A motion to rezone single-family neighbourhoods in Victoria has moved to the next phase after a 5-4 vote at the Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday.
The motion, which has been called Missing Middle Housing, is to rezone parts of the city where currently only single-family homes are permitted, to allow houseplexes, corner townhouses,
heritage conserving infill and accessory uses.
The areas designated R1-A, R1-B, R1-G and R-2 would be rezoned under the Missing Middle Housing initiative.
Council directed staff to hold a public information session on the motion to answer questions that the community can have, though this would not be a space to provide feedback on the initiative.
Following the public information session, council will hold a public hearing, where people can address council to provide feedback on the motion and voice their support or opposition.
Depending on what is heard at the public hearing, council then has the option to vote and approve the motion, or direct staff to come back with proposed solutions to some concerns or issues raised in the public hearing.
“Let’s send this forward today to a public hearing so that we can hear from the public and I think more most importantly, the public can hear from each other and understand each other’s points of view, each other’s living circumstances, each other’s housing circumstances,” said Mayor Lisa Helps. “And then we’ll all have a better view before we make a final decision.”
Several councillors in the meeting raised concerns about the motion, including Ben Isitt who was concerned that there were no requirements for the units being built to be affordable.
“I think if the zoning of our single-family zoned land, which comprises three-quarters of the city’s land base is not part of our affordability strategy, then the city and its residents will be embarking on a huge missed opportunity,” Isitt said. “It is going to hasten and intensify the process that is already well underway of transforming this community into a playground for the rich.”
Councillor Marianne Alto said while this motion does not directly supply affordable housing, it will create affordability through other means.
“This is about transition in the sense that, as others have said, as this middle ground of housing becomes more available, people who are waiting, and we’ve heard from hundreds of them more than that over the years, who are waiting to see something that is possible,” Alto said.
“And as those people move, where they are currently living will become more available. So it does fit into that transitional piece around the continuum of housing, and while it may not be directly affordable, it will create some additional affordability in other existing units.”
Helps, and Councillors Alto, Sarah Potts, Jeremy Loveday, and Stephen Andrew voted in favour of sending the motion to a public hearing with Councillors Isitt, Geoff Young, Charlayne Thornton-Joe, and Sharmarke Dubow voting against.
The motion is set to come back to council in two weeks, if approved at council, dates for the public information session and public hearing will be set.
READ MORE: Rezoning single-family neighbourhoods on the table at Victoria council meeting Thursday
Laura Brougham
