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Government Relations Update #253
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Mark Sakai, Director of Government Relations
Twitter: @Mark_GVHBA
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METRO WEST
- Here is the staff presentation updating Council on Improving Planning and Development Processes, from Vancouver's 18 April meeting of the Policy and Strategic Priorities Committee. Or, you can have a look at their media release. From the same meeting, here is the staff presentation on Cambie Corridor Phase 3.
- Vancouver is seeking feedback on the Arbutus Greenway. There are three scheduled Open Houses, and of course, an on-line survey. Full information here on the web page and here are some sketches of possible "character zones" from The Sun.
- The Cambie Report podcast talks to Frances Bula. Yes, I think that's a typo on the top of the audio bar - Frances hasn't changed the spelling of her name.
- At Burnaby's 25 April meeting of the Sustainable City Advisory Committee, the staff report on EV Charging Requirements for New Residential Developments is on the agenda (pages 100 - 112).
- Richmond has extended its offer of free Pre-Drywall Blower Door Testing and a one-day Airtightness Techniques Course for qualified builders with an active project in Richmond. These offers are part of the 'industry capacity-building' effort in Richmond, in advance of their implementation of the Energy Step Code. Note that space is limited for both of these programs, so don't hesitate! Check out their web page for full information about the Step Code in Richmond.
- Richmond Council is 'concerned' about long-time residents in old strata properties that are being wound up for redevelopment (see the article from the Richmond News). This staff report from the Planning Committee meeting of 18 April (see pages 135 - 147 of the agenda) clearly informs Council that they have no legal jurisdiction over strata wind-up agreements, but that the City can ensure that all due diligence has been completed prior to accepting a development permit application. This item is also on the agenda of the Special General Purposes Committee meeting of 23 April. At this GP Committee meeting, the Integrated Rainwater Resource Management Strategy is on the agenda (pages 221 - 241). The 2018 Proposed DCC Amendment Bylaw, which includes a 2.2% inflationary increase, is on the agenda (pages 368 - 370).
NORTHEAST SECTOR
For Your Information
- At Maple Ridge's 24 April Regular Council meeting, the Soil Deposit Regulation Bylaw is scheduled to receive second and third reading (pages 65 - 101 of the agenda).
- At Port Coquitlam's 24 April Regular Council meeting, the "Amendment of OCP Policies and Zoning Bylaw Regulations for Small Lot Residential and Duplex Developments" are expected to be adopted (pages 125 - 129 of the agenda).
- At Port Moody's Regular Council meeting of 24 April, the Density Bonus Reserve Bylaw is scheduled to be adopted. Interestingly, this bylaw received first, second and third reading at a Special Council meeting on 17 April that was not listed on the Council Calendar. The staff report and bylaw is on pages 51 - 66 of the agenda. On the same agenda is a staff report (pages 121 - 130) on a "Residents First" policy for multi-family project pre-sales. This is a follow-up on Council direction from a 19 October meeting, first reported in GRU#231. The report makes clear that Council has no authority to regulate who may or may not purchase property within Port Moody. As a result, such a policy cannot be a requirement of rezoning, but staff can attempt to secure a voluntary commitment from applicants for a 'residents first' approach to marketing.
Opportunities to Act
- Coquitlam is seeking some feedback from builders and developers on their proposed changes to policies regulating "Mechanical Equipment in Residential Side Yards'. The staff report recommends restricting the placement of heat pumps, air conditioners and other mechanical equipment within side yards, instead requiring their placement in front or rear yards. These changes are coming about due to, apparently, a total of 23 complaints received by City Hall over the past three years. We will be collecting/collating comments from our membership for submission to the City, so if you have any comments, please send them to me (they can be made anonymous, if you wish). The City is hoping to receive our comments back by mid-May.
SOUTH OF FRASER
For Your Information
- At Langley Township's Council Priorities Committee of 23 April, the issue of Affordable Housing and Inclusionary Zoning, first brought forward at the 26 June 2017 Regular Evening Council meeting, is the sole item on the agenda.
- At Langley Township's Public Hearing of 23 April, the Williams Neighbourhood Plan is on the agenda (Item C.1).
- At Surrey's Regular Council meeting/Public Hearing of 23 April, the "Integration of the LRT Vision into Land Use Plans and OCP", and "Surrey Affordable Housing Strategy" are both listed in the agenda in the Delegations portion of the meeting.
- On the agenda of Delta's Regular Council meeting of 23 April is the final adoption of the Housekeeping Amendment to the Consolidated Fees Bylaw to correct an error in the calculation of building permit fees. On the same agenda is this staff report awarding a consulting contract for the creation of a concept plan for the Townline Node Neighbourhood. Regular readers of GRU will recall that I had no clue where the location of the subject properties were in Delta, and that the original post from GRU#244 did not include a map. I am pleased to report that I have now identified the mysterious location as the triangular area bounded on the east by 120th Street, the west by the rail line, the south by 92nd Ave, and the north by 96th Ave.
- This article attributes a surge in Langley City building permit applications, to the looming imposition of the new GVS&DD DCC rate increases.
- In his South Fraser Blog, Langley City Councillor Nathan Pachal looks at Metro Vancouver data showing migration to and from municipalities.
- At White Rock's Regular Council meeting of 23 April, the report "Zoning Bylaw Update - Upcoming Public Engagement" is on the agenda (pages 39 - 79).
NORTH SHORE
For Your Information
- Further to last week's item about amalgamation of the two North Vancouvers, here's a Global BC story that identifies a stronger preference for unification on the part of the District, compared to the City.
- At North Vancouver City's Regular Council meeting of 23 April, the staff report: "Electric Vehicles - Emerging Issues" is on the agenda (pages 497 - 501).
- At West Vancouver's Public Hearing of 23 April, the sole item on the agenda is: "Proposed Zoning Bylaw to Remove Barriers to High Performance Buildings". This item is also on the Regular Council meeting of the same date to receive second and third readings. Also on the agenda for the Council meeting is the CEEP report/update.
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REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL, NATIONAL
For Your Information
- Here's a session on "Understanding Step Code for Part 9 Buildings", offered by the BC Building Envelope Council, on Wednesday 25 April, 12 - 2pm at the Italian Cultural Centre. See the web page for full details and registration link.
- Here is the latest Bulletin from the Building and Safety Standards Branch, on "Miscellaneous Revisions to the 2012 BC Building Code".
- The Provincial Government announces that it is conducting a review of the regulators of the real estate industry (Real Estate Council of BC, and the Office of the Superintendent of Real Estate) in order to ensure that the regulatory structure is protecting consumers.
- In the Western Investor, Frank O'Brien blasts the Speculation Tax. Wish he would have mentioned the potential impacts on lands held for development, though.
- At Metro Vancouver's Board meeting of 27 April, the report on the Climate Action Strategy: Climate 2050 Discussion Paper and Stakeholder Education and Engagement Process is on the agenda (pages 16 - 82); as is the Regional Long Range Growth Scenarios - Project Overview (pages 175 - 180 ), and of course, the somewhat-disguised-but-very-obvious-if-you-know-what-you're-looking-for agenda item titled: "Proposed Amendments to the Renumeration Bylaw" (page 285).
- Here's an op-ed from The Sun on mobility pricing by Marc Lee. You can download the full study here. I'm still pondering this issue, in an effort to land somewhere on the approval/disapproval spectrum. Should it be intended as a revenue generator? Or a demand management tool? If both, then what should take priority? Which model of mobility pricing works best for our geography? How can we implement it so that it's fair to low income people who have few transportation options? Is this actually good or bad for our industry? If you've got some thoughts, email me, or catch me during an upcoming GVHBA event and talk to me about it.
- Potentially big news: CBC.ca reports that UBC would like the Millennium Line Broadway Extension to be built to UBC in a more accelerated manner, and would consider contributing funds for its construction.
- TransLink has prepared this nifty infographic on the progress of the major components of the 10-Year Vision.
- According to this Zoocasa survey, only 5% of respondents in BC think that that Foreign Buyer Taxes have improved affordability, despite the vast majority being in favour of such taxes. This is what happens when government policy is created in response to populist notions, rather than through careful consideration of actual objectives, analysis of market conditions, and unintended consequences.
- In his Vancouver Sun op-ed, Vaughn Palmer is not too impressed with the way that David Eby is handling the Proportional Representation Referendum.
- Rising construction costs imperil new residential projects in Toronto, according to this article from the G&M.
- Alberta introduces legislation to incentivize energy efficiency retrofits with no money down, and financing to be repaid via property tax payments. While our provincial government probably doesn't want to hear anything from Alberta right now, this is certainly a policy that could be welcomed here.
- Meanwhile, in Toronto, the changes to King Street have had a positive impact on transit ridership, but not everyone is happy.
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HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
For Your Information
- Here's Sam Sullivan's video take on the differing narratives on the cause of housing unaffordability in Metro Vancouver. There are a number of people (the demand-siders) who are not going to like this one.
- Joannah Connolly reports on Andrew Ramlo’s talk at a recent UDI lunch, where he said that home prices rise and fall with purchasing power.
- Michael Geller delves into his newspaper clippings archive for this webcast presentation showing how much or how little things have changed in the past forty years. Check out the website for full details.
- This piece from Vox.com says that there is no good alternative to building more homes in expensive cities.
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EVERYTHING ELSE
- Fair warning or fear-mongering? This NY Times article warns that many new high-rise buildings in San Francisco will not withstand "the big one".
- The Human Transit blog asks: "Why does transit use rise in some cities, while falling in others?" The answer, apparently, has a lot to do with what TransLink has done in Metro Vancouver. And in case you miss it in the article, here's the piece from the Seattle Times that flatteringly compares Vancouver to Seattle.
- Here are the winners and finalists from the 2018 World Press Photo of the Year Contest.
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Please feel free to distribute this email to others in your office, if you think that they would benefit from the information. If you are reading this as a forwarded message from a colleague, you can get your own version, delivered directly to your mailbox. Just let me know, and I will be more than happy to add you to my list. And don't forget, the most recent issue of GRU is always posted on the Government Relations Page of gvhba.org.
As always, comments are welcome. If there is an issue or a website that you would like me to follow, please contact me at 778-373-9784, or via [email protected]
Mark Sakai
Director of Government Relations
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