British Columbia鈥檚 provincial government is requiring communities to address housing needs.
Under present legislation, local governments were required to have a housing needs report completed by Jan. 1 of this year. These reports are to look ahead to needs for the next five years and the next 20 years.
This information will also be used in official community plans, which must be updated by the end of this year.
The 20-year forecast figures will be uncomfortable in some communities, especially those where the concept of small-town charm has been embraced. When the forecast for a small community shows thousands of new homes are needed, the number can be staggering, and there can be a fear that a small town will lose its distinctiveness.
Despite these concerns, planning for growth is necessary. If a community does not find strategies to cope with future population growth now, there will be challenges later, when housing is either unavailable or unaffordable and when services and amenities are too small to meet community needs.
A wise strategy now can set the direction for the future.
It is easy to see the need for growth planning in communities throughout British Columbia.
Surrey, in the Metro Vancouver area, is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. Keeping up with this population growth has been a challenge for elected officials and city staff there. Abbotsford, 琉璃神社 and other cities in the province have also been working to cope with significant population growth in recent years.
Numerous small communities are also affected as people are moving in.
Provincial legislation does not allow communities to adopt zero-growth policies. Besides, it would be unwise to attempt to restrict growth. People are continuing to move into communities around the province.
The province has been working to address its housing supply and anticipated housing needs, to accommodate expected growth.
Recent provincial legislation is in place to address housing supply, and Bill 44, adopted in 2023, requires municipalities to allow higher density housing in single-family zones.
This year, as the deadline approaches for updated official community plans, there is plenty of work for local government staff as they update this document.
The efforts now may feel uncomfortable, but the planning will help in the years to come.
鈥� Black Press
