Richard Stewart, Mayor of Coquitlam shares his thoughts on challenges around housing, infrastructure and homelessness. Story by LJI reporter Nancy Furness.

The Province of BC has recently implemented housing Bills which mandate increased densification for all municipalities over the population of 5000 through Bills 44 and 47. Bill 44 requires municipalities to allow duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes on lots currently designated for single residential dwellings.

Mayor Stewart says, “We were a leader in this, more than a decade ago we started allowing up to four units on lots of lots in Coquitlam – primarily flat land with infrastructure in place…We’ve seen some really successful examples of that.” However, he feels this won’t work in many areas designated for densification under Bill 44.

Under Bill 47, all areas within a radius of 800 meters of a rapid transit station and 400 meters of a major bus exchange or West Coast Express station are designated for even greater densification, regardless of barriers such as rivers and highways.

Mayor Stewart says “Municipalities generally weren’t consulted” and “These kinds of decisions are blind to the infrastructure needs of the neighbourhood, they’re not going to work.” Further, valuable public input is lost as there are now no public hearings allowed once the required changes are made to zoning.

The Mayor expresses frustration at Coquitlam being recognized as a leader in housing by then Minister of Housing Murray Rankin, only to be told two months later by Ravi Kahlon, the next Minister of Housing that Coquitlam could no longer do what they were doing with respect to development.

As a result of the changes, development in Coquitlam has slowed significantly. The type of densification mandated by the Province also makes tree retention challenging.

With respect to the unhoused population in Coquitlam and shelter housing at 3030 Gordon Ave, Mayor Stewart says more facilities and wrap-around supports promised by the Provincial government need to be put in place.

Churches who have traditionally stepped up to provide shelter for the unhoused during the winter months are not equipped to meet their complex needs.

When asked what one thing the Mayor would like to see happen before the next municipal election in 2026 he responds, “I would like to roll back the clock to 2023 before the Province changed everything.”