On June 24, 2024, Vernon City Council adopted Zoning Bylaw 6000.
Zoning Bylaw 6000 has been designed to incorporate the requirements of the new provincial housing legislation and streamline the development process by reducing the complexity of the bylaw.
Zoning Bylaw 6000 replaces Zoning Bylaw 5000.
Why is the Zoning Bylaw changing?
Zoning Bylaw 5000 has been in effect since July 2004, and contains a substantial number of residential and mixed-use zones that will be impacted by the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (Bill 44) and Transit Orientated Development Areas (Bill 47) legislation passed by the Province in the fall of 2023.
Bill 44 redefines what has traditionally been considered low density housing development throughout the Province. This change requires the City to rethink its perception of low, medium and high-density housing developments.
Bill 47 requires the City to designate Transit Orientated Development Areas (TODs) and sets out the minimum height and density the City must allow to be constructed. The City is required to designate a centre point for each TOD and must allow the height measured in storeys, and density measured by Floor Area Ratio (FAR) set by the Province:
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Within 200m of the TOD centre point.
Height Density 10 Storeys 3.5 FAR -
200m – 400m from the TOD centre point.
Height Density 6 Storeys 2.5 FAR
This change requires the City to reimagine commercial and mixed use (commercial mixed with housing) developments in the City. For the new Zoning Bylaw, this includes where they are located, the size and scale of buildings, as well as what types of uses are allowed.
What's the plan?
To meet the timelines set by the province for implementing the requirements of the new legislation, the City will be taking a three-phase approach to Zoning Bylaw 6000:
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Design: Create Zoning Bylaw 6000, incorporating the new Provincial housing legislation. Completion by Summer 2024
- Refine: Update sections not covered by the Provincial housing legislation, review feedback from the community, correct potential errors or unintended outcomes created by the changes. Summer 2024 to Summer 2025
- Align: Update the Zoning Bylaw to reflect the Official Community Plan, Transportation Plan and Housing Needs Report to ensure zoning supports the City’s growth over the next 20 years. Summer 2025 through the end of 2025