Coquitlam city council will fire a letter off to the provincial government — with the mayor’s signature — to call for a three-year extension on housing reforms.
On Monday, Jan. 27, council unanimously approved the letter that proposes the deadline for the use of bonus density to continue until June 30, 2028.
Density bonus is a planning tool that incentives developers to build at a higher density than permitted in exchange for money, in order for the municipality to build local amenities like affordable housing, parks and child-care facilities.
According to a report from Andrew Merrill, Coquitlam’s general manger for planning and development, the city currently has several in-stream applications that involve density bonuses, as well as community amenity contributions (CAC) and the provision of rental or affordable housing, that represent up to $500 million of revenue for community amenities and about 10,000 market rental and 2,000 below- and non-market rental units.
Merrill said Coquitlam needs more time to restructure its financial systems to transition to the province’s new amenity cost charges (ACC) program; the provincial deadline to change to the new funding framework is June 30, 2025.
Coun. Dennis Marsden, who moved the motion to send the council letter to Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Ravi Kahlon, with Coun. Teri Towner seconding, said he’s heard from the development industry about the lack of certainty with the new housing mandates and financial programs available.
And he took aim at Kahlon for cutting the density bonus model and replacing it with ACC and density “benefits,” which Kahlon said had worked well in Coquitlam.
Marsden said the June 30, 2025, deadline to comply with the new regulations and policies to build homes faster is an “arbitrary date that was plucked from the sky” and poses major problems for developers building in phases or within Transit-Oriented Areas (TOA) — that is, around transit stations and along corridors.
Currently, Coquitlam has 67 TOA bids impacted by the changes for minimum densities and heights, and rental incentives, Merrill wrote, while repeatedly noting the lack of clarity and guidance from housing ministry staff.
“Given the amount of work that goes into developing a complete project application, shifting a project from one set of rules and expectations to another mid-term is neither reasonable nor fair,” he wrote. “It is evident that the current deadline is not sufficient for most projects in the TOA to complete.”
Mayor Richard Stewart said the growth has slowed because of the new rules.
“It’s important that we not pause,” Stewart said, adding later, “The challenge is we are going to see less housing because the province wants it sped up.”
Still, ministry staff told the Tri-City News they’re now reviewing the timeline for B.C. municipalities to implement the changes to the density bonus system.
“Local governments, like the City of Coquitlam, are important partners, and we will take their feedback into consideration. We are committed to working with local governments throughout the province to implement these changes and create more upfront planning processes to build homes for people faster.”
In the email, the ministry spokesperson added, “Over the coming months, the province will bring forward a regulation to set the date that all existing density bonus bylaws must comply with the new legislative requirements.”
The City of Burnaby adopted its ACC bylaw last July.
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