Zoning Bylaw Review and Update

After a lengthy review and update process, Zoning Bylaw No. 55 was adopted by City Council on November 2, 2021. Zoning Bylaw No. 55 replaces Zoning Bylaw No. 5-1-2001.

At the August 31, 2021, Regular Council Meeting, Council received a summary of the review process and viewed the final draft of proposed Zoning Bylaw No. 55. The bylaw was read a first and second time and a Public Hearing was authorized for September 28.

Following the September 28 Public Hearing, Zoning Bylaw No. 55 was a read a third time. In response to feedback from members of the public, Council also passed a resolution directing staff to prepare a zoning amendment bylaw to remove “convention or civic centre” from the list of permitted uses in the P1 zone.

Zoning Bylaw No. 55 was held at third reading pending Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure approval; this was received on October 19, 2021.

A summary of changes in Zoning Bylaw No. 55, compared to Bylaw 5-1-2001 and to the draft bylaw No. 55 presented to the public in the fall of 2020, is available here. An interactive map of current and proposed zoning is available here.

The zoning bylaw regulates the use of land within city limits. The updated bylaw aims to be more clear, user-friendly, and business-friendly than the existing bylaw; to implement policies of KAMPLAN—the City's Official Community Plan—and other guiding documents; and to implement best practices in the areas of planning, sustainability, and accessibility.

From October to December 2020, the City facilitated a community and stakeholder engagement phase on the proposed Zoning Bylaw No. 55. The input received is summarized in the Zoning Bylaw Review and Update Community and Stakeholder Engagement Phase Summary Report.

Major changes made to the final draft Zoning Bylaw, in response to engagement feedback and/or input from the Committee of the Whole, are as follows:

• retaining the current minimum lot size (929 m2) and for subdivision of RS-2 zoned properties in Dallas, Juniper and Aberdeen, while also allowing legal secondary and garden suites
• updating the C1 (General Commercial) zoning proposed for Columbia Street West between Grandview Terrace and McGill Rd to require specified ground floor commercial uses to discourage conversion of existing hotels into multifamily accommodation without investment that promotes commercial vibrancy
• replacing proposed requirements to make all new developments ready to install electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure with an incentive approach that provides parking reductions in exchange for EV ready stalls
• adding provisions for increased residential density for multi-family development that includes market rental, affordable market rental, below market rental, or social housing units
• updated regulations for shipping containers that allow them on a temporary basis in all zones, and on a permanent basis in non-urban or suburban residential zones, subject to regulations on number, size, siting, and public safety.

In response to favourable feedback from the public and stakeholders, the following changes proposed prior to the engagement phase remain in the revised bylaw:

• expanding permitted uses, which will provide more location choices for businesses
• permitting customers to enter the home for certain home-based businesses
• introducing RS1 zoning, which will allow residential suites and 464 m2 minimum lot size for subdivision into a wider range of residential areas (except Dallas, Juniper and Aberdeen)
• allowing larger accessory buildings, higher fence heights, and requiring minimum front yard landscaping on residential lots
• introducing parking regulations that support active transportation and improved accessibility
• permitting multi-family development in shopping centres and restricting drive-thru businesses in major town centres