The Government of British Columbia is eliminating the guessing game and negotiation process when real estate developers engage with municipal governments on the package of public benefits in exchange for added density and new uses.

Such changes through new legislation announced today will apply to both the Local Government Act governing BC municipal governments and the separate Vancouver Charter governing the City of Vancouver.

Known as community amenity contributions (CACs) in cities such as Vancouver and Surrey or the Community Benefit Bonus (CBB) in Burnaby, such public benefits supported by developers include public parks, libraries, childcare facilities, community and recreational facilities, and affordable housing.

Developers either fulfill their CACs as a cash contribution to the municipal government or through the in-kind value of funding and building the benefits, such as incorporating a childcare facility into their new building development. CACs are typically only applied to market developments — not affordable housing, for example.

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