This follows an ultimatum from the provincial government
The District of West Vancouver has passed new bylaws to permit multi-unit housing on single-family lots, following an ultimatum from the provincial government. The council’s decision, finalized on Monday, comes after the BC government threatened to impose the regulations itself if the district failed to act.
CBC News reported the new bylaws align with the province’s Bill 44, introduced last November, which mandates municipalities to modify zoning rules to accommodate up to four units on single-family lots and up to six units on lots near transit hubs. West Vancouver’s mayor and several council members had previously opposed these changes, arguing that the provincial directives did not account for the unique characteristics of housing in their area.
West Vancouver’s Mayor Mark Sager criticized the provincial approach, stating, “This idea that you can design a municipality sitting at a desk in Victoria — it doesn’t work.” In an interview with CBC, Mayor Sager expressed concerns that the proposed changes would not address local housing needs and could exacerbate existing infrastructure challenges.
The council was under pressure to comply by the end of August, following a 30-day non-compliance order issued by housing minister Ravi Kahlon in late July. The provincial ultimatum and refusal to grant an extension compelled the municipality to pass the bylaws despite ongoing objections.
Implications of new legislation
Housing researcher Andy Yan from Simon Fraser University highlighted the broader implications of the provincial legislation, noting that while it aims to increase housing density, it does not sufficiently address affordable housing or community engagement. “It’s funny to kind of go in and see its implication towards transportation infrastructure, and how that contributes towards the ongoing traffic challenges in the city,” Yan said.
Councillor Nora Gambioli, who supported the bylaws, argued that West Vancouver needed to contribute to the region’s housing solutions. “We’re not more special than every other municipality in the province, and I think we need to do our part,” she said. Gambioli pointed out that the new zoning changes would affect less than three percent of the district’s total lots, impacting just over 380 properties.
In response to the council’s decision, Minister Kahlon expressed satisfaction, stating he’s encouraged to see that West Vancouver had passed its bylaws to align with the province’s rules. He added that the Ministry would monitor the implementation of these bylaws to ensure their effectiveness in increasing the availability of small-scale, multi-unit homes.
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