COQUITLAM, B.C., November 18, 2025 – The City of Coquitlam has scaled back proposed land use changes in the Southwest Shoulders and Corridors in response to community feedback collected over the summer.
Earlier this week, staff presented the updated land use, parks, transportation and servicing concepts for Stage 2 of the Transit-Oriented Areas (TOA) Update, which includes both the provincially mandated Transit-Oriented Areas and the City-led Southwest Shoulders and Corridors Review.
To view the full Council report, including revised land use maps, supporting policies and the What We Heard report, visit LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca/TransitOrientedAreas.
Revised Concepts Reflect Community Input
Following the second round of public engagement in June and July, the City has revised the land use changes proposed in the Southwest Shoulders and Corridors. Key changes include:
Southwest Shoulders
- Reductions to proposed Townhouse Residential land use in:
- Oakdale
- Southern portion of East Burquitlam (near Roy Stibbs Elementary)
- West Austin Shoulder
- Areas no longer proposed for townhouses will remain Small-Scale Residential, consistent with new provincial requirements permitting multi-unit housing on most single-family lots.
- Proposed Townhouse Residential land use remains in small pocket areas with stronger public support.
Southwest Corridors
- All proposed land use changes east of Blue Mountain Street have been removed
Parks
- New park proposed at Guilby Street and Sydney Avenue
- New park proposed at Morrison Avenue and Dogwood Street
- Proposed expansion of Mountain View Park
- Proposed enhancements to several existing parks
Transportation
- Reduced new streets, roundabouts and signals
- Additional proposed active transportation links to improve walking and cycling connections
Next Steps
- Staff will proceed with preparing draft Official Community Plan bylaw amendments and will return to Council in early 2026 for consideration.
- There will be a Public Hearing, providing another opportunity for residents to share their feedback.
- Updates — including advance notice of the Public Hearing — will be shared through Let’s Talk Coquitlam, social media, the Coquitlam Current e-newsletter, and other notification channels.
- For more information and to sign up for updates, visit LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca/TransitOrientedAreas or email HousingChanges@coquitlam.ca
- Likely starting in 2027, the first legislated five-year review of the Official Community Plan will begin.
About the Project
Provincial housing legislation requires all B.C. municipalities to designate areas within 800 metres of SkyTrain stations as Transit-Oriented Areas, supporting higher-density, mixed-use development. The City has proposed land use changes in Transit-Oriented Areas as necessitated by the provincial legislation.
Through this project, the City has also proposed land use changes in:
- Southwest Shoulders: Around Burquitlam and Lougheed Transit-Oriented Areas
- Southwest Corridors: Austin Avenue and Como Lake Avenue
The proposed land use changes in the Southwest Shoulders and Corridors aim to create smoother transitions in building heights and densities near SkyTrain stations, maintain housing choice (like townhousing), expand access to parks, shops and services, and plan for future transportation improvements.
Media contact
Renée De St. Croix
Director Urban Planning and Design
604-927-3430
DevInfo@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.