Stage 3 Updates - General Amendments

What's proposed?

Stage 3 of the Zoning Bylaw is intended to address a broader range of issues under the categories of increase Zoning Bylaw flexibility, improve functionality and address gaps.

Issues in the current Zoning Bylaw have been identified and tracked over a number of years; this has informed the general amendments in Stage 3.

Staff have drafted the District Zoning Bylaw No. 2824, 2021, which will repeal and replace the current District Zoning Bylaw No. 2200, 2011. The Stage 3 Amendments include roughly 100 technical amendments and can be generally categorized into the following topics:

• Improving Clarity – definitions have been added or modified to make parts of the Zoning Bylaw clearer. Conflicting, obsolete or confusing sections of the Bylaw have been deleted or modified to improve clarity. As an example, patios, decks, balconies and porches were not defined but allowed to project into required setbacks. This could lead to confusion for staff and designers about the type of structures that are eligible to project into the setback.
  
• Increasing flexibility – a number of the general regulations have been amended to increase flexibility in the Bylaw. Staff have identified a number of sections that frequently lead to variance requests. Examples include exempting Wildsafe waste enclosures from setback requirements if the lot does not abut a lane. Staff want to incentivize developments providing a central Wildsafe waste enclosure as opposed to individual totes, however these can often lead to variance requests as accessory buildings cannot be located in a front yard.
  
• Addressing Gaps –gaps in the Zoning Bylaw that were identified and have been addressed in this amendment. Examples include prohibiting commercial water bottling as a use in all zones, or requiring shared indoor amenity space in apartment developments to be provided in a single location.

Staff presented the first draft of the Stage 3 General Amendments to the Committee of the Whole at the June 8, 2021, Special Council meeting. A link to the Staff report, completed items spreadsheet and draft Zoning Bylaw with tracked changes can be found below. To facilitate review of the proposed changes, staff recommend reviewing the report to Council followed by the completed items spread sheet, then referencing the relevant section in the draft Bylaw.

Completed Items Spreadsheet

Draft Zoning Bylaw 2824, 2021 (with tracked changes)

Report to Council - Zoning Bylaw Update Stage 3 General Amendments

June 8, 2021 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes (Item 4(iv))

Clarification of proposed rear and side setback amendments