As mentioned in previous updates, on April 22nd Council gave third reading and final adoption to the proposed Official Community Plan & Zoning Bylaw that seeks to expedite the review of rental developments while ensuring that parking supply appropriately meets demands. 

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

April 1, 2025

At their regular meeting on March 24th, Council gave first reading to the proposed Official Community Plan & Zoning Bylaw that seeks to expedite the review of rental developments while ensuring that parking supply appropriately meets demands.  

In response to requests from the development community to streamline the review of parking requirements for rental development, staff have reviewed the City’s existing bylaws and requirements. This review found that the City’s parking requirements are comparable with other municipalities within the region. In order to encourage the development of rental housing, staff recommend the following changes: 

• Simplifying parking calculations by incorporating existing reductions into the base parking rate;
• Expanding the fully reduced parking rate for all rental units, including those in mixed tenure developments; and
• Prescribing a TDM package for rental developments to eliminate the need for a parking study.
  • This TDM package includes provision of one parking stall for car-share or short-term loading per 50 units for apartment housing developments that include 25 or more market rental units and provision of one Class 2 bicycle parking space per bedroom for market rental units. No mandatory TDM’s will be required for affordable housing units (i.e. dwelling units subject to a housing agreement). Further parking reductions may be considered by Council subject to review through a site specific parking study, provision of enhanced TDM measures or demonstration that the project provides additional rental housing to address community needs. 

The bylaw will now be forwarded to a Public Hearing. 

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