Public Hearings and Consultations
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In accordance with the Public Notice Bylaw No. 5334, 2023, the City provides statutory notices electronically on the City’s website and through the City’s email subscription service in addition to posting notices at City Hall. To view current notices on the website, please visit, coquitlam.ca/PublicNotices. To sign up for the Council E-News, please visit coquitlam.ca/connect.
Upcoming Consultations
| Date | Item | Registration | Submissions |
|---|---|---|---|
The City of Coquitlam has different Public Consultation Opportunities (noted below) that allow members of the public to provide their input in a variety of ways.
Public Hearings allow affected citizens to provide their views to their elected representatives on planning and land use bylaws.
As per the Local Government Act and Bill 44 – 2023 Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act when a local government is creating or amending a bylaw for an official community plan, zoning, and phased development agreement or to terminate a land use contract, a public hearing must be held after first reading of the bylaw and before third reading. Public hearings are not permitted by Provincial Legislation for other types of bylaws and permits.
At a Public Hearing, all persons who believe that their interest in property is affected by the proposed bylaw must be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard. This involves an opportunity to make a verbal submission to Mayor and Council or submit a written submission during the consultation period. Please note that your verbal and written submissions will become part of the public record.
In December 2023, the Provincial Government implemented Bill 44 – 2023 Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act prohibiting local governments from holding public hearings for:
- Residential rezoning applications consistent with the Official Community Plan (OCP);
- Amendments to the Zoning Bylaw that facilitate small scale multiple unit housing; and
- Mixed-use projects that are consistent with the OCP, where at least half of the proposed gross floor area is residential.
The Bill is applicable to any rezoning application that has not received first reading prior to November 30, 2023.
For rezoning applications that do not require a public hearing, Council may grant first, second and third bylaw readings and adopt the bylaw (if no pre-requisites are required to be met prior to the adoption) at the same Regular Council Meeting.
While public hearings have been phased out as noted above, the City of Coquitlam is required to provide public notification prior to first reading of zoning bylaw amendments in accordance with the Local Government Act. The City meets its legislative responsibility through:
- Mail out or delivery of notice to the owners and tenants of the properties that are the subject of the rezoning and the properties within 100m of the development site, not less than 10 days prior to first reading of the bylaw; and
- Publication of notice pursuant to Public Notice Bylaw No. 5334, 2023 (on the City's website and through the City’s email subscription service), not less than seven days prior to first reading of the bylaw.
As per the Local Government Act, during the development of an Official Community Plan (OCP) or the repeal or amendment of an OCP, the proposing government must provide one or more opportunities it considerers appropriate for consultation with persons, organizations and authorities that will be affected. Consultation under this section of the Local Government Act is in addition to the required Public Hearing.
Development Variance Permits (DVPs) are permits authorized by Council to allow variances to certain City requirements, including the Sign Bylaw, Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw and the Zoning Bylaw. They may not vary the permitted uses or density of uses as regulated in the Zoning Bylaw.
DVP Applications that are going to Council allow for affected citizens to provide written submissions during the consultation period or speak on the item when it is called at the Regular Council Meeting to inform Council of their views. Please note that your verbal and written submissions will become part of the public record.
Temporary Use Permits (TUPs) are for limited term use of land not otherwise permitted in the City’s Zoning Bylaw. TUP applications are reviewed against the City’s Zoning Bylaw, including if the temporary use will operate at an intensity of use suitable to the surrounding area, if the temporary use will be compatible with regard to use, design, and operation with other surrounding land uses and that the temporary use will operate on a temporary basis only and includes plans, or a letter of undertaking to terminate the use and restore the site by the expiry date of the permit. TUPs may be issued for a period up to three years from the date the permit was approved by Council, and may be renewed once, subject to Council approval.
TUP Applications that are going to Council allow for affected citizens to provide written submissions during the consultation period or speak on the item when it is called at the Regular Council Meeting to inform Council of their views. Please note that your verbal and written submissions will become part of the public record.
Liquor licenses are regulated by the Provincial Government, however, as per the Liquor Control and Licensing Act, when the City receives an application for a Liquor License to be issued or amended that has been referred to the City for review and comment by the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB), the City will begin a public consultation period to collect submissions from the public regarding the application. Once the public consultation period is complete, a report containing the community feedback along with other relevant information is provided to Council and Council may recommend to endorse or not endorse the application. This decision is then forwarded to the LCRB for their consideration in the granting or denying of the liquor license. Please note that your submissions will become part of the public record.
Public Consultation Engagement Options
All public consultations allow for public input via written submission. Public Hearings, Development Variance Permit (DVP) Applications and Temporary Use Permit (TUP) Applications also allow for public input speaking opportunities to Mayor and Council at a scheduled council meeting.
Submissions to Council
Written submissions to Council must be received by the Legislative Services Division via email before the consultation opportunity for that application is concluded.
The submissions are provided to Mayor and Council prior to consideration of the application.
Please note submissions provided, including names and city of residence, will become part of the public record and will be published on the City's website as part of an agenda package at www.coquitlam.ca/agendas.
Public Input Speaking Opportunity
When required, Public Hearings are held on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers (City Hall, 3000 Guildford Way). They are immediately followed by a Regular Council Meeting at which Council will give consideration to items on the Public Hearing agenda, as well to any other items brought before Council at that time.
Temporary Use Permit (TUP) and Development Variance Permit (DVP) applications are brought forward for Council's consideration at a Regular Council Meeting held on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Following the public input opportunity for the item, Council will give consideration to the application.
The Legislative Services Division creates and maintains a speakers list for all public input opportunities. Everyone will be permitted to speak at the meeting for designated public consultations but those who have registered in advance will be given first opportunity.
If you wish to participate remotely, click on the meeting's Zoom registration link and select when signing up that you would like to be added to the speakers list. You may also register to attend the meeting remotely without signing up to speak to an item.
If you wish to participate in person, you can either email the Legislative Services Division or call at 604-927-3010.
Decorum at the Meeting
When speaking at a council meeting for a public input opportunity, please note that comments must be limited to five minutes and to the proposed application.
Comments are to be made to Council directly. Please do not direct questions or comments to the applicants, members of the audience, or members of staff.
Please note that the City of Coquitlam is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Speakers and attendees are expected to be respectful when interacting with staff, councillors and others. Discriminatory behaviour, threats, violence or use of profanity will not be tolerated.
For speaking tips for remote and in person participants, please consult the information provided further down on this page.
Visit the Council Agenda and Minutes page to watch the live broadcast of these meetings. You can also watch a previous meeting archived on the same page.
Members of the public can also watch meetings in person in Council Chambers located on the main floor of City Hall (3000 Guildford Way).
Make a written submission to Council about a public consultation opportunity. You may provide your submission via:
- Regular Mail: Legislative Services Division, 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 7N2
- Email the Corporate Officer: clerks@coquitlam.ca
Your written submission must include your name and address. Please note that your submission will become part of the public record once received by the City.
Important Notice
Remote participation will be conducted by Zoom, a US based video conferencing solution. Zoom can be used via a computer with a microphone, a tablet or smart phone, or by a land line. Like most similar programs/software/services, Zoom will collect a limited amount of personal information about you when you register to join the meeting. If you are not comfortable with this collection of personal information, please participate by writing to Council.
Remote Participation
To find the Zoom webinar registration link for an upcoming public consultation with a public input speaking opportunity, please look on this page under Upcoming Consultations.
Confirmation of your registration, and a unique link to join the meeting, will be sent to you by email.
If you have not pre-registered to speak, you are able to use the raise hand feature to indicate if you would like to speak on Zoom. For participants using the telephone, the raise hand feature can be activated by dialing *9. For participants using a computer/smart phone/tablet, the raise hand feature can be activated by selecting the raise hand button found in Webinar Controls.
Zoom Support Articles
- You will automatically be muted when you join the webinar
- Make sure that you are in a quiet area with no background noise
- Ensure that your device is fully charged and that you have access to a charging station should your device require it
- Do not put your phone on speaker phone
- If using a computer, it may be better to use a headset with a microphone to talk so that you can be heard
- When it is your turn to speak, your name will be called and you will be asked to unmute yourself
- Once you have finished your comments you will be muted once more and you may observe the rest of the meeting
- When you are invited to come forward, please make your way to the podium in front of Council
- There will be a microphone set up to amplify your voice
- Speak directly ahead to Council to ensure that you are audible
- Once you have finished your comments, the Chair will ask you to return to your seat