Burnaby is one of the first cities in North America to adopt a height-based approach to zoning, a back-to-basics approach that scraps complex rules common to most jurisdictions in favour of a simple framework that will get new homes built much faster.
“Addressing the housing crisis in our region requires real leadership and a drive to innovate at every step of the development process,” said Mayor Mike Hurley. “Switching to a height-based framework is part of our comprehensive approach to accelerating the number of homes we build in Burnaby – while also making it simple for everyone to understand how their neighbourhoods can develop.”
Burnaby’s 1965 zoning bylaw was initially effective, but over time accumulated layers of rules that ultimately made it increasingly complex and inefficient.
To address this problem, and in response to calls from the Provincial and Federal government for municipalities to speed up development approvals, the City of Burnaby launched a Zoning Bylaw Rewrite in 2023. The first action, earlier this year, simplified zoning in single- and two-family areas of the city by collapsing 12 different development zones into a single (R1) zone for small-scale multi-unit housing.
Now, Burnaby’s Height-Based Development Framework tackles high density areas such as the city’s town centres where, instead of using complicated floor area ratio (FAR) calculations, the City now uses building height to guide development.
This new system is easier for everyone to understand. By defining development potential by the number of building storeys, architects and developers can save both time and money, and focus their efforts on creating projects with good design and form. It also allows residents to easily predict what their neighbourhood will look like over time.
Burnaby has already given preliminary approval for the first project under the new Height-Based Framework, a 50-storey rental project proposed as part of the BC Builds program at 7135 Walker Avenue, with 384 market and 96 non-market rental units.
Work on the Height-Based Framework is funded in part by the CMHC’s Housing Accelerator Fund, which aims to increase housing supply and speed up housing approvals.
Learn More: Zoning Bylaw Rewrite
Quotes:
The Honourable Terry Beech, Member of Parliament for Burnaby North-Seymour —
“The Housing Accelerator Fund is providing the City of Burnaby with the support it needs to fast-track housing construction through innovative approval processes. By equipping municipalities with the tools and flexibility to address local challenges, Burnaby is better positioned to meet the growing housing demands of its residents in a more effective and efficient manner.”
Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs —
“It’s important to find new and innovative ways to get more homes built faster, and we’re working with municipalities throughout B.C., including the City of Burnaby, encouraging them to develop housing solutions that meet the needs of their communities. I’m happy to see local governments exploring new approaches and cutting red tape as part of our collective efforts to get more homes built, faster, for people.”
Anne McMullin, President & CEO for the Urban Development Institute —
“This initiative sets an example for other municipalities looking to modernize land-use policies and respond to the need for more efficient and predictable processes, particularly in the context of Metro Vancouver’s ongoing housing affordability challenges. We commend Burnaby’s effort to align this new framework with the goals of enhancing urban design standards and increasing flexibility for mixed-use development.”
Adrien Rahbar, Vice President, Real Estate with Gracorp —
“Our application for the property at 7135 Walker weaves together a variety of uses and community-oriented spaces. Delivering an exciting project like this in partnership with BC Builds would have never been possible without the flexibility afforded by the Height-Based Development Framework that allows for a greater focus on the merits of the project. Burnaby is a clear leader among municipalities in Canada during these uncertain times and we hope to do many more projects together.”
Evan Allegretto, President, Intracorp Homes BC —
“The City of Burnaby is demonstrating innovation and leadership in housing. To completely change a system of planning in a relatively short time is an incredible achievement. The Height-Based Framework helps give the public a system that is far easier to understand while supporting the housing industry by encouraging innovation and good urban design principles over a floor area ratio.”