BC Housing Regulations Moving Forward With DNV and CNV

Posted on Apr 07, 2024



Both our local North Vancouver City and District are now moving forward with the BC Gov Housing Initiative.
https://www.dnv.org/community-environment/new-provincial-housing-legislation

Below is the full page with links from DNV:

n November 2023, the provincial government passed legislation intended to increase housing supply and improve affordability in all B.C. municipalities.To achieve this goal, the B.C. government has made changes to allow more homes and offer different types of housing across the province in single-family neighbourhoods, and near transit hubs and other frequent transit corridors.

Upcoming public information meetings 

Please join us at one of the upcoming sessions on this topic:

In-person Public Information Meeting

The in-person public information meeting will begin with a presentation, followed by an opportunity to mingle with staff to ask questions and learn more.
  • Thursday, April 11, 6:30 – 8:30pm – In-person Public Information Meeting at Parkgate Community Centre (3625 Banff Court, North Vancouver)
  • Wednesday, April 17, 6:30 – 8:30pm – In-person Public Information Meeting at District Hall, Council Chambers (355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver)

Virtual Public Information Meeting

The virtual public information meetings will begin with a presentation, followed by a facilitated question and answer session with staff.

How the changes will affect the District

The new legislation fundamentally changes how the District – and all local governments in B.C. – plans, considers and approves development and growth across our entire community.These rules require the District to allow increased density in neighbourhoods traditionally zoned for detached single-family homes and duplexes. This increase in density also requires updates to strategic, long-term visioning for our community and to the municipality’s zoning bylaws.District staff are reviewing policies that are impacted by these changes as the province requires that all relevant bylaws must be updated by June 30, 2024.

Key facts 

  • In most single-family neighbourhoods, the legislation supports up to three or four units per lot. In single-family neighbourhoods near frequent transit service, this could be as many as six units per lot.
  • The provincial government has designated Transit Oriented Development Areas with minimum densities and heights near Phibbs Exchange and Capilano University.
  • As part of the new rules, municipalities are no longer allowed to hold public hearings for residential projects that conform to the District’s Official Community Plan.
  • The District’s Housing Needs Report, Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw must be updated by December 2025 to accommodate 20 years of projected residential growth.

Related documents 

We will add to this page as more information becomes available, so please check back for updates.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------City of North Vancouverhttps://www.cnv.org/Business-Development/Building/New-Provincial-Housing-Legislation-Updates

New Provincial Housing Legislation Updates

 

How New Provincial Housing Legislation is Unfolding in the City

The Provincial Government has enacted legislation aimed at increasing the supply of housing within BC. This includes legislation on Transit-Oriented Areas, Short-term Rentals, Development Financing Tools and Small-Scale Multi-Unit housing. This legislation was adopted in November 2023. The City must now update its regulations to align with the legislation.

What This Means to You

The City has reviewed the legislation and identified the affected properties, which will have changes applied through new regulations by the Provincial deadline of June 30, 2024. More details are outlined below. If you have an active development application and wish to discuss what these changes mean to your project, please contact your Planning File Manager directly or email the Planning department at planning@cnv.org. Small-Scale Multi-Unit HousingThe legislation requires that the City amend certain zones to allow 3, 4, or 6 units on each lot. For the City, these zones include duplex zones (RT-1 and RT-2), as well as approximately 100 site-specific comprehensive development zones. All of these properties will be rezoned to align with the legislation by the Provincial deadline of June 30, 2024. 
 
The City will bring forward draft zoning regulations for the affected properties for Council consideration in May 2024, with final adoption anticipated in June 2024 to meet the Provincial deadline.

At this time, the City’s existing regulations remain the same until the new regulations are adopted by Council.
Transit Oriented Area (Lonsdale Quay)The City is preparing a bylaw to designate the area around the Lonsdale Quay Bus Exchange as a Transit Oriented Area, as required by the Provincial legislation. The bylaw will be brought forward to Council for consideration by the Provincial deadline of June 30, 2024. For questions, please email planning@cnv.org. 

Timeline

The City will be undertaking the required updates to meet the Province’s prescribed timelines:
  • June 30, 2024 – Updates to bylaws and regulations for Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing and Transit Oriented Areas 
  • January 1, 2025 – Development of an Interim Housing Needs Report, estimating housing needs for a 20 year timeframe, to be completed by the City in accordance with new Provincial methodology
  • December 31, 2025 – Updates to Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaws to align with the finalized Housing Needs Report

Provincial Resources

The Province has released Policy Manuals to provide further information on the implementation of the legislation. 

To learn more about the Province of BC’s housing initiatives, please visit the following websites: 
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Duplex Special Study (RT1)

Approved by Council November 22, 2021
Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No.8757 and Zoning Bylaw Amendment No.8758 have been approved by Council. These allow for duplex development for the 88 lots in the Northern Part of the Duplex Special Study Area. Properties subject to the changes are:
  • Properties fronting E 19th Street between St Andrew’s Avenue and Ridgeway Avenue
  • Properties fronting E 18th Street between St Andrew’s Avenue and Ridgeway Avenue
  • Properties fronting E 17th Street between St Andrew’s Avenue and Ridgeway Avenue
  • Properties fronting Ridgeway Avenue between E 15th Street and E 17th Street

Duplex Special Study area map

What is the Duplex Special Study Area – Southern Part? 

The Duplex Special Study Area includes 58 properties within the 300 blocks of East 13th Street to East 16th Street.The Special Study Area designation was established in the 2014 Official Community Plan (OCP) for consideration of a possible land use change at a future date to allow for duplex uses. Through the Special Study, lands could be designated in the OCP and/or rezoned.
 

What’s Happened So Far?

The Duplex Special Study began exploring low density housing options in consultation with area residents in July 2017. The process began with notification and an invitation to participate to owners and occupants within the study area by direct mail and area signage. A Preference Survey of owners, occupants and nearby residents was then conducted by mail and online, with 138 responses received. In September 2017, an Open House was held to present a series of concepts for potential change in the area, based on input to date. An online form was used to gather input on four options for land use changes. Staff presented the results of the study to Council in March 2018 to seek direction on next steps in the process. The recommended option endorsed by Council provides for a wide range of ground-orientated housing in the study area.In November 2021, Council approved Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No.8757 and Zoning Bylaw Amendment No.8758 relating to the northern part of the study area. These amendments allow for duplex development for the 88 lots in the in the northern part of the special study area without a requirement for individual rezoning applications. The OCP amendment also revised the Duplex Special Study Are boundary to remove the northern blocks from the study area, with corresponding text amendments
 

What Changes Are Proposed?

In the southern part of the study area, 58 lots are proposed to change to Residential Level 3 (townhouses, rowhouses) or Residential Level 4 (garden apartments). This would allow for ground-orientated housing in a variety of forms, including smaller, more affordable housing.
 

Process For Implementation

The process for implementing changes in the southern part of the study area is more complex than for the northern part (implemented in November 2021), because rowhouse and garden apartment forms of development do not currently exist in the Zoning Bylaw. This means that if an OCP amendment was taken forward for these lots, individual rezoning applications would still be required to take forward this form of development.Further analysis is required to developer the required guidance and/or corresponding changes to zoning that would allow for rowhouse, garden apartment or other small lot options in the southern part of the study area. This work is anticipated to start in early 2022.

Contact

Planning Department - Duplex Special Study
Email: duplexstudy@cnv.org
Phone: 604-983-7357
https://www.cnv.org/Business-Development/Projects/Duplex-Special-Study
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RT2 Zone Information
https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/zoning/zoning-by-law-district-schedule-rt-2.pdf




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