At a Council Workshop on May 27th, Council forwarded Transit-Oriented Area (TOA) and Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) amendment bylaws to the June 10th, 2024 Council meeting for consideration of three readings. Council also directed staff to proceed with the work plan for the Infill Housing Program. 

SSMUH Implementation 

• Staff have identified 160 duplex-zoned properties that need to be rezoned for compliance with the Provincial legislation. Through the proposed Zoning Amendment Bylaw, these properties would be rezoned to a new Duplex Residential District (RD-1) zone, which would permit up to four units per property (two principal units and two secondary suites).  
• The proposed infill housing acceleration work plan would be developed in the context of the SSMUH legislative requirements. However, this City initiative proposes going beyond what is mandated by the Province by considering allowing six units throughout most of the City, rather than only on sites near frequent transit, and by including sites already zoned to allow three units. The timeline for this work plan is as follows: 
• Background Research (Summer-Fall 2024) 
• Program Development (Fall 2024-Spring 2026) 
• OCP Amendment (Winter 2025) 
• Zoning Bylaw Amendment (Spring 2026) 
• Implementation (Summer 2026) 
• The townhouse acceleration program focuses on facilitating the consolidation and redevelopment of more than one single detached dwelling property. To increase the number of new units constructed, this initiative would explore amending the Zoning Bylaw to allow townhouses outright; increase the density permitted; allow lock-off units; and make regulatory and policy improvements based on lessons learned from past projects. The timeline for this work plan is as follows: 
• Background Research (Summer 2024) 
• Program Development (Fall 2024-Fall 2025) 
• Zoning Bylaw and OCP Amendments (Fall 2025) 
• Implementation (Winter 2025) 

TOA Implementation 

• There are five TOD Areas in New Westminster, defined as land within 800 metres of a SkyTrain station. Staff recommend two bylaws be considered at the June 10, 2024 Regular Council meeting: 
• TOD Bylaw that would designate the five areas, as required by the legislation. 
• Zoning Bylaw amendment that would revise parking requirements, as required by the legislation, and remove caretaker suite entitlements to continue to ensure that commercial, institutional and industrial properties are clearly zoned for their intended uses. 

Other Legislative Changes Implementation 

• Additional changes to tenant protection policies, inclusionary zoning, and development financing will be the subject of future Council report and/or workshops. 

Once baseline requirements for the June 30th Provincial deadline are met, staff will undertake a second phase of work incorporating further analysis and refinement of initial work completed, including through the launch of the Infill Housing Program. 

More information can be found in the full reports by City staff on the Summary of Housing Legislation Implementation and the Proposed Housing Workplan.