HAVAN Advocacy News
December 11, 2021
GRU #438
Government Relations Update #438
Diana Dilworth, Director of Government Relations
Jay Chadha, Government Relations Research Associate
COVID-19
For Your Information

  • From Global News - Travel restrictions and Omicron: What’s changing in Canada, U.S.
METRO WEST
For Your Information

  • Presentations on the Draft Metro 2050 Regional Growth Strategy and Transport 2050 are on the agenda for Vancouver's Council meeting of 14 December (Reconvening from the 16 November meeting). Additionally, the city's Streamlining Rental Around Local Shopping Areas policy is up for discussion yet again.


  • A report on the new TransLink Mayors' Vision is on the agenda for Burnaby's City Council Meeting of 13 December (pg. 319).
NORTHEAST SECTOR
For Your Information

  • A report on the Discontinuance of Temporary COVID-19 Noise Bylaw Relaxation for Extension of Construction Hours is on the agenda for Coquitlam's Regular Council Meeting/Public Hearing of 13 December.

  • Coquitlam hosted a very productive development liaison committee this past week in which they provided an update on their improvements to the development approval process, including hiring 5 new employees to address the exponential growth taking place (173 development applications YTD). It is worth noting that the City continues to show a commitment to significant levels of consultation with our members.

  • Port Coquitlam's 2022 Council Meeting Schedule is on the agenda of their Council meeting of 14 December (pg. 73).

  • Maple Ridge's Parking Bylaw Amendment regarding Payment-in-Lieu Parking Rates and Off-Street Parking and Loading is up for adoption at the city's Council meeting of 14 December. Also, there is a report on the Lougheed Transit Corridor Area Plan and DP Guidelines.
SOUTH OF FRASER
For Your Information

  • Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum has been charged with public mischief following his parking lot altercation in September this year.

  • Delta's updated Tree Protection & Regulation Bylaw is up for adoption at their Regular Council meeting of 13 December.

  • A report on Langley Township's proposed Environmental Improvements on Municipal Lands Policy is on the agenda for their Regular Council meeting of 13 December (pg. 219).

  • On the agenda for Langley City's Regular Council meeting of 13 December is a report on Proposed Amenity Contribution Updates and Density Bonusing Implementation (pg. 364). The report proposes increasing the current amenity contribution rate of $2000 a unit to $4000 a unit in early 2022. Additionally, the city would introduce a maximum ‘base density’ of 2.5 FAR in the new Zoning Bylaw, to create a break point between a $4,000 amenity contribution per unit rate for units up to 2.5 FAR, and a higher contribution rate for units that comprise bonus density above 2.5 FAR. The bonus density would be rolled out in a tiered system with a $1000 per unit increase per 0.5 FAR of additional density over 2.5 FAR.
NORTH SHORE
For Your Information

  • North Vancouver District's 2021 Housing Needs Report is on the agenda for their Regular Meeting of 13 December (pg. 477). Also on the agenda is the district's 2022 Council Meeting Schedule (pg. 219).

  • A report on the Ambleside Town Centre Local Area Plan is on the agenda for West Vancouver's Regular Council meeting of 13 December.
REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL, NATIONAL
For Your Information

  • Interest rate hikes are unlikely to significantly deter Vancouver's housing market as per the former governor of the Bank of Canada Stephen Poloz.

  • From The Globe and Mail - Gentle density on single-family lots helps first-time buyers get into Vancouver’s housing market.

  • The BC Road Builders have raised $639,150 for the Red Cross BC Relief fund and have a goal to raise $1 million. If you would like to provide support, you can make a contribution until December 24.

  • Canada is not in midst of a housing bubble as per former CMHC CEO Evan Siddall.

  • Lumber prices surged 5% to $1,024, jumping back to above the $1,000 per thousand board feet level for the first time since mid-June due to heightened volatility amid supply chain issues and steady demand from home builders.
RENOVATIONS
For Your Information
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

For Your Information
EVERYTHING ELSE
For Your Information

  • Here's a piece from Mansion Global on what purchasing a Real Estate NFT really means.
HAVAN, through its Government Relations department, works with Metro Vancouver local governments on important public policy issues, including pending and existing regulations which impact the home building industry. Non-partisan policy analysis and strategic consultation is provided in a collaborative approach in order to efficiently deliver to market the required supply of homes to support Metro Vancouver's 21 municipalities. Working with H. AVAN members and industry stakeholders, to build and maintain positive relations with municipal, regional and provincial governments, HAVAN is the respected voice of Metro Vancouver's residential construction industry.
Contact us: info@havan.ca | 778-565-4288 | www.havan.ca