Oak Bay and West Vancouver are two of the most unaffordable places in B.C.
MINISTERIAL directives have been issued to the districts of Oak Bay and West Vancouver to continue helping the communities improve local processes and build more homes people need, according to a press statement by the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs.
This year, advisers were appointed in the districts of Oak Bay and West Vancouver to provide recommendations for what these councils can do to deliver more homes for people faster and improve affordability in their communities. Oak Bay and West Vancouver are two of the most unaffordable places in British Columbia.
The Province consulted with the districts, which had 30 days to provide feedback about the proposed ministerial directives.
Feedback from both districts helped inform the final directives, and they align with many current council initiatives.
The directives to the District of Oak Bay are that it must:
1. amend its Development Application Procedures Bylaw to delegate minor development variance permits to municipal staff by December 31, 2025; and
2. amend its Parking Facilities Bylaw for sites containing multiple units, to a minimum of one parking stall per unit where the bylaw currently requires a minimum of more than one parking stall per unit, by December 31, 2025.
Additionally, Oak Bay must provide updates on work toward:
* meeting the December 31, 2025, deadline for updating its official community plan, with a focus on housing; and
* amending its Building and Plumbing Bylaw in relation to blasting activities, in consultation with the development community.
The directives to the District of West Vancouver are it must:
1. amend its Official Community Plan Bylaw to increase density in the Park Royal-Taylor Way area by December 31, 2025. The amendments must provide development regulations and an accompanying schedule that defines the area and provides for the minimum required densities;
2. amend its Official Community Plan Bylaw to provide for increased density in the single-family and duplex prescribed areas adjacent to Ambleside and Dundarave, by December 31, 2025; and
3. adopt the proposed Ambleside Centre Local Area Plan by December 31, 2025.
Additionally, West Vancouver must:
* identify in future annual progress reporting the type of development applications and number of housing units considered and rejected under the Preliminary Development Proposal and Public Consultation Policy.
Housing targets have delivered 16,130 net-new homes built across the first 30 priority municipalities since the legislation was passed in 2023.
Through a historic $19-billion investment, the Province has delivered 93,250 homes in B.C. since 2017, including more than 7,200 units in Greater Victoria and nearly 400 units in West Vancouver.
Quick Facts:
* West Vancouver delivered 58 of its 220 net-new units Year 1 housing target.
* Oak Bay delivered 16 of its 56 net-new units Year 1 housing target.
Learn More:
To view the directive letter to Oak Bay, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/
To view the directive letter to West Vancouver, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/
