COQUITLAM, B.C., November 7, 2023 – With hundreds of new homes going up across the community, Coquitlam is taking action to reduce the disruptions that can come with construction.
Coquitlam encourages development that brings housing, amenities and jobs to the community, while continuing to look for creative new ways to reduce disruptions and other impacts caused by construction.
In response to community concern, the City is strengthening its approach to construction projects to help maintain the balance between accommodating growth and preserving the quality of life for existing residents, as well as individuals who work and shop near construction sites. This includes reducing disruptions related to parking, access, traffic, noises and more.
Making Construction Sites Better Neighbours
The City is committed to upholding the standards outlined in the Good Neighbour Development Policy and ensuring that construction activities align with community objectives.
Recognizing the escalating construction impact on residents and businesses, Coquitlam is taking ongoing action to enhance construction management practices and enforcement, ensuring adherence to the City’s Good Neighbour Development Policy. This includes:
- Proactive Neighbourhood Outreach: Enhancing outreach efforts with neighbourhood associations and residents, and providing them with a platform to voice their concerns and obtain information about construction-related activities. This initiative aims to foster open communication and promote a better understanding of the actions the City is taking to minimize construction impacts.
- Preparation for Legitimate Construction Activities: Introducing new construction management plan templates and guidelines to ensure effective planning and preparation of development projects, including prioritizing pedestrian and micro-mobility connections and expanding traffic management plans.
- Mitigation of Impacts during Construction: Implementing measures to minimize the impact of construction activities on existing residents, including expanding off-street trade parking plans, installing water quality-monitoring equipment, and reviewing road use and closure fees.
- Stepped-Up Enforcement: Strengthening enforcement actions to ensure compliance with construction management plans and relevant bylaws. This includes penalties for violations, proactive monitoring of construction activities, and fines for non-compliance. The City also encourages residents to report problems with construction sites via the City’s online Customer Feedback Form or by contacting Engineering and Public Works Customer Service at 604-927-3500 or epw@coquitlam.ca
To learn more about Coquitlam’s Good Neighbour Policy, visit coquitlam.ca/goodneighbour.
New Developments Expand Housing Options
Almost all development in Coquitlam contributes to the local housing supply, helping to cement the City as a regional leader for new purpose-built rental units, along with housing options for people at all income levels and stages of life.
Coquitlam supports the development of a diverse housing stock to meet the needs of the community. In the last five years, the City has issued building permits for 13,300 units – 80 per cent of which are in apartments, 15 per cent in townhouses and 5 per cent in single-family dwellings, duplexes and multi-plexes.
The City of Coquitlam currently has more than 11,700 rental housing units in-stream in the development process through its award-winning Housing Affordability Strategy, while contributing more than $12.1 million to subsidized rental housing since 2018 through its Affordable Housing Reserve Fund.
For more information about Coquitlam’s housing efforts, visit coquitlam.ca/housing.
Media Contact
Andrew Merrill
General Manager, Planning and Development
604-927-3430
amerrill@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.