COQUITLAM, B.C., May 29, 2026 – Coquitlam has updated its long-range plan for Southwest Coquitlam, aiming to balance provincially mandated housing growth with infrastructure planning, neighbourhood transitions and access to local amenities.
Following a Public Hearing on May 27, Council adopted amendments to complete the City-led Southwest Shoulders and Corridors review, a key component of the Transit-Oriented Areas Update project.
The approved changes establish updated land use and servicing concepts for neighbourhoods surrounding the Burquitlam and Lougheed Town Centre SkyTrain stations and along Austin Avenue. The work responds to provincial housing legislation while helping to create more logical transitions between existing neighbourhoods and higher-density Transit-Oriented Areas.
The amendments create opportunities for new medium-density housing, townhousing, local-serving commercial space, transportation improvements, parks and infrastructure investments in key areas of Southwest Coquitlam.
Balancing Growth in an Evolving Neighbourhood
The Southwest Shoulders and Corridors review launched as part of the City’s broader Transit-Oriented Areas Update project in response to provincial housing legislation, which requires increased density near SkyTrain stations.
The adopted changes intend to:
- Create clearer and more coherent land use transitions around Transit-Oriented Areas;
- Support a wider range of housing choices, including townhousing;
- Encourage walkable neighbourhoods with access to local shops and services; and
- Support long-term infrastructure and amenity planning alongside growth.
As part of the final refinements, based on public feedback and technical review, Council supported:
- Retaining some existing small-scale residential areas where townhouse development had previously been proposed;
- Refinements to transportation network improvements; and
- Adding a new neighbourhood commercial node near Austin Avenue and Blue Mountain Street to encourage local-serving shops and services as redevelopment occurs.
The approved concepts are expected to add approximately 2,300 additional homes.
Community Engagement Helped Shape Final Concepts
The project included multiple rounds of public engagement between August 2024 and January 2026, including public information sessions, surveys, open houses, meetings with community organizations and targeted discussions with residents.
Throughout engagement, residents highlighted priorities such as safer streets, preserving natural spaces, housing diversity, access to amenities, and managing traffic and parking impacts.
Community and Council feedback resulted in several refinements to the original concepts before final adoption, including reducing some townhouse areas, adjusting transportation and park proposals and supporting additional local-serving commercial opportunities.
What’s Next?
The City will undertake long-range Official Community Plan updates, anticipated to begin later in 2027.
For more information and to sign up for updates, visit LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca/TransitOrientedAreas
Media contact
Renée De St. Croix
Director Urban Planning and Design
604-927-3430
DevInfo@coquitlam.ca
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.