In a bid to encourage more transit-oriented housing, the
Government of British Columbia has introduced Bill 47: Housing
Statutes (Transit-Oriented Areas) Amendment Act, 2023
("Bill 47").
Bill 47, if passed, will require municipal governments to
designate land within 800 meters of rapid transit stations, such as
SkyTrain stations, and within 400 meters of major bus exchanges as
transit oriented development areas
("TOAs"). Once a municipal government
identifies a TOA, they will be required to meet certain zoning
requirements regarding height and density, which will peak at the
centre of the TOA, in the areas immediately surrounding the rapid
transit station or major bus exchange (each a "public
transit hub"), and provide for the least density in
the areas furthest away from the public transit hub within the TOA.
The form of transit will also be relevant, with increased minimum
requirements for height and density for some types of public
transit hubs, such as SkyTrain