Municipal News- Abbotsford
December 14, 2021
DCC Bylaw adopted – new rates effective January 1, 2022
On Monday, December 6, 2021, Abbotsford City Council adopted Bylaw No. 3174-2021, “Development Cost Charge Imposition Bylaw, 2021” with an effective date of January 1, 2022. Please see attached bulletin, visit our Let’s Talk Abbotsford webpage or attached council report COR 029-2021 for more information.
November 16, 2021
Proposed Zoning Bylaw Update Report and Public Engagement Survey
Abbotsford staff is requesting feedback on the Proposed Zoning Bylaw Update (see here).
The report is fairly broad based focusing on a number of fairly significant changes to multi-family, commercial, and industrial projects including:
- Living arrangements (site design changes)
- Multi-family (p.4, 8)
- Accessory units (p.5, 8)
- Supplementary changes: rental tenure, retaining wall replacement, fence height, etc. (p.18, 19, 20)
- Revisions to the definitions of secondary suite, lock-off suite, among others for residential (p.5)
- Parking standards for Apartments, Commercial, and Industrial
- Updating the design, size, and the numbers of stalls required for multi-family, commercial, and industrial
- Apartments (p.22, 29)
- Large commercial (p.23, 29)
- Industrial (p.24, 29)
- Changes to Accessible Parking requirements
- Reductions for the transit corridor (p.37)
- Parking design (p.40, 41)
- Updating the design, size, and the numbers of stalls required for multi-family, commercial, and industrial
- Changing the Cash in Lieu rate from $3,000 to $22,500 per stall in the historic downtown (p.36)
- Electrical vehicle charging requirements
- For single-detached, secondary suite, duplex, rowhouse, townhouse, apartments, visitor parking (p.25, 30, 31)
- Bike parking (p.26, 31)
To provide feedback on the proposed changes please visit the City’s public Let’s Talk Engagement page (see here), which includes an online questionnaire that is open until November 19.
August 10, 2021
Abbotsford DCC
An updated DCC imposition bylaw received 3rd reading at Abbotsford Council on July 26. In response to recommendations made by the Province, several of the initially proposed projects were removed from the DCC funding. In the recent update, the proposed DCC rate increases are lower than the rates discussed in previous newsletters. See the report here (on p.117).
The revised DCC Report is currently being reviewed by the Province, the review could take up to several months.
Please contact Richard Demkiw with any questions or comments.
July 13, 2021
2020 CARIP, Sustainability Report, and Climate Action Update
At the Abbotsford Council Executive Committee Meeting of June 21 a report on CARIP, Sustainability, and Climate Action Update (see p.44) was received by Council for information. This report is a follow-up in response to the recent termination of the Minister of Municipal Affairs Climate Action Revenue Incentive (CARIP) program.
The report includes a discussion surrounding the implementation of new corporate energy and climate action updates.
Additionally, it proposes updates to the EV Readiness Requirements for Multi-Family Residential Building. The next steps regarding the EV Charging requirements will be public consultation, which is slated to take place in the fall of 2021.
May 4, 2021
DCC Bylaw
The City of Abbotsford opened up consultation for a proposed DCC update in August 2020. Since August UDI actively engaged with the City on the proposed Bylaw update. At the City of Abbotsford Regular Council meeting of April 26 the Development Cost Charges Imposition Bylaw, received 3rd reading. The report will now be submitted to the Provincial Inspector for approval prior to final adoption by Council. To see the DCC Report please see (p.76) of the Council Agenda Package.
February 23, 2021
Proposed DCC Rate Changes
Abbotsford proposed updating its DCCs in late August 2020. The proposed rate increases could be significant for single-family and commercial/ industrial builders (50-70%).
When the DCC consultation period closed on 02.16.21 UDI, CHBAFV, and NAIOP submitted a joint a letter of response to Abbotsford. The letter highlights why it is important for single-family and commercial/ industrial builders in Abbotsford to phase-in the DCC bylaw and how the City could phase-in the bylaw.
January 12, 2021
UPDATED: Development Cost Charge Bylaw (DCC) Consultation
UDI has been engaging with the City of Abbotsford regarding the city’s plans to update its DCC rates in the next few months.
On January 3 the CoA responded to the letter that UDI/CHBAFV/ NAIOP submitted in December. In the letter, the City staff note that they have extended the consultation period to February 15 2021. See the CoA response letter here.
See the joint letter on the proposed DCC changes that the three organizations submitted to the CoA on December 11.
The Urban systems report that went to the Council Committee of a Whole in December 2020 can be found here.
Please contact Richard Demkiw with any questions or comments.
December 15, 2020
UPDATED: Development Cost Charge Bylaw (DCC) Consultation
As a follow-up to consultation sessions that UDI, CHBAFV, and NAIOP has had with Abbotsford staff regarding the proposed DCC bylaw Update. We submitted a joint letter to the City of Abbotsford (CoA) Mayor and Council On December 11.
The letter requests the CoA consider phasing-in and grandfathering the bylaw, as well as, additional consultation with staff. See the letter here.
On November 9 the DCC Bylaw Update was received by Council Committee of the Whole for information. The report can be found here (see section 5.1).
December 1, 2020
UPDATED: DCC Review Information and Let’s Talk Abbotsford
On November 23, UDI, CHBAFV, and NAIOP submitted a joint letter to the City of Abbotsford (CoA) staff regarding a presentation about proposed DCC increases. The letter requests the CoA to consider phasing-in and grandfathering the bylaw and additional industry consultation to discuss specific details that were not covered in the presentation. See the letter here.
On the same day the CoA also submitted a letter to UDI. Some of the key takeaways from the CoA letter included, extending the consultation period to from November 23, 2020 to January 4, 2021 and providing additional information on Let’s Talk Abbotsford Portal. The added documents can be found in the Document Library section on the website and include, Draft DCC rate Calculations and an updated DCC Project List.
A first Draft of the Urban Systems DCC Background Report is expected to be received by Council Committee of the Whole meeting on December 14, 2020. At this meeting Council will be presented with all information received through the stakeholder engagement process up to November 23. Final approval of the bylaw is expected sometime in 2021.
November 3, 2020
Development Cost Charge Bylaw (DCC) Consultation on October 30
The City of Abbotsford hosted a meeting on October 30 to discuss updating its Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw. The presentation from the stakeholder meeting can be found here. The bylaw is slated to go to Council in December of 2020.
The City of Abbotsford hosted a meeting on October 30 to discuss updating its Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw. The proposed bylaw is slated to go to Council in December of 2020. The presentation from the stakeholder meeting can be found here. Please visit the Let’s Talk Abbotsford Portal to provide feedback on the proposed changes. Staff will be accepting feedback until November 9, 2020.
Should you have any additional questions related to the presentation and the proposal, Please contact Richard Demkiw by email at rdemkiw@udi.org or by phone 778-388-1639.
October 20, 2020
Development Cost Charge Bylaw (DCC) Consultation on October 30
As noted previously, the City of Abbotsford is updating its Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw, and will be hosting a Virtual Online Meeting between 10:00am and 11:30am on October 30, 2020. To register for the consultation session, please visit the Let’s Talk Abbotsford Portal. The information page also includes a survey for providing additional feedback.
On August 6, the City of Abbotsford held a DCC consultation session and presentation highlighting the proposed rate changes. The presentation can be found here. See here for the letter that UDI submitted to the City of Abbotsford on August 27.th
Please contact Richard Demkiw with any comments/ questions. He can also be reached by phone at 778.388.1639.
October 6, 2020
Development Cost Charge Bylaw (DCC) Consultation on October 30
The City of Abbotsford is updating its Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw, and will be hosting a Virtual Online Meeting between 10:00am and 11:30am on October 30, 2020. To register for the consultation session, please visit the Let’s Talk Abbotsford Portal. The information page also includes a survey for providing additional feedback.
On August 6, the City of Abbotsford held a DCC consultation session and presentation highlighting the proposed rate changes. The presentation can be found here.
See here for the letter that UDI submitted to the City of Abbotsford on August 27.th
Please contact Richard Demkiw with any comments/ questions. He can also be reached by phone at 778.388.1639.
September 8, 2020
Development Cost Charge Bylaw (DCC) Consultation
On August 6, the City of Abbotsford held a DCC stakeholder Consultation meeting including UDI members. After the meeting several concerns were raised that due to changing calculation metric, members noted that individual projects’ rate increases could vary from what was highlighted in the consultation session. It was suggested that additional information providing a more direct comparison of existing and proposed DCC rates would provide a more straightforward framework. As a result, on August 27, UDI submitted a letter that requests further consultation on the proposed rates.
The DCC proposal is slated to go to Council in November.
See here for the letter.
See here for the presentation which highlights the proposed rate increases for residential and non-residential developments on page 18.
August 11, 2020
UPDATED: DCC Draft Bylaw Update
As noted in the last newsletter, the City of Abbotsford is reviewing its Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw, which has not had a major update since 2008/2010. UDI participated in a Virtual Online Meeting on August 6 regarding the DCC review (see the attached presentation). It is anticipated that an updated DCC By-law will go to Council in November. If it is approved then, it will be forwarded to the Province for review.
The City has released the draft rates, and have provided an information page and survey for comment. They are asking for responses by August 28. UDI will be providing the City with a letter. If you have a project in Abbotsford, we ask that you review the material and provide Richard Demkiw with any comments/questions by August 24. He can also be reached by phone at 778.388.1639.
July 28, 2020
DCC Draft Bylaw Update
The City of Abbotsford is updating its Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw, and will be hosting a Virtual Online Meeting between 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on August 6 (see details below).
The draft rates have recently been released, and staff have provided an information page and survey for comment. Staff are asking for responses to the survey by August 31, 2020.
McKee Neighbourhood Plan
At the City of Abbotsford Executive Committee meeting on July 20, a report on Stage 1 (Background Research) for the McKee Neighbourhood Plan was presented. The presentation discussed key findings in the areas listed below:
Abbotsford Council has directed staff to proceed with Stage 2 of the plan, which will be a more in-depth engagement, exploring options of land uses, preliminary parking services, parks, trails and open space. See here P.107 of the Executive Committee of Council Committee Package on July 20 for the full report.
May 19, 2020
See here for Abbotsford COVID-19 Business Support
See here for Abbotsford City Services Updates – COVID 19
Latest COVID updates can be found here and include;
Helpseeker App connects people to various services and supports – see here
April 24th Property Tax and Utility Bill Payments Update
April 21st Federal and Provincial Financial Relief Resources
April 15th Responsive Small Neighbourhood Grants
April 14th Utility Bill deadline and other license dates extended
See here for all media releases from Abbotsford
See recent media releases below:
April 21st Engagement Opportunity for Eagle Mountain Park and Elementary School
April 14th Utility Bill deadline and other license dates extended
April 2nd #AbbyCares online resource to keep people connected – All the #Abby Cares resources will be at https://letstalkabbotsford.ca/abbycares
April 9th COVID-19 Business Support https://caed.abbotsford.ca/covid-19-business-support/
April 8th Maintaining Physical Distancing at Public Hearings
April 7th Updated – Enforcement of health orders
April 3rd 2020 Update- Planning and Development Services Update
April 2nd New Process for Public hearings Due to COVID-19
March 27th City Undertaking Additional Staffing Changes
March 26th Open Air Burning Ban Across Abbotsford
March 23rd All playground structures and skateboard parks closed to the public
March 23rd Curbside Collection and Compostables Update
March 20th Fraser Valley Transit Systems Service Update
March 18th All City Facilities Closed to the Public Until Further Notice
March 16th All Recreation Centres and non-essential facilities closed.
March 13th Events of people over 250 cancelled temporarily
March 12th Update to Residents
December 23, 2019
WeTown Proposal
On Monday December 16, UDI wrote a letter to the City of Abbotsford responding to a the recent “McKee Neighbourhood Plan -Additional Resources for WeTown” staff report. Council voted to oppose the recent WeTown report, this means that the WeTown proposal will not move forward.
A second alternate motion was then put forward from Mayor Braun regarding the future of the McKee neighborhood plan. This second motion passed successfully and recommended for the City to proceed with the original scope and planning process prior to the WeTown proposal.
Please let Richard Demkiw, know if you have any questions or comments.