Meadowbrook Neighbourhood Rezoning

Zoning is the main tool used by municipalities to control development and to shape the city. Zoning outlines how a property may be used and sets the general rules (e.g. size, height, location) for buildings and development on a property. Instead of zoning, the Meadowbrook neighbourhood is regulated by a more rigid tool, the Land Use Contract (LUC).

In 2014, the Province changed the Local Government Act so that all remaining LUCs within British Columbia will automatically expire on June 30, 2024. This amendment means local government must change zoning regulations for all properties that are currently under land use contracts. These new zoning regulations are to be approved by June 30, 2022.

The last LUC in Coquitlam is located in the Meadowbrook area. To meet the provincial requirements set out in the Local Government Act, the City of Coquitlam is rezoning the Meadowbrook LUC properties and cancelling the Land Use Contract.

This process aims to put new zoning in place which mirrors, as closely as possible, what has been allowed on a property through the LUC. It is important to remember that this is not an exact process. Changes to development rules and regulations since 1974 (when the Meadowbrook LUC was adopted) mean that some of what was allowed under land use contracts is no longer considered best practice, and will need to be updated. Efforts will be made to ensure that existing uses and buildings in Meadowbrook will not be affected by this change. New development or significant renovations within the community will be required to meet the new zoning regulations, building code, and development standards.

The draft Meadowbrook Comprehensive Development (CD) Zone is complete and available for review. In summary, this draft Zone keeps many of the same requirements from the existing LUC including:

• All existing uses are allowed. No new uses are proposed.
• Lot size will stay the same. Further subdivision of lots will not be allowed.
• Additions and redevelopment of existing buildings will be allowed, as long as the new development is of a similar form and character to existing development.
• A modest increase to the allowed size and height of homes.

The following changes are proposed in the draft Zone:

• 0 metre front setback will be increased to 6 metres
  • This means that all the existing carports will be legally non-conforming uses. They will be allowed to stay, and can still be enclosed as long as they meet building code. However, if a homeowner wants to redevelop their property, any new garage or carport will need to meet this new setback.

The change from LUC to a CD Zone will simplify the City’s permitting and development approval process, aligning it with the standard development application and approval process used for all other properties in the City.

For additional information on the draft zone, including a brief explanation of how the CD Zone is the same as the LUC or where it is different from the LUC, please review the Draft CD Zone Explained document.