As mentioned in previous updates, at their Council workshop on December 16th, Council endorsed the proposed Long Range Vision for the Neighbourhood Around the 22nd Street SkyTrain Station and directed staff to proceed with the implementation actions listed in the vision, including that staff report back to Council in Q1 of 2025 with a workplan for the implementation actions and timeline for accepting development applications.  

The Vision for the area, titled reGENERATE, reflects the larger area and higher growth opportunities set by the Province’s TOD Areas, that are expected to develop over decades. To accommodate this growth, the Vision imagines a high density mixed-use core at the transit hub, in the form of a Transit Village, with services and amenities that enable residents to meet their daily needs close to home. 

The report outlines the next steps regarding development applications & timing:  

The work to put infrastructure plans and financing strategies in place must be completed in order to inform development in the area. The City requires time to plan for the infrastructure and amenities necessary to support community livability as the area grows, and to put in place a financing strategy to ensure the infrastructure and amenities can be sustainably funded. Establishing these plans and strategies before development applications are considered is crucial, as this area is anticipated to absorb significant growth. It is anticipated that all high-density applications, and possibly many medium- to low density applications, received prior to the completion of that work would be considered premature, particularly in the Transit Village area. Timing and approaches for updating the City’s financing growth framework are currently being finalized. Staff will report back to Council in early 2025 outlining a workplan for the implementation actions and expected timelines for accepting development applications. 

Additional information can be found in the  full report by City staff,  Summary of Engagement and  Long Range Vision for the Neighbourhood Around the 22nd Street Skytrain Station. 

January 30th, 2024

On January 22nd, Council received a report for information with an update on the 22nd Street SkyTrain Station Area visioning process that was relaunched in Summer 2023. This includes a report back on the first round of community engagement.

Elements of the new provincial housing legislation will apply to this area, and will be integrated into the planning process. City staff are reviewing the new legislation and considering how the new requirements can be integrated into the vision.

A Council Workshop will be held to discuss all the new provincial housing legislation and its implications on New Westminster’s planning framework. It is anticipated that this will be a multi-day workshop in March, which will inform a draft vision planned for public review later in 2024.

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.