The City of Abbotsford prepared a new Community Amenity Contributions and Density Bonus program in 2022-23. The program will help achieve the goals of many City plans and strategies, including the Official Community Plan; Affordable Housing Strategy; Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan; Transportation and Transit Master Plan; and the City Centre, Historic Downtown, and UDistrict Neighbourhood Plans.

The project concluded on Monday September 11, 2023, with Council adoption of Zoning Bylaw and Official Community Plan amendments, and a new Council Policy (C007-11).

What are Community Amenity Contributions?

Community Amenity Contributions, or CACs, are voluntary contributions agreed to by a developer and local government as part of a rezoning process. When a property is rezoned to enable an increase in density or a change in use, there is often an associated increase in land value. Many municipalities across BC view this as an opportunity to help fund community amenities.

What is Density Bonusing?

A Density Bonus amenity contribution is provided by a developer in exchange for being able to build additional density. This is implemented through specific zones that have two density rules, one that generally applies to the zone, and another that applies if the amenity conditions are met. 

How are CACs and Density Bonusing different from Development Cost Charges (DCCs)?

DCCs are required fees paid on all new development to support the necessary infrastructure that is required to service growth across the city. The Local Government Act states that DCC funds can only be used for specific infrastructure. CACs and Density Bonusing are typically used to help fund amenities that cannot be funded through a DCC program.