The City of Vernon has updated its zoning bylaw to align with provincial requirements on residential development and transit-oriented areas. Vernon City Council adopted this change on June 24 to meet a June 30 provincial deadline.
The new bylaw mandates the allowance of high-density buildings in two transit-oriented areas: Village Green Centre Exchange and Downtown Exchange, both identified for their frequent transit services. Within 200 metres of these exchanges, 10-storey buildings up to 3.5 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) are now permitted, and within 400 metres, six-storey buildings up to 2.5 FAR will be allowed.
This densification effort aims to address the housing shortages across British Columbia. Consequently, the city is reimagining commercial and mixed-use developments, adjusting building size, scale, and permissible uses accordingly. The city completed this extensive bylaw update in just three months, a process typically spanning a couple of years. To assist the public in understanding these changes, the city has introduced a new zoning map.
