The B.C. government recently passed housing legislation that brings major changes to how Coquitlam plans for and supports growth. New rules for development around transit hubs. – called Transit-Oriented Areas. Coquitlam will address these new rules and updating the land use policies.
What is a Transit-Oriented Area?
A Transit-Oriented Area, as defined by the provincial government, is an area within 800 metres of SkyTrain stations where specific rules apply. These regulations promote high-density, mixed-use development near transit to increase housing and reduce reliance on car.
Read the City of Coquitlam’s Project Backgrounder for more information on the new provincial rules and the Transit-Oriented Areas Update project.
What are provincial Transit-Oriented Areas?
The Province established Transit-Oriented Areas within 800 metres of designated transit stations. All eight SkyTrain stations in or near Coquitlam are designated transit stations:
- Braid Station
- Burquitlam Station
- Coquitlam Central Station
- Inlet Centre Station
- Lafarge Lake – Douglas Station
- Lincoln Station
- Lougheed Town Centre Station
- Moody Centre Station
The new provincial rules require the City to:
- Designate Transit-Oriented Areas around the stations listed above by bylaw
- Remove minimum residential parking requirements, except parking requirements for people with disabilities, inside these Transit-Oriented Areas
- For properties zoned for residential uses inside Transit-Oriented Areas, allow for the following minimum building heights and densities:
| Tier | Distance from SkyTrain Station | Minimum density the City must allow | Minimum height the City must allow |
| 1 | 200 metres or less | 5.0 FAR | 20 storeys |
| 2 | 200-400 metres | 4.0 FAR | 12 storeys |
| 3 | 400-800 metres | 3.0 FAR | 8 storeys |
*Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is a way to measure density, using the size of a building’s floor area in relation to the size of the property it’s located on.
What does this mean?
Within Transit-Oriented Areas, the City cannot turn down a development proposal on the basis of density or height up to the allowable minimums (where the minimums apply). However, the City may still refuse a development application for reasons other than density or height, including compliance with the City’s goals, objectives and policies established in the Official Community Plan.
Also, while the City cannot require residential parking in Transit-Oriented Areas, developers will still likely provide parking in new developments, but it may be less than what was provided in the past.
Where We Are Now – Stage 2: Planned Transit-Oriented Areas and Southwest Shoulders and Corridors
- Properties around the Burquitlam Station and Lougheed Town Centre Station Transit-Oriented Areas (called “Shoulders”)
- Properties along the Austin Avenue and Como Lake Avenue Corridors
