If you live, work, or spend time in Southwest Coquitlam, we want your input on future development in the area.
COQUITLAM, B.C., October 2, 2024 – If you live, work, or spend time in Southwest Coquitlam, we want your input on future development in the area.
The City of Coquitlam is particularly interested in hearing from residents and visitors who frequent the areas near SkyTrain stations or along the Como Lake and Austin Avenue corridors.
Take our online survey at LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca/TransitOrientedAreas by Sunday, November 3, and have your say.
Balancing Growth with Community Needs
In 2023, the Province introduced new housing legislation, designating areas within 800 metres of SkyTrain stations as Transit-Oriented Areas. These areas are now subject to rules that allow for higher density and taller buildings.
While the City must implement these provincial regulations in Transit-Oriented Areas, we’re also taking this opportunity to review the surrounding “shoulder” areas. Our goal is to address uneven boundaries and create a smooth transition in building forms and density, ensuring balanced, sustainable growth throughout Southwest Coquitlam.
Additionally, this study will look at the key “corridors” of Austin and Como Lake Avenues to help us better understand the community’s vision for the future and will address work previously identified through the Southwest Housing Review.
Whether it’s new types of housing or more restaurants, parks, or other community spaces, your feedback will provide valuable direction as we plan for growth.
Implementation Stages for Transit-Oriented Areas Update
The City already allows higher-density development in some Transit-Oriented Areas based on plans created for Burquitlam-Lougheed and City Centre. The Transit-Oriented Areas Update project will take a phased approach, with the current work (Stage 2) focusing on bringing these “Planned Transit-Oriented Areas” into alignment with the legislation. The remaining areas where we have not previously created plans for transit-oriented development, known as “Unplanned Transit-Oriented Areas”, will be addressed in the final stage of the project.
Stage 1 – Designation of Transit-Oriented Areas (complete)
This first stage involved designating areas within 800 metres of SkyTrain stations as Transit-Oriented Areas and updating related City bylaws to align with provincial mandates, including removing remove minimum residential parking requirements within these areas except for spaces designated for people with disabilities.
Stage 2 – Planned Transit-Oriented Areas, Southwest Shoulders and Corridors (current)
In the second stage, the City will focus on Planned Transit-Oriented areas and align existing plans with the provincial Transit-Oriented Areas legislation. Planned Transit-Oriented Areas include areas around Burquitlam and Lougheed stations, which are covered by the Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan, and the areas around Coquitlam Central, Lincoln , and Lafarge Lake-Douglas stations that were updated as part of the recent City Centre Area Plan.
This stage is set for completion in spring 2025 will also update land use updates for surrounding “shoulder” areas around Burquitlam and Lougheed stations and the key “corridors” of Austin and Como Lake Avenues.
Stage 3 – Comprehensive Review (Future Phase)
The final stage will involve 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. Unplanned Transit-Oriented Areas include areas around Braid Station and Inlet Centre, and the portions of Coquitlam Central, Lafarge Lake-Douglas and Lincoln stations that were not updated as part of the recent City Centre Area Plan.
Stay Updated on Coquitlam’s Work to Support Housing Changes
The City’s work to implement the provincial housing legislation is ongoing, with many changes still to come. A list of frequently asked questions and other resources is available at LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca/ProvincialHousingChanges.
The City has also established a number of different ways for our community to access information and receive updates:
Media contact:
Renée 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.