The Official Community Plan (OCP) Land Use Framework sets out the long-term vision for the City and allows infrastructure, utility and transit planning to align with planned development, ensuring that services are planned in coordination with land use. The framework displays spatially the intended long-term land uses for each parcel of land in the City and lays out what is possible on each parcel through rezoning and redevelopment. The OCP Land Use Framework includes two components: the draft Land Use Map and the proposed Land Use Designations.

A Land Use Map is an important tool based on the Official Community Plan. It helps visualize the future of neighbourhoods and properties in Burnaby and provides guidance on the density and location of different land uses, such as agricultural, residential, industrial and commercial. It is supported by policies from the Official Community Plan, which is based on the community’s vision and values.

The draft Land Use Map categorizes each parcel of land with different land use designations and land use overlays.

Each parcel is colour coded to show the proposed land use designations. Land use designations represent different categories of how land can be used which includes the density, height and types of uses allowed on the parcel. Some examples of land use designations include agriculture, commercial, and residential use.

Parcels with different colour outlines have land use overlays, which show where multiple uses may be allowed or there are additional requirements for using the land.

The new Land Use Map is based on parcels, which show each property in the city. This is a change from the previous City of Burnaby Land Use Map, which showed land use designations for larger areas, rather than individual parcels. Parcel-Based Land Use Maps help clarify and better align the Land Use Designations with the City’s Zoning bylaw, making the requirements surrounding each parcel easier to understand.

Land use designations are different categories for how land can be used as well as the density and heights and types of buildings allowed on the parcel. Some examples of land use designations include agriculture, commercial and residential use. These are shown on the map with different colours.

Land use overlays show where multiple uses may be allowed or there are additional requirements for using the land. These are shown on the map different coloured outlines.

The draft Land Use Map proposes more density around existing town centres and urban villages, while adding new medium density growth along transit corridors and in local neighbourhood centres. It also plans for more amenities, such as schools, to be added and expanded in growing neighbourhoods. Other key priorities that are reflected in the map include new and expanded parks and natural areas, protected agricultural lands and protected employment and industrial lands.

The designations in the Land Use Map don’t impact the current uses of individual homes or properties. They are provided to help plan potential development in the future if the property is sold or redeveloped by the landowner.

If the land use designation of your property changes, you don’t need to move, sell, redevelop or make any changes to your home.

The zoning designation for the property and the homeowner rights don’t change based on the Official Community Plan.

Land Use Designations help plan what kind of development is allowed if the property is sold in the future. If the land use designation of your property changes, it doesn’t change your rights over the property or the zoning designation. You are not required to move, sell, redevelop or make any other changes to the property.

The draft Land Use Map will be revised based on feedback from community members in fall 2024. It will be an important part of the new Burnaby 2050 Official Community Plan, which will be shared with the community members in spring 2025 to confirm that the draft reflects their values and priorities for the future. When the Official Community Plan becomes approved, the Land Use Framework will help guide the future of Burnaby over the long term.

The Land Use Map is based on the vision, values and policies in the Official Community Plan. It helps visualize at a high level how land will be used to achieve the community’s vision for the future.

The Zoning Bylaw is more specific and shows how the land use map will be implemented by providing details about what is allowed and what is not allowed on a particular parcel. The Zoning Bylaw also includes specific requirements for the parcel of land, such as conservation requirements and hazard regulations.

In Phase 3: Drafting of the Burnaby 2050 OCP engagement, community members were asked to provide feedback on two potential growth scenarios, which showed how and where growth could be focused across the city. This draft Land Use Map was designed to reflect the community’s feedback and combines the preferred features of the two potential growth scenarios to achieve the community’s vision for the future.

Community members can provide feedback on the draft Land Use Plan in multiple ways. Throughout September, residents can attend in-person open houses, participate in a virtual open house, take the online survey, or comment on the online interactive map.

To learn more about these engagement opportunities and take the online survey, visit Burnaby.ca/Burnaby2050.

Feedback received from community members will be used to revise the draft Land Use Map to ensure it is realistic, meets the needs of current and future residents, and helps achieve the community’s vision for the future.

In Spring 2025, the draft OCP, including the revised Land Use Framework and Map, will be shared with the community to confirm that it reflects their values and priorities for the future.

The Land Use Map outlines future designations for properties in Burnaby and Land Use Designations help plan the types of development on the site if the property is sold to the City in the future. It does not automatically rezone any properties; instead, it shows what the potential designation could be if redevelopment were to occur. If your lot’s designation has changed from a residential to a non-residential use (i.e. park, institution, or road) on the map, it doesn't change your rights over your property or the existing zoning. Your parcel will only be rezoned after the homeowner decides to sell to the City. When the property becomes available on the open property market, if the City is interested, the homeowner will be offered a price based on fair market value for the highest and best use. At this point, homeowners have the choice not to sell the property to the City. The Land Use Framework is a long-term plan for the City that extends beyond 2050, there is no expectation that all parcels of land will be aligned with the Land Use Framework by the year 2050 as growth and redevelopment will happen organically over time.