The City of North Vancouver is opting for an approach of “gentle infill” to meet provincially mandated housing targets.
At a meeting on Monday, council unanimously approved draft plans to update the municipality’s official community plan and zoning bylaw to allow for an additional 6,950 homes to be built.
That would address a gap in the zoning bylaw which is currently short by 6,556 housing units to reach a 20-year target of 50,322 units identified in the city’s housing needs report. The provincial government has mandated that municipalities update their official community plans to accommodate new housing by the end of the year.
So far, the city has bristled at the province’s method of forced compliance – especially because its track record of building new homes is considered good compared to other local governments.
At a previous meeting June 9, council approved the zoning approach favoured by the province – four to six units on a single-family lot – for just 35 properties.
But at the June 16 meeting, staff put forward a draft plan that would allow up to four units per lot across the city’s lower-density areas, and up to six units in the city centre and “frequent transit development areas.” Those changes would accommodate another 6,000 units.
Increasing the development potential on several city-owned properties could also add another 950 units, according to staff. Those include the Harry Jerome neighbourhood lands, city hall, the fire hall, as well as properties on East First and Alder streets.
The next step is to engage with the community via pop ups, staff-facilitated meetings and a town hall tentatively scheduled for the third week in July.
Mayor Linda Buchanan said this approach allows the city to be purposeful and intentional with adding new density.
“We make sure that even when we are adding density or homes, we’re also maintaining the livability that we are known for,” she said.
The city hasn’t shied away from delivering housing, and it doesn’t need the province to come and tell it what to do, Buchanan said.
“We have the best ability with our community to decide what works the best for us,” she said.
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