Vancouver Proposing Fast-Track Policy For Social Housing Projects Up To 18 Storeys

The new policy would apply differently to different neighbourhood types

The City of Vancouver's new proposed initiative essentially pre-zones to allow social housing projects up to six or 18 storeys, depending on location, by default.

The new policy would apply differently to different neighbourhood types, with social housing buildings up to six storeys allowed in Village areas and buildings up to 18 storeys in Neighbourhood Centres.

All of the areas this new policy would apply to are located outside of the West End, downtown core, and Broadway Corridor, with the areas that allow for up to 18 storeys generally along both sides of Kingsway and south of 16th Avenue.

According to the City, social housing projects that would be allowed under this new proposed policy must meet the following criteria:

The housing is secured as social housing for the life of the building through a legal agreement with the City;

Owned by a non-profit corporation, a nonprofit co-operative association, or by a level of government; and

At least 30% of the units are rented to households with incomes below the Provincial "Housing Income Limits."

In addition to the pre-zoning and height regulations, the City has also proposed a set of simplified design requirements for these kind of projects, which the City says is intended to "improve clarity for applicants, reduce the need for variances due to unique site conditions, allow for design flexibility and different types of buildings, and increase predictability."