At the June 17th Urban Planning Committee, I will put forward the following motion for consideration.
That Administration prepare amendments to Zoning Bylaw 20001 to reduce the maximum number of permitted dwellings in the RS (Small Scale Residential) Zone on an interior lot from 8 to 6 and return to the June 30, 2025, City Council Public Hearing.
Due Date: June 30, 2025
Committee or Council: City Council Public Hearing
Rationale:
I am a staunch supporter of curbing urban sprawl, building up and not out, and adding density to nodes, corridors, and in priority growth areas. I also believe that we can have better infill for better communities that welcomes more families, provides more housing choices, and better integrates with existing neighbours.
Many of the amendments that we have put forward from the Urban Planning Committee (June 3rd link to blog) will help improve the architecture, green infrastructure, and address pain points such as waste bins and neighbourly impacts. Considering the adjustments made, unless you have an enormous midblock, a six unit maximum is more reflective of the build build potential in the space and allows more flexibility in site configuration.
From talking to neighbours, residents, advocates, builders, and other community members, I have heard that infill is needed, and desired, but minimizing the midblock impacts are the best way to help build goodwill on the block and welcome new neighbours.
My hope is that from moving from 8 kitchens to 6 kitchens, there’s an opportunity to welcome a greater diversity in unit types – three and four bedroom units midblock, enabling more family-possible units, and helping provide much more ground-oriented units, with more green site coverage, more opportunity for parking on-site, while still welcoming a significant amount of density to our city.
I’m grateful to everyone who has emailed me, attended community meetings, shared pictures, thoughtful designs and stories. Please continue to reach out if you have any further questions or feedback.