Oriented Development Areas, with a focus on aligning existing areas already planned for growth with new provincial mandates.
Earlier this week, staff presented the next stage of the City’s implementation plan to Coquitlam Council for input and focused on integrating provincial mandates into City Centre and Burquitlam-Lougheed, as well as completing planning for related shoulder areas and key Southwest corridors.
The City is planning community engagement around these changes this fall with the goal of completing this work by next spring. Information will be available at coquitlam.ca/TransitOrientedAreas.
Planned Transit-Oriented Development Areas and Shoulders
Under Bill 47, the Province has required all areas within 800 metres of SkyTrain stations be designated as Transit-Oriented Areas. These designated areas must now allow minimum-specified densities and building heights. The provincial mandates aim to support compact, complete communities that are within walking distance of transit and promote sustainable transportation options and choice.
Coquitlam has a long history of proactively designating Transit-Oriented Development Areas. Both the Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan (2017) and the City Centre Area Plan (2020) were adopted following extensive community engagement, with established transit-oriented land uses often exceeding the new provincial density requirements. However, the City must now re-examine these plans to ensure full alignment with the provincial mandates – in particular the minimum-specified densities and building heights. This means that the building forms within and around these neighbourhoods may change. For example, single-family areas next to Transit-Oriented Areas may see changes that would allow town housing and/or mid-rise forms.
To view maps showing the provincially mandated Transit-Oriented Areas in Coquitlam, visit coquitlam.ca/TransitOrientedAreas
Related Shoulders and Key Southwest Corridors
This also presents an opportunity to look at the shoulder areas next to the planned transit-oriented areas and key Southwest corridors, work previously identified through the Southwest Housing Review.
Baseline research in support of this work showed that key corridors such as Austin Avenue, Como Lake Avenue, and portions of Blue Mountain Street offer walkability, access to amenities, and have higher redevelopment potential. The study will focus on areas with existing or planned infrastructure to minimize financial impact and construction disruption for residents. Future transit routes and utility upgrades are also being considered to enhance development feasibility and support complete communities. Rental requirements and incentives will also be explored.
Unplanned Transit-Oriented Areas – A Future Phase
Areas within the 800-metre radius designated by the province, but that were not previously identified by the City as Transit-Oriented Areas, are being considered as "Unplanned Transit-Oriented Development Areas."
These are areas where current development is typically lower-density and the City had not previously considered a move to higher density.
Addressing these specific areas in a comprehensive way that considers servicing, transportation and other amenity and park needs will take place in a future Stage 3 of the implementation plan.
Impacts to Development Finance System
As this work progresses, updates to the City’s development finance system will also be required to continue to support and pay for growth within the City. The provincial mandates have established a new Amenity Cost Charge program from which local governments are expected to restructure their development finance system. The intent is to establish more clarity and certainty on what, and how much, new growth funds. This work will include the creation of the new amenity cost charges bylaw, updates to the development cost charges bylaw, and updates to the density bonus policy, affordable housing reserve fund, rental incentives program, and community amenity contributions policy. As part of the update Coquitlam will review how the new development finance system will integrate with the City’s overall financial system and other tools for managing a growing urban municipality.
Implementation Stages for Transit-Oriented Areas
Coquitlam is implementing the provincial mandates related to Transit-Oriented Development Areas in three stages:
- 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.
Media contact:
Renee De St. Croix
Director Urban Planning and Design
DevInfo@coquitlam.ca
604-927-3430
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.