The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) has issued a report that looks at the pace and volume of housing construction within BC with respect to population growth in BC. The drastic and steady incease in house prices across BC has many people saying that the availability of housing stock has not increased in step with demand, thus driving up prices of available stock. This report refutes this simplistic price-driver explanation:
…the data for the most recent year available (2016; 2.4 persons per household) indicates that the growth in homes closely tracks population growth. It also certainly undercuts any claims that there is a gross misalignment between the growth in new homes and the growth in B.C.’s population.
It’s not a hopeless situation, but it may need a change as to how this subject is managed by the policy-makers.
Effectively tackling affordability requires more than a singular focus on supply. It also requires incentivizing the right supply such as affordable rental housing and co-ops and addressing the still-significant influence of speculative demand.
The local Times-Colonist has an article that speaks to Saanich council considering to allow 6 storey apartment heights in all apartment zoned properties. The need for more housing is well understood by all.
How does this impact the area of the CCA? Since the Shelbourne Valley Action Plan was adopted in May 2017, promising planning guidance for the next 30 years, it’s been standard practice for multi-unit, multi-storey housing proposals to request greater heights than the SVAP recommends.
“If we truly wish to have a housing formula that preserves the opportunity of our residents to secure their own housing, we need to ‘flex’ to six floors,” Haynes said. “We’re told that by the banks, we’re told that by the development industry.”
…
Haynes said one concern is that neighbourhoods containing the municipality’s 211 properties with apartment zoning are governed by local-area plans that are up to 20 years old.
“The issue is now nobody knew 20 years ago we’d be dealing with the housing crisis, the planet crisis, the climate crisis that we have know.
You may find this being discussed along with a report from the Director of Planning on this topic here. A few points made in this discussion:
This is not a change to zoning. This is a change to policy that makes it easier for council to allow an increase to 6-storeys to occur.
The 6-storey height is the effective maximum height for timber frame construction, after which a builder would need to move to more expensive concrete or mass-timber construction.
Snippet from SVAP showing building height zonings, southern end of corridor.Snippet from SVAP showing building height zonings, northern end of corridor.
Abstract Development has made the recording of the Feb 24th , 2022 community meeting on their proposal for 3405 Shelbourne St. available for viewing. Please see the recorded session available at this link.
Vimeo recording at https://abstractdevelopments.com/3405-shelbourne-project-update/
Community members opposed to the proposed sale of almost 2 acres of land from the south campus of Lansdowne Middle School have organized an event to focus the spotlight on this issue.
Please join us on SUNDAY, MARCH 13th, 1:00 pm at Lansdowne south campus for a “Lie Down for Lansdowne”. This is our last chance for the public to communicate its opposition to the school land sale before the 3rd and final bylaw reading on March 14th.
This Lie Down is a message not only for the SD61 School Trustees but also the Ministry of Education, who needs to approve the sale: This sale does NOT represent the interests and wishes of a significant number of the public.
The event will be held on the Lansdowne South campus on the field slated to be sold (on Newton St.).
Please dress brightly and bring colourful blankets or tarps. Photos may be taken.
Community members opposed to the proposed land sale by SD61 of almost 2 acres of the Lansdowne school south campus have issued a media release.
On Feb 27 th , over 100 local residents gathered near the Lansdowne Middle School South Campus to oppose the proposed sale of a publicly held land along Bowker Creek a 1.9-acre natural area essential for wildlife habitat, water quality, and flood protection in the Bowker Creek watershed.
Please attend our community’s family friendly rally to loudly and visibly tell School District 61 trustees that they should stop the proposed sale of almost 2 acres of the Lansdowne School South Campus that today is a natural area alongside Bowker Creek.
When: Sunday Feb. 27th, 1 – 2 pm
Where: 2780 Richmond Rd., the south campus of Lansdowne Middle School, and the former Richmond Elementary School.
Residents of the neighbourhood and community near to the Lansdowne school south campus have started a petition to reinforce what we’ve heard from many people at SD61 board meetings: Please do NOT sell this school land.
From the petitioners:
Dear friends, neighbours, Lansdowne neighbours, Bower Creek neighbours, fellow concerned citizens,Please sign this petition to communicate to SD61 Trustees your opposition to the sale of school land at Lansdowne Middle School south campus. This land is needed to support the educational needs of students as well as the recreational, flood mitigation, and climate action needs of the general public in this rapidly densifying urban area.
The Greater Victoria School District (SD61) Board of Education passed the first two readings of a bylaw to sell 1.9 acres of Lansdowne Middle School south campus school land (next to and including a portion of Bowker Creek) on January 24th. The Board has set the third reading for February 28th. If approved this public land would be permanently lost to our community.
For full background regarding our concerns, please see the petition.
Issues include:
The rapid disposal of school land
Enrolment projections
Loss of green space
Bowker Creek flood prevention and restoration
Lack of consultation
Climate emergency
Additional actions you may take to support this “stop the sale” effort include:
A recent email from SD61 contained a media release, as shown below. This is your chance to speak to the SD61 Trustees regarding this land disposal!To speak at this meeting, you must register (please see details below).
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Special Board Meeting prior to decision on proposed Land Disposal
VICTORIA, BC — The Greater Victoria School District is hosting a Special Board Meeting next week for members of the public to share input on the proposed land disposal at Lansdowne South Campus. This will be an additional opportunity for the community to present their ideas prior to the Board considering the third reading of its land disposal bylaw.
The District is considering the sale of 1.9 acres of land south of Lansdowne Middle School to the Victoria Hospice Society for $2.5 million. The land sale is subject to approval by the Ministry of Education and three readings of the disposal bylaw. If approved, the property would be utilized as a new Centre of Excellence for Victoria Hospice Society. Proceeds from the sale would provide the District funding to renovate and replace existing Greater Victoria schools.
“Responsive to the feedback we continue to receive from the public, we are providing an additional opportunity for people to inform the Board of their hopes or concerns regarding the future use of this land,” said Board Chair Ryan Painter. “Our Board values community input and is creating the space to hear from the public prior to us reaching a final decision. This meeting reaffirms the Board’s commitment to making informed decisions while remaining transparent in our processes.”
To Register for Special Board Meeting
The virtual meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Members of the community must register to present. Each registered presenter will be allotted three minutes to share their thoughts with the Board of Education.
To register, please contact Vicki Hanley at: vhanley@sd61.bc.ca. The registration deadline is Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at 4 p.m.
For more information, please contact:
Lisa McPhail Communications & Community Engagement Greater Victoria School District Office: 250.475.4103
