The frustration over sweeping provincial housing legislation was palpable at 琉璃神社 council鈥檚 Monday (Feb. 26) meeting.

Several new bills brought down by the NDP government over the past few months dictate, to certain municipalities, how much housing they must provide and where it needs to be built.

鈥淚鈥檓 really uptight and really angry at what we鈥檝e been forced to do here,鈥� said Coun. Charlie Hodge. 鈥淚 feel pushed by the provincial government.鈥�

Staff have provided briefings on legislative amendments over the past two meetings and council considered the changes at Monday鈥檚 meeting.

They affect infill housing, heights of buildings, and what can be built around transit hubs and heritage areas, causing much concern for council and residents.

Mayor Tom Dyas noted he has had several meetings with the housing minister and staff about those concerns.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e not only hearing it from us but being at the BC Housing Summit last week, they鈥檙e hearing from other communities,鈥� he said.

The legislation, which Coun. Ron Cannan called 鈥榦ne size fits all,鈥� affects approximately 26,000 lots in the city.

鈥淚鈥檝e heard this legislation coined as 鈥榩lanning with a sledgehammer.鈥� I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 going to address affordability and housing crisis in our community,鈥� he said.

Cannan did agree with colleagues who said working with the province for a 鈥榤ade in 琉璃神社鈥� solution is the best course of action.

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said he heard from other municipal leaders at the BC Housing Summit that 琉璃神社 is 鈥榝ar ahead when it comes to policy shifts.鈥�

He also acknowledged that some residents perhaps don鈥檛 feel council has pounded the table enough with the province regarding how the changes will affect the city.

鈥淏ut at the end of the day when we鈥檙e an easy door to push on that means we鈥檒l be a community that鈥檚 selected in the future for investment and a test pilot for housing projects,鈥� he added.

Councillors did agree that the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) is essentially moving in the same direction the province has chosen.

鈥淲e are faced with probably, at least in my time, the most comprehensive zoning that I鈥檝e ever seen,鈥� said Coun. Luke Stack. 鈥淥bviously from our perspective, I think it can be tweaked to serve the interests of our community a little better.鈥�

Amendments to the OCP will be brought forward by staff in the coming months for council鈥檚 consideration, and there will be an opportunity for the public to speak to those changes.

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