Expanded Transit-Oriented Housing + Accident Chris's Flower Shop

Issue #648

Author

Carla McNeil
July 05, 2026

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Sunday July 05, 2026

🚴 CAPs Club Ride | 3 Bridges – 8:45 AM

🎨 Art Workshop for Kids with Clarissa Banos – 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

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Monday July 06, 2026

🌊 FRDC Summer Camps: Journey Down the River – 9:00 PM to 4:00 PM

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Tuesday July 07, 2026

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TOH Expanding The City is moving ahead with changes that could allow taller, denser housing on about 100 additional properties near SkyTrain stations as part of its response to provincial transit-oriented development legislation.

Transit Oriented Development, or TOD, Areas were introduced by the Province in 2023 to support higher-density housing within 800 meters of SkyTrain stations. The City has five SkyTrain stations affected by the legislation.

In February 2026, Council adopted amendments to the Official Community Plan to update land-use designations for properties within the designated TOD Areas. The changes aligned the City’s plan with the minimum densities required under provincial rules. However, zoning was not changed at that time, meaning property owners or developers must still apply for rezoning before building to the new heights and densities allowed by the Province.

In June 2026, Council supported extending similar development opportunities to about 100 properties located along the edges of the TOD Areas. City staff identified those properties after reviewing local conditions such as lot patterns, roads, topography and development potential, which are not reflected in the provincial boundaries.

The proposed changes are intended to create a smoother transition in density between areas inside and outside the TOD boundaries. The City also considered whether extending the designation would help align with physical boundaries such as major roads, include blocks where most properties were already within a TOD Area, or support other City priorities such as lane access and land dedications.

On May 25, 2026, Council held a public hearing and supported an Official Community Plan amendment bylaw that would redesignate the identified properties as “Residential – Limited Mid Rise.” That designation reflects the minimum density enabled by provincial legislation and could allow rezoning applications for buildings up to eight stories.

The City noted that the change would not require property owners to redevelop. Owners would still be able to remain in their homes, renovate, rebuild or sell their properties.

The proposed changes are expected to be adopted by Council in fall 2026.

Chris’s Flowers, located at 227 East Columbia Street, is temporarily closed to walk-in customers after a vehicle struck the front of the building on Friday afternoon.

The incident happened at approximately 1:30 PM on Friday. The vehicle did not come through into the store, and thankfully, no one was injured.

According to one of our Top Detectives; “Police just happened to be on the other side of the street when it happened.”

Owner Anna said she has been told the shop must remain closed to the public until the building can be inspected and cleared for safety. The earliest an inspection can take place is Monday.

In the meantime, Anna is still selling bouquets at a discount from her floral work area, which has a separate door at the other end of the building.

Anyone who would like to support Chris’s Flowers during this unexpected closure can stop by for discounted bouquets while supplies last.

We’ll share an update when the shop is able to fully reopen to the public.

If you saw anything that may be of interest to the Police please call 604-525-5411, quote Case NW26-11191.

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