Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

District of West Vancouver passes zoning changes, falls in line with province

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Aug, 2024 04:33 PM
  • District of West Vancouver passes zoning changes, falls in line with province

Councillors in the District of West Vancouver, B.C., have narrowly voted in favour of getting onboard with provincial legislation requiring communities to allow multi-unit housing on lots that have previously been zoned for single-family homes.

The district, which includes some of British Columbia's most expensive properties, had initially rejected the provincial legislation aimed at easing the housing crisis.

The B.C. government had set a deadline of June 30 for communities to update their zoning rules in accordance with the legislation passed last fall.

Last month, the province issued a statement saying it had sent a non-compliance notice to the District of West Vancouver and a ministerial order could follow.

West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager told Monday's council meeting that he had received a letter from Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon saying, "do it, or I'm simply going to do it" when it came to making the zoning changes.

Speaking in favour of the motion, Cllr. Nora Gambioli told the meeting she felt the district hadn't done enough to tackle housing challenges and the zoning changes would apply to less than three per cent of the total number of lots in the district.

Gambioli said that amounts to just over 380 individual lots, while zoning for all other properties in the district would remain unchanged.

"We're not that special. We're not more special than every other municipality in the province, and I think we need to do our part," she said.

"We haven't been doing our part for a long time, so I am appreciative, actually, that the province has sent us, essentially, this ultimatum, and I support it."

Sager, meanwhile, said he doesn't think the province's approach is democratic. The mayor said he had sent numerous requests asking Kahlon to consider the actions the district is already taking to address housing challenges.

"It makes me ill," Sager said of the required bylaw changes.

The provincial statement issued in July said nearly 90 per cent of 188 local governments had heeded the legislation.

MORE National ARTICLES

Cabinet to meet for first time since byelection loss amid speculation over shuffle

Cabinet to meet for first time since byelection loss amid speculation over shuffle
The Prime Minister's Office says the Liberal cabinet will have a brief meeting this Friday. A separate source with knowledge of the meeting who wasn't authorized to speak publicly said it was scheduled to be 20 minutes long.

Cabinet to meet for first time since byelection loss amid speculation over shuffle

Heat warnings spread in B.C. as records tumble in second heat wave for July

Heat warnings spread in B.C. as records tumble in second heat wave for July
Heat warnings have expanded across a broad swath of British Columbia, a day after temperatures reached into the low 40s in the Interior and daily heat records tumbled. Twenty-five heat alerts are in place, up from 21 Tuesday, stretching from Whistler in the southwest to the north and central coasts and deep into the Interior.

Heat warnings spread in B.C. as records tumble in second heat wave for July

B.C. pledges support for court challenge over equalization, mulls its own claim

B.C. pledges support for court challenge over equalization, mulls its own claim
David Eby says there are differences in the legal arguments B.C. would make, but the two provinces are united in the goal of reversing what he described as "perverse outcomes" from the equalization program for B.C. and Newfoundland taxpayers.

B.C. pledges support for court challenge over equalization, mulls its own claim

U.S. eases border rules for dogs from Canada as Liberals try to secure exemption

U.S. eases border rules for dogs from Canada as Liberals try to secure exemption
Health Minister Mark Holland says he's trying to convince U.S. authorities that Canadian dogs should be allowed to cross the border without restrictions.  The Centers for Disease Control is imposing new rules on Aug. 1 aimed at stopping the spread of rabies. 

U.S. eases border rules for dogs from Canada as Liberals try to secure exemption

Trudeau outlines details of $30B, 10-year fund for public transit

Trudeau outlines details of $30B, 10-year fund for public transit
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says applications are now open for a national transit fund that will include money for existing transit systems so they can expand, improve and modernize. The $30-billion, 10-year Canada Public Transit Fund has been in the works for months and was in the recent federal budget.

Trudeau outlines details of $30B, 10-year fund for public transit

Man dies in Abbotsford prison

Man dies in Abbotsford prison
A man serving a second-degree murder sentence has died in an Abbotsford prison. Correctional Service of Canada says in a statement that Eugene Raymond Benoit died while in custody at the Abbotsford Regional Treatment Centre.

Man dies in Abbotsford prison