THE City of Richmond is continuing its process to establish the underlying zoning for the 46 remaining Land Use Contracts (LUCs) within the community, according to a press release.
Consistent with the Local Government Act, Richmond City Council must consider bylaws to establish underlying zoning for the 46 remaining Land Use Contracts including commercial, industrial, agricultural, and multi-family properties by June 30, 2022, exactly two years before all Land Use Contracts in the province are terminated on June 30, 2024. Simply put, Richmond City Council must have zoning in place so that when the LUCs are terminated, there is a set of zoning regulations for the affected properties.
In fall 2017, Richmond City Council adopted a set of underlying zoning bylaws for five remaining LUCs applicable to nine properties in the north portion of City Centre.
As a next step and more recently, Richmond City Council has given first reading to 11 underlying zoning bylaws for 20 commercial and multi-family properties developed under LUCs in the south portion of City Centre. The proposed bylaws are scheduled for consideration at the regular public hearing scheduled for Monday, March 19. The proposed underlying zoning bylaws have generally been designed to reflect the specific regulations under each existing LUC to ensure that existing uses on the property continue to be permitted, while not providing for any additional development rights.
Letters have been sent to the affected property owners and tenants, with information on how to contact City staff to learn more about the underlying zoning bylaw proposed for their property. If affected property owners and tenants have no concerns with the underlying zoning bylaw proposed for their property, no action is required on their part. If they do have concerns, there will be an opportunity to express those concerns as part of the Public Hearing process. A public hearing notice will be sent to all affected property owners and tenants, in addition to surrounding property owners and tenants in early March. The notice will include details on how to participate in the public hearing process.
Unlike the approach taken for the LUCs that included single-family properties, no early termination bylaws are proposed to be brought forward for the remaining LUCs on properties containing multi-family, commercial, industrial, and agricultural uses. As a result, the remaining existing LUCs will continue to govern the use and development of the affected properties until their termination date in 2024, as established in the provincial Local Government Act.
Staff will be bringing forward underlying zoning bylaws for other remaining LUCs separately on the basis of their geographic area.
To learn more about Land Use Contracts or see if your property is covered by a Land Use Contract, go to https://www.richmond.ca/plandev/planning2/projects/LUC.htm . More information is also available by emailing luc@richmond.ca , or calling 604-204-8626.
