On a 7-3 vote, council rejected a motion by Christine Boyle that would have asked staff to come forward with a future motion that could allow social housing buildings of up to 12 storeys to be built in certain neighbourhoods without a rezoning requirement.
Council Is About to Mull a Bold Solution to Vancouver’s Housing Crisis
Why Coun. Boyle’s motion to give density bonuses just to non-profits in some areas could be a game-changer.
Patrick Condon is the James Taylor chair in Landscape and Livable Environments at UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and the founding chair of the UBC urban design program. SHARES The area bounded by Burrard Street and Laurel Street, and Cornwall Avenue and Fourth Avenue, is among those Coun. Christine Boyle’s motion proposes for non-profit-only density bonuses.
This Wednesday, Vancouver council will deliberate on a member motion that might go a long way towards solving the city’s horrible housing crisis. For reasons I’ll explain, it is vulnerable to criticisms. Still, I’m glad to see it tried, as it represents a significantly new approach.
It is an extraordinary proposal: 12-storey rental housing extensively in Vancouver, with no public hearings.
Under the guise of expanding the supply of “social housing,” Vancouver council is hearing a motion this week from councillor Christine Boyle – backed by mayor Kennedy Stewart – that would unleash a divisive remake of the community.
Forget that the proposal would suffocate public hearings when development is proposed. Forget that the proposal would override zoning that took years of negotiations to define.
Forget that the proposal doubles down on a move only last month by council to permit extra height and density in several districts.
As well, the motion directs city staff to report back to city council with recommendations on allowing additional height and density for social housing in other zoning residential zoning districts, including single-family neighbourhoods and mixed commercial-residential areas.
Map of RM-3A, RM-4, and RM-4N zoning districts in Vancouver. (City of Vancouver)
Apart from the benefit of more social housing, this would allow proponents to skip the rezoning process, and go straight to the development permit application process, which would reduce costs of between $400,000 and $800,000 for each proposal and shave off a year or longer from the municipal government’s review process.