Complete Communities Assessment

The City of Pitt Meadows has been awarded a Complete Communities Program grant by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) to facilitate a complete communities assessment and implementation plan. The project is intended to assess the completeness of the community by using geospatial¹ data to help inform future land use decision-making.

With the adoption of the provincially mandated Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Zoning Bylaw amendment in June 2024, and resulting potential increase of three-, four-, or six-times residential unit capacity, the importance of assessing community completeness became apparent. For those reasons, the study area boundary includes the Town Centre and most lands within the urban containment boundary.

Map indicating the Pitt Meadows Boundary that is part of the complete community project study area

¹Geospatial refers to mapping that is directly linked to a specific geographical location or characteristic (such as topography, Census data, or locations) and provides insights into the relationships between variables.

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According to the Province of B.C., “complete communities are communities – or areas within a community – which provide a diversity of housing to meet identified community needs for people at all stages of life, and provide a wider range of employment opportunities, amenities, and services within a 15-20 minute walk”.
They also support the efficient use of infrastructure through more compact forms of development and promote the reduction of a community’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the provision of alternative modes of transportation and movement for residents.
A Complete Community Assessment is a desktop-level, geo-spatial exercise that analyzes a community’s “completeness” by mapping its housing, daily needs, transportation, and infrastructure assets to assess how well residents are served across the community—with the goal of having services and amenities within a 15-20 minute walk of where people live.
The results of the assessment may be used to identify additional housing needs; improve connections between residents and services or amenities they frequently access; understand how municipal infrastructure can be used more efficiently; and guide where growth should be directed. The assessment also tests potential actions by comparing and evaluating different scenarios to help bridge existing conditions and achieve the community’s vision for a complete community.
The assessment will analyze Pitt Meadows through the following lenses:
Housing Lens – Why Housing Matters:
Including housing as an assessment lens allows local governments to build on the findings of their housing needs report and understand how those findings could be analyzed spatially. Considering housing options together with information generated through the other lenses can support more integrated planning and decision-making, and help to ensure that new housing supply is in locations that are close to daily needs and transportation options.
Daily Need Lens – Why Daily Needs Matters:
“Daily needs” refers to services and amenities that people typically access daily or weekly. This includes grocery stores, schools, daycares and other community facilities which should be within a reasonable walking or cycling distance of home. Ideally, these destinations are also within a reasonable walking distance of each other, creating convenient clusters of services and amenities. A complete community should strive to meet the needs of people at all stages of life.
Transportation Lens – Why Transportation Matters:
Creating a more complete and connected multi-modal transportation network provides people with a range of options to meet their daily needs. It is important that transportation options are safe, convenient and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Developing an interconnected, multi-modal transportation system offers a variety of choices for commuting, and reduces reliance on cars, which aids in shifting modes of travel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Infrastructure Lens – Why Infrastructure Matters:
Infrastructure is needed to deliver services such as water, sanitary, stormwater, solid waste and transportation. Understanding the current capacity of infrastructure and the costs to construct and sustain it assists in assessing implications of future development. Creating complete communities involves considering how to efficiently use land and infrastructure, and can help local governments manage risks and deliver more efficient provision of municipal infrastructure services.
The City’s process incorporates the three phases recommended in the Complete Communities Guide and will conclude in Quarter 3, 2025, with the submission of the complete communities assessment and implementation plan to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.
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Phase 1, Prepare (Completed):
Includes the review of the Official Community Plan, master plans, strategies, and policies to identify community goals and vision. Data and a comprehensive list of indicators is compiled and preliminary mapping is prepared. This phase also includes the formation of an Interdisciplinary Project Team, comprised of technical experts from across City departments to provide guidance on the project.
Phase 2, Assessment (Underway):
The Interdisciplinary Project Team will assist in the analysis of maps and the testing of various scenarios to identify ways to improve the completeness of the community. A land economist has been retained to determine market demand considerations and assist in the development of recommendations. This phase also includes targeted consultation to review mapping and explore opportunities for scenario testing.
Phase 3, Act (Planned):
Includes the development of the complete communities assessment report and implementation plan. It is expected that Council will receive the assessment and implementation plan in the summer of 2025, with a goal of submitting all final materials to the UBCM in September 2025.
Much of the early phases of the Complete Communities assessment involves compiling and analyzing geospatial data (i.e., data that is associated with geographic locations) to provide context and assist in the identification of potential actions. This geo-spatial mapping is largely a technical exercise relying heavily on in-house GIS expertise, with input from a technical Interdisciplinary Project Team.
Phases 1 and 2 of the Complete Communities Assessment builds on the extensive community engagement that occurred during the Official Community Plan review and master plans. Numerous consultation events were held to understand what people value most in the community and what residents would like to see in the future. This earlier consultation and resulting policies provide ample and relevant guidance that can be used to inform the assessment.
What People Value the Most:
- Small town atmosphere - including sense of community, familiarity with neighbours and businesses; easy access to amenities; engaged citizenry; family friendliness; safety; and calm pace.
- Access to nature – including easy access to areas such as rivers, farmland and green areas; scenic views; and dikes and trails.
- Recreation access – including access to trails and dikes for hiking and biking; green spaces and parks; and managed recreational places such as municipal parks and amenities.
- Simple ways to get around – including an emphasis on walking and cycling; businesses and community services close to home; and transportation linkages to the region.
What People Would Like in the Future:
- The ability to raise a family and for future generations to live in the community.
- Small town atmosphere – including a sense of community and belonging; friendliness; and participation in community.
- Access to nature and protection of natural spaces.
- Managed growth – access to services and amenities; good transportation planning.
- Mixed-use development – residential and commercial development in close proximity.
- Services and amenities most frequently mentioned – recreation/parks; food/beverage/grocer; schools and shopping.
- A balanced and diversified tax base.

Explore Maps and Data

A Complete Communities Assessment involves compiling, analyzing, and interpreting a variety of data, to evaluate how effectively a community meets the daily needs of its residents. Geospatial data – information tied to specific geographic locations – is key to this process, enabling the spatial analysis of infrastructure, services and land use patterns. Mapping offers a powerful visual tool to assess key amenities, and can pinpoint service gaps, highlight barriers to accessibility and support evidence-based planning decisions.

The maps prepared for this assessment are intended for planning and informational purposes only. They reflect the best available data at the time of publication and may be subject to revision. While care has been taken to ensure their accuracy, some errors or limitations may remain.

Below are a series of maps that highlight current conditions related to infrastructure, transportation, housing, access to daily needs, and other key aspects of community completeness. These maps are intended to support a deeper understanding of how well different areas of the city are currently served and to identify where gaps may exist. As you review them, we invite your feedback on what you see reflected in the current conditions, and your ideas for the future. We are particularly interested in hearing your suggestions on what could be explored or implemented to enhance access to services and amenities in your neighbourhood. This could include ideas for new walking or cycling connections, or changes to land use that would better support your daily needs. Your input is valuable and will help shape future planning decisions to ensure that all areas of the community can become more complete, connected and livable.

After reviewing, please send your feedback or suggestions to Christine Carter, Manager of Strategic Initiatives at ccarter@pittmeadows.ca.

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For more information on this project, please contact: Christine Carter, Manager of Strategic Initiatives at ccarter@pittmeadows.ca.

- Staff report to Council – Complete Communities Assessment Update – April 1, 2025

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Explore Maps and Data

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