Zoning In on Transit-Oriented Development

Abstract

Problem, research strategy, and findings

Transit-oriented development (TOD) has been widely encouraged as a strategy to limit urban sprawl, increase urban density, and enhance neighborhood diversity. Federal and regional governments have been increasingly promoting such TOD in parallel with light rail transit (LRT) projects to foster sustainable transitions. Little is known, however, about the processes through which municipalities have made changes to existing land use regulations to achieve TOD goals. In this article we trace changes in municipal plans and bylaws surrounding a CA$7 billion LRT in Montréal (Canada) that opened in summer 2023, 7 years after its announcement. Specifically, we analyzed whether changes in municipal bylaws conformed to TOD plans recommended by the metropolitan government while exploring local barriers to zoning reform. Through policy and spatial analysis, we found that only a limited number of municipalities made sufficient bylaw changes between 2016 and 2022 to support TOD plans aimed at implementing mixed-use zoning, increasing urban density, and reducing parking ratios. Through an analysis of rezoning processes, we see an opportunity for improved multilevel cooperation, public engagement activities, and positive communication strategies in the process of building integrated transport and land use systems.

Takeaway for practice

These findings can aid planners and policymakers in understanding the importance of reforming municipal zoning bylaws and regional approaches to TOD, strengthening collaboration between different levels of government, and engaging in meaningful public consultation practices to foster an integrated transport and land use approach. If LRT projects are to be successful in meeting sustainability goals, greater engagement with land use regulations across multiple scales is needed to facilitate TOD.

Keywords:

• bylaws
• land use regulations
• light rail
• transit-oriented development
• zoning

Research Support

This article draws on research supported by The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) Program (CIHR CPG-170602 and CPG-170602 X- 253156, NSERC CHRPJ 549576-20), the Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Société et Culture (FRQSC) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, as well as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Canada Graduate Scholarship Master’s Program (CGS-M).

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplemental Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2023.2239771

Acknowledgments

We thank Gregory Butler and James DeWeese for their help in the early stages of the research and Julien Duffy his assistance with data collection.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aryana Soliz

ARYANA SOLIZ ([email protected]) is a postdoctoral researcher in the School of Urban Planning at McGill University.

Lancelot Rodrigue

LANCELOT RODRIGUE ([email protected]) is a graduate researcher in the School of Urban Planning at McGill University.

Christian Peaker

CHRISTIAN PEAKER ([email protected]) is a graduate researcher in the School of Urban Planning at McGill University.

Isabelle Bernard

ISABELLE BERNARD ([email protected]) is an undergraduate researcher in the School of Urban Planning at McGill University.

Ahmed El-Geneidy

AHMED EL-GENEIDY ([email protected]) is a professor in the School of Urban Planning at McGill University.