City Centre Area Plan Update

Draft City Centre Area Plan

The City of Coquitlam is updating the existing 2008 City Centre Area Plan (CCAP) to look at creating higher densities, mixed use, and pedestrian-friendly development along the Evergreen Line stations in City Centre. With feedback gathered over the last year and a half from residents, businesses and other community stakeholders a draft plan is now ready for public feedback.

The Draft CCAP charts a renewed course for the future of City Centre and will influence the way the community grows by guiding decisions on land use, environment, transportation and urban design to strengthen City Centre as the downtown and ‘heart’ of Coquitlam and the northeast region.

Key directions proposed in the draft CCAP include:

Creating a Vibrant Downtown Core
Establishing a Strong Employment Base
Building a Family-Friendly Downtown
Enhanced Recreation and Cultural Services
Integrating and Connecting the Downtown

Read the Draft City Centre Area Plan & Schedules – Nov. 4, 2019

Read the Draft City Centre Area Plan Highlights

View our Community Information Session Display Boards:

Phasing & Timeline

The CCAP update will be undertaken in a focused manner over two project phases, beginning in the winter of 2017 with a targeted completion date of early 2020.

We are currently in Phase 2 of the CCAP update (see below for more information).

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Phase 1: Re-Discovering City Centre (December 2017-Summer 2018)

The first phase investigates the existing context of the Plan area in order to inform a discussion on City Centre’s identity and character. Through this analysis, early policy directions that strengthen and reflect City Centre’s identity are explored.
Phase 2: Shaping the Future of City Centre (Fall 2018-Early 2020)

Findings from Phase 1 are synthesized into a draft Plan containing a land use concept with associated guiding policies and an implementation strategy.

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Why are we updating the Plan?

City Centre – Coquitlam’s downtown – is made up of retail, office, industrial, cultural, recreational and educational services. It is an important community gathering place both for the residents and businesses of Coquitlam and the region, and where the Millennium Line Evergreen Extension (Evergreen Line) begins.

The opening of the Evergreen Line in December 2016 is a significant transportation investment. It offers a critical and timely opportunity to shape future growth along the Evergreen Line and create livable and vibrant neighbourhoods as development interest increases.

The City of Coquitlam is updating the existing 2008 City Centre Area Plan (CCAP) to look at creating higher densities, mixed use, and pedestrian friendly development along the Evergreen Line stations in City Centre. The CCAP update (“the Plan”) will also be guided by the policies of the 2012 Transit Oriented Development Strategy (TDS).
Building on Past Decisions
The City Centre Area Plan update will build upon the many important past decisions by the City and community over the years to put in place the various public amenities and facilities currently within City Centre, such as:
- Lafarge Lake and Town Centre Park and Plaza;
- City of Coquitlam Aquatic Centre;
- Coquitlam Centre;
- Evergreen Cultural Centre;
- Douglas College;
- Pinetree Community Centre;
- Glen Pine Pavillion and Spirit Square;
- City Hall (which relocated to City Centre from Maillardville in 1998)
- The Evergreen Line, including the City’s initiative to co-fund Lincoln Station as part of a public-private partnership.
These milestones decisions, or “big moves”, have begun to shape City Centre’s character as a regional City Centre and Coquitlam’s downtown. Development has also gradually transformed City Centre with urban, high rise, mixed-use buildings over the past two decades, contributing to a steadily growing population, and creating more of a downtown feel.

Continuing to strengthen City Centre’s identity as the urban “heart” of Coquitlam and the region, and building on the past big moves is an essential goal of the Plan update. Part of this is providing a thriving hub of diverse activities in City Centre for both residents and businesses. The CCAP update will provide an opportunity to explore a variety of employment opportunities, and flexible and adaptable buildings that accommodate changes in use over time.
Focus Area of the Plan Update

The CCAP update will consider growth in City Centre for the next 25 years and focus on the areas close to the Evergreen Line, also referred to as the Core, Shoulder and Transit Corridor areas identified for City Centre within the TDS (City Centre Core, Shoulder and Transit Corridor Map).
By initially focusing future development around the Evergreen Line stations, the CCAP update will continue to strengthen City Centre’s role as a hub of activity and concentrate on increasing housing and employment choices close to rapid transit. City Centre is thus well positioned to accommodate future development given the existing high rises and large blocks along the Evergreen Line.

The established neighbourhoods beyond the TDS areas (e.g., Eagle Ridge, New Horizons) are characterized by homes built primarily during the 1970s and 1980s. Based on the age of this housing stock, and the role it plays in providing a range of affordable housing choices in Coquitlam, these areas are beyond the focus of the current CCAP update.