Mayor targets low-density neighbourhoods to boost housing

Vast areas of Vancouver dominated by single-family houses could soon be opened up for different kinds of housing, including more duplexes and laneway houses, the mayor’s office announced Thursday.

Next week, Vancouver’s chief planner Gil Kelley will present options to city council that could potentially bring thousands of new homes into low-density neighbourhoods such as Dunbar and Kerrisdale.

The proposed changes, following months of consultation, are meant to increase the number of housing options geared to renters earning $30,000 to $80,000 a year, and couples and families earning between roughly $80,000, and $150,000.

“I am hearing loud and clear that affordability remains residents’ top concern,” Mayor Gregor Robertson said in a written statement. “These proposed changes from city staff respond to the desire for people to have more housing options in single-family neighbourhoods — neighbourhoods where they currently cannot afford to live.”

Anne McMullin, CEO of the Urban Development Institute, said even though the proposal won’t add a huge number of housing units, it represents a symbolically significant step.

“Single-family home neighbourhoods have been sort of sacred or untouchable, so we really need to have better use of our land,” McMullin said. “That’s where the difficulty has been, it’s not that we don’t have the land, it’s the zoning. So we’ve been building on 15 to 20 per cent of the land base. So symbolically, this is a very significant first step.”

Reports will go to city council next week, and are expected to be referred to public hearing in the fall.