The B.C. government is offering help to municipalities to follow suite with the new housing rules.
The province announced that, starting Jan. 18 it will provide $51 million in grant-based funding from Budget 2023 to all municipalities, regional districts and the Islands Trust - a total of 188 local governments.
Cities can apply for the funding intended to support local governments to meet new legislated requirements.
The legislation is aimed at creating more housing, such as transit-oriented development and small-scale, multi-unit housing.
Local governments can use the funding to update housing needs reports, zoning bylaws, development cost charge and amenity cost charge bylaws and community plans by hiring consultants and staff. Local governments can also apply for financial assistance for research and community engagement, as part of the transition to streamline development approvals processes, something the City of Delta has already been undertaking.
Last fall, the province gave the City of Delta a housing target of 3,607 new units in the next five years.
A Delta planning department report notes that creating those net new units over the next five years represents an increase in the rate of growth compared with previous years.
Over the past five years, building permit activity has generated an average of approximately 400 net new units per year. In contrast, the housing target results in a need for over 700 net new units per year, on average.
Progress reports would be required for the first six- and 12-month periods, followed by annual reporting thereafter. Staff have begun reviewing the residential land use designations and identifying necessary Official Community Plan updates.
The scope of the work includes establishing a communications and public engagement strategy.
The report also notes municipal investments are required in a number of areas, including staffing and consulting support to implement and administer policies, improve data tracking, process an increase in development applications over the long term, as well as plan for the infrastructure and amenities required to support growth.
