2024 Annual Report Draft

Buildings and landscape

As existing buildings are renovated or redeveloped and new ones meet efficiency and performance standards, Courtenay’s buildings will become more accessible, electric, healthy and cost-effective to operate, while reflecting the city's character, identity and sense of place.

Buildings and landscape

Strategic Priorities 2023–2026

Status

Notes

Incremental updates to the Subdivision Bylaw were completed in 2024, with additional updates planned for 2025 and 2026. The original timeline was impacted by the provincial housing legislative deadline. Master plans for infrastructure will inform supplemental standard detail design, set to begin in 2025. Updates on the professional reliance model and frontage improvement costs are expected to be completed in 2025. The provincial housing legislative deadline took priority, shifting this project’s completion to 2025. Population targets were updated in 2024, which impacts the timing of DCC projects required to support growth. Council received an update in December. Plans for 2025 include introducing the proposed DCC and Amenity Cost Charge (ACC) fees to Council, engaging with industry and the public, and bringing the bylaws forward for Council consideration. The project, impacted by Bill 44, is in progress. The Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act came into effect at the end of 2023, legislating that as of May 1, 2024, cities with populations over 10,000 and a vacancy rate below three per cent must mandate principal residency criteria for short term rentals. Additionally, a provincial registry is being established and will take effect on May 1, 2025. All short-term rentals must be registered on the provincial list and comply with zoning and business licensing requirements. Staff are preparing a report and bylaws for Council’s consideration in 2025. The Zoning Bylaw update is progressing in phases. Phase one, which addressed small-scale, multi-unit housing (SSMUH) and housekeeping amendments, was completed in June 2024. Phase two will focus on housekeeping amendments and consolidating the bylaw. The final phase, scheduled for completion in December 2025, will align with the updated Official Community Plan (OCP), addressing building heights, parking and zoning to accommodate projected growth and housing needs. In 2024, Council approved the consolidation of the Harmston Area Plan and the Downtown Playbook into a comprehensive downtown local area plan, which will contemplate current and future community needs. Revisions to the City's OCP will align with provincial legislative mandates and Bill 44. This includes reviewing housing targets and growth requirements by the end of 2025. To support this effort, work will begin in 2025 to update the OCP in accordance with community growth projections and any related policies needed to meet this target. The new Amenity Cost Charges (ACCs) Bylaw introduced under Bill 44 and Bill 45 will regulate the provision of public amenities for parks and recreation through development. Council received a presentation on this bylaw in December 2024. Staff are preparing a report on proposed fees for Council’s consideration, followed by public and development industry engagement. Council will review the bylaw in 2025.

Update Subdivision Bylaw, including offsite frontage improvements.

In progress - delayed

Update Development Cost Charges (DCC) Bylaw.

In progress - delayed

Develop a short-term rental policy.

In progress - delayed

Update Zoning Bylaw.

In progress

Review and update land use regulations and bylaws for consistency with the Official Community Plan (OCP).

In progress

19

City of Courtenay | 2024 Annual Report