Canadian municipal zoning and land use updates

Municipalities in British Columbia are pursuing various zoning amendments to manage urban development and land use.

In the District of Clearwater, officials proposed updates to the town’s zoning bylaw following an updated Official Community Plan. The proposal includes the creation of three new zones—mixed-use town centre, residential high density ground oriented, and residential medium density urban—to address housing, commercial, and industrial needs. Senior planner Brianne McCourt stated the mixed-use town centre aims to “establish a central downtown core for the community.”

In Rossland, the City Council approved an amendment allowing indoor self-storage units within the Downtown Commercial Zone, with the restriction that they cannot be located on the street level. Meanwhile, in Courtenay, a proposal is under consideration to rezone properties on Braidwood Road from Commercial Two A to Multiple Use Six. This change would facilitate a four-storey apartment building with 34 residential units by increasing the maximum building height and adjusting floor area ratios.