Whereas the Local Government Act permits municipalities, as part of rezoning and subdivision, to secure land dedication for highway purposes, and the registration of Covenants and Statutory Rights-of-way for works and services, and public access; And whereas there is a desire on behalf of the Province to reduce rezoning applications by having municipalities permit higher density developments as-of-right as per recent provincial legislation to expedite housing delivery; And whereas the Local Government Act does not currently permit a municipality to obtain dedications for highway purposes, or the registration of Covenants and Statutory Rights-of-way for works and services and public access as conditions of Building Permit issuance: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to amend the Local Government Act to allow municipalities to obtain highway dedications, and the registration of Covenants and Statutory Rights-of-way for works and services, and public access through Building Permit issuance without the approval of subdivision or rezoning.
Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs To support the shift to proactive planning, Bill 16: Housing Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 provides local governments with explicit authority to secure many amenities previously achieved through rezonings. This includes several new and expanded tools to help local governments achieve complete streets. Municipalities will now have clearer authority to require works and services for infill developments that do not involve a subdivision process by allowing them to use these authorities at the building permit stage. They will also have clearer authority to require land be provided without compensation for roads at the building permit stage in addition to subdivision to allow for a portion of land to be used for new roads or the widening of existing ones of up to 20 metres. In addition, a new authority will allow municipalities to require up to an additional five metres of land without compensation for sustainable design features and alternative forms of transportation. This can be applied at the building permit stage for municipalities or at subdivision for both regional districts and municipalities. Local governments will also have new transportation demand management authorities to define and require transportation demand management measures in new developments. The Province will monitor these new authorities to ensure they are working as intended.