The city of Victoria became the first local government in BC to approve an expedited process for approving affordable housing projects after city councilors voted unanimously on the new legislation after a public hearing. Under the law, projects by non-profit, government or cooperative housing organizations will no longer require restructuring or public hearings when they comply with the city’s official community plan and design guidelines. “This is a historic moment for the city,” Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said after Thursday’s vote. “The change we made tonight will create cheaper homes faster for families, employees and people who need them the most.” Hells said she “drowned” several times as she heard suggestions from residents who spoke in favor of the law on Thursday night. “It was very moving to see the community come together in this bold political approach,” Hels said. “It’s the first, hopefully, many tectonic changes in the way Victoria improves the housing development process.” BC Attorney General David Abby, who is also housing minister, welcomed the move. “Cities taking steps to speed up approvals for new public and affordable housing make it easier and faster for the county and federal government to respond to the housing crisis by building the homes they desperately need,” Abby said. “Given the scale of our housing investment, having a municipal partner facilitate quick approvals helps open doors faster for people living on the streets and in parks, as well as for people who just need a cheaper place. closer to work. “A special thank you and recognition goes to the Mayor and City Council of Victoria for taking this important and vital step in accelerating affordable housing approvals.” With approvals now being assigned to staff – including development permits and deviations – the change is expected to cut about nine months off schedule for a typical project. With housing construction inflation hovering at more than one percent a month, the new legislation could cut about $ 2 million from a typical affordable housing project. “There are three key factors that put affordable housing projects at risk once they enter the municipal approval process: time, cost and uncertainty of approval,” said Jill Atkey, CEO of the BC Non-Profit Housing Association. “The Victoria City Council has removed all three of these barriers and is now shining as an example for other municipalities that are serious about affordable housing in their communities.” Of the approximately 27,000 tenant households in Victoria, almost half spend more than 30 percent of their rental income. BC Housing has a waiting list of more than 1,100 individuals and families in need of affordable accommodation in the area. Helps said the legislation was the first of three major policy moves to close the supply gap and make homes more accessible and accessible to residents. The next step involves zoning neighborhood areas for rent. The plan includes setting up transport corridors – such as along Bay Street between Fernwood Street and Jubilee Hospital – for rent. “We will tell the builders: ‘Please build rent here because we need it.’ ” The third move involves what Helps called “the missing middle house”, where people will be encouraged to build quadrilaterals and six houses on city plots. The idea is to make it accessible for young families to live in the community where they work. “Together, these three initiatives make Victoria ready for the future,” Helps said. “I hope the public embraces the pro-zoning rent and the elements of the missing middle house as well as the affordable housing because we need housing for everyone.”
