More Provincial moves announced to encourage housing in BC

The era of the single family home may be heading to its sunset in Prince Rupert and across BC ... 

That with new measures announced by the Province on Wednesday, that encourage the development of Duplexes, Triplexes, Quads and other forms of accessory dwelling units  destined for vacant land for the years ahead.

The shift away from single family homes was noted by Premier David Eby as the proposed legislation was rolled out yesterday.

“Anyone looking for a place to live in a community they love knows how hard it is – and outdated zoning rules are making that even harder. Constructing mostly high-rise condo towers or single-family homes means B.C. isn’t building enough small-scale multi-unit homes that fit into existing neighbourhoods and give people more housing options that are within reach. That’s why we’re taking action to fix zoning problems and deliver more homes for people, faster.”

The program has been called the Homes for People Action Plan, which Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon suggests will help to address the housing crisis in BC.

“The housing crisis has made it harder for growing families looking for more space, seniors looking to downsize, and first-time homebuyers who can’t find a home that meets their needs and budget. This legislation strengthens the vibrancy of our communities, while building the type of housing that will help us address the housing crisis.”

Some of the key elements of the legislation include:

The proposed legislation and forthcoming regulations will permit one secondary suite or one laneway home (accessory dwelling unit) in all communities throughout B.C. 

In most areas within municipalities of more than 5,000 people, these changes will also require bylaws to allow for: three to four units permitted on lots currently zoned for single-family or duplex use, depending on lot size; six units permitted on larger lots currently zoned for single-family or duplex use and close to transit stops with frequent service. 

Municipalities covered by the legislation may permit additional density if desired, but cannot have bylaws that allow for fewer permitted units than the provincial legislation.

For municipal planning departments across the province the word of the day was "expedite" with the province looking to its municipal partners to streamline the process.

The legislation will also speed up local housing development approvals, by shifting local planning and zoning processes to happen up front. 

It will require municipalities throughout B.C. to expedite and streamline permitting by updating community plans and zoning bylaws on a regular basis, to ensure that they have enough housing to meet the needs of both their current and future residents. 

This will help create more certainty for both community members and home builders.

Public Hearings will also be a thing of the past should a proposed development fall within the guidelines of the Official Community Plan.

New proposed changes will also phase out one-off public hearings for rezonings for housing projects that are consistent and aligned with the official community plans. 

Instead, there will be more frequent opportunities for people to be involved in shaping their communities earlier in the process when official community plans are updated. 

The Province also has plans for a more efficient and effective process towards housing development. Noting how the current process works, and what it will evolve towards.

The reduced level of consultation with neighbourhoods may make for the most controversial aspect of the new legislation in Prince Rupert, where recent proposals have seen some push back from residents nearby, owing to what they have said was a lack of information from the City.

Mayor Pond recently commented on the Provinces moves on Short Term Rentals, noting how he was aligned with those ambitions from the Government. 

It will be interesting to see how he and Council react to more encroachment into housing, an area once under the domain of Civic government towards development.

Considering how there hasn't bee a new subdivision created in Prince Rupert Rupert since the Bill Rd/Parker Drive  and Edwards Avenue areas were developed years ago, the shape of any new developments in the community will now be guided by the new legislation.

Where City Council may hear the most concern from the public will probably come when that one vacant lot along neighbourhood streets is turned into a triplex or other multi unit housing proposal, something that might bring some commentary from the community.

The changes ahead may make for a moment where NIMBY'S as Councillor Skelton-Morven often references them, will likely share a few thoughts on the potential shift for the housing landscape of the city. 

Whether the new legislation drives forward housing in the community remains to be seen, as it is there are currently a number of previous proposals for additional housing  in Prince Rupert that still have yet to put a shovel in the ground towards construction.

So it will be with some interest to hear how Council views the new legislation and how it takes a fair bit of control over housing out of their hands. Something that may actually be a relief for them considering how heated the debate can be on housing. 

You can review the statement introducing the program here, the expanded details as to how the province sees it moving forward can be explored here.

The Homes for People plan is available for review here.

More notes from the Legislature can be reviewed here.

Our look at Housing In Prince Rupert can be explored here.