City of Burnaby council will meet next week to review a report regarding the City’s OCP that outlines a Draft Land Use Framework for the entire City.

The City had been working on an update to the OCP entitled ‘Burnaby 2050’, since 2022. This is the first time that a draft land use document has been presented to the public showing potential land use for every lot.

The City is also working on a new Zoning Bylaw that will introduce a new “height-based development framework” in which land use designations are based on height (measured in storeys) as opposed to density and Floor Space Ratio (FSR). Details of the new Zoning Bylaw have not yet been released.

Burnaby 2050 Draft Land Use Map: (click here to see detail in pdf)

The new Official Community Plan Land Use Framework, and the corresponding Zoning Bylaw Districts are proposed to have seven (7) non-residential designations and nine (9) residential designations, each with a corresponding colour:

The full map can be viewed here: https://pub-burnaby.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=76735

The updated draft land use plan accommodates the most recent TOA legislation (which was tabled by Burnaby council for 90 days) as well as upcoming Royal Oak and Edmonds Area Plans.

In addition to the land use designations, the City will be implementing a series of “Policy Overlays” to certain areas, blocks and lots. Examples of proposed Policy Overlays include: Rental Tenure, Streamside Development Permit Areas, Statutory Rights-of-Way, and Special Study Areas.

Community Benefit Density Bonus

The City has also outlined a new, modified density bonus program:

• The OCP land use designations describe intended heights of buildings; however, a parcel may be eligible for additional height, beyond what is considered “additional supported height”, in exchange for provision of an on-site amenity or cash-in-lieu of an on-site amenity (“Community Benefit Density Bonus”), so long as it does not exceed the permitted height of the next most permissive land use category (if there is one).
• Density bonusing opportunities are identified for the High-Rise Apartment 1, 2, and 3 designations, and may be considered in the Low-Rise 1, Low-Rise 2, Midrise 1, and Midrise 2 designations subject to City policy and bylaws.
• Similar to the “additional supported height” scenarios, for residentially designated properties, additional height may be supportable so long as it does not exceed the permitted height of the next most permissive land use category (if there is one).

The draft land use map will be brought forward for public engagement in September 2024, with a report back to Council in late 2024 and an expectation of a final version in early 2025.

The District of North Vancouver has released a report outlining their updated development charges as part of their compliance with Provincial legislation. The DNV’s last major update to DCC’s was in 2018, and a further update was underway in 2023 when Bill 46 required new development financing tools. DCC’s were last adjusted for inflation in the DNV in 2022.

The District is updating it’s rates to be based on a per dwelling unit basis, as opposed to the previous per sq metre.

Here are the proposed DCC and ACC rates:

The DNV notes in its report: “As required by the new provincial housing legislation, a more fulsome review of growth will be completed over the next year, and development charges will be updated again in the fall of 2025.”

A rezoning application has been submitted by Hollybush Holdings for a site in the Kitsilano area of the Broadway Plan at 2180 West 6th Avenue, between Yew and Arbutus Streets. The property is currently improved with a 1968 era walkup apartment building with 31 units.

The site is located in the Kitsilano North (KKNA) subarea of the Broadway Plan.

The proposal is to allow for the development of a 23-storey rental building with a 4-storey podium and includes:

• 159 rental units w/ 20% below-market rental units;
• A 37-space childcare facility;
• 1,800 SF of retail space;
• A total density of 7.1 FSR; and
• A building height of 245 ft.

This application is being considered under the Broadway Plan.

The architect for the project is Francl Architecture.

The formal rezoning proposal is now posted for the 3.2 acre ‘Shawn Oaks’ property at 5505-5585 Oak Street, on the West side of Oak just North of West 41st Avenue in the Oakridge area.

Shawn Oaks is a 1969 era lowrise condo that was acquired in phases between 2016-2021 by Landmark Premiere Properties. The site is identified as a “Unique Site” in the Cambie Corridor Plan, allowing for an ‘enhanced’ rezoning process, and potentially greater height and density than elsewhere in the Plan area. The Cambie Corridor Plan identifies Shawn Oaks for more market and below market housing, targeting 20% of Residential Floor Area for Social Housing if market strata uses are proposed.

The project was originally proposed in February 2022 via a rezoning enquiry, and initial concept plans were introduced to the community at an Open House in June 2023 and now the project is moving into the full application phase.

The current plan includes a 33-storey condo tower, a 31-storey condo tower, and a 6-storey social housing building.

Further details include:

• Approx. 450 condos;
• Approx. 180 social housing units;
• a total density of 4.0 FSR (556,000 SF);
• a daycare building for 37 children;
• Approx. 600 parking stalls.

The architect for the project is Acton Ostry.

The preliminary rezoning package can be viewed here: https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/5505-5585-oak-st

Fastmark has submitted a rezoning application for a 17,378 SF mid-block site at 469-491 East 10th Avenue in the Mount Pleasant area of East Vancouver, between Guelph Street and St. George Street.

The site is an assembly of three single family lots that has been designated for higher density in the MRTB subarea of the Broadway Plan.

The proposed project is a 17-storey rental tower that includes:

• 138 rental units;
• 20% below-market rental units;
• a total density of 5.50 FSR;
• tower floorplates averaging 6,500 SF;
• A building height of 184.4 ft.
• 32 underground parking stalls.

This application is being considered under the Broadway Plan.

The architect for the project is GBL Architects.