Saanich does not meet the housing target, but could meet it next year

Saanich will not meet provincially set housing targets this year, but could easily meet the target next year after issuing what the mayor says was more than three times the normal number of building permits in the 12 months ending September 30 .

A provincially required progress report on housing goals, unveiled Monday night at Saanich City Council, showed the district handed over occupancy permits for just 338 units between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024.

The provincial goal was 440 in the first year – and 4,610 net new units to be completed in five years.

But Mayor Dean Murdock noted that the district issued 1,081 building permits in the same 12-month period — three times what Saanich normally approves in a year. “These will be translated into the occupancy rate in next year’s report.”

Saanich’s goal for Oct. 1, 2024-Sept. January 30, 2025 there are 1,041 homes.

Murdock said nearly a third of new building permits issued in the past year were for below-market-rate homes. “These are affordable homes at prices that people can afford to settle in our community.”

The mayor said Saanich has been working to streamline its processes and eliminate red tape to accelerate the pace of development, and the report shows the district is “making good progress.”

“We are seeing a more immediate improvement in the number of development permits and construction permits issued.”

The report, which the district will be required to submit to the province at the end of each year, notes that Saanich has updated its official community plan to identify areas that support higher density and conducted a cross-department review of development and rezoning. application process to shorten review and processing timelines.

Saanich has also expanded its workforce and introduced better technology, the company says.

The province set housing targets for municipalities around B.C. last year. Municipalities that meet the targets are expected to receive provincial funding for facilities such as parks, cycle paths and recreation centres.

Murdock said it is important to ensure the district has a land use policy, an official community plan and bylaws that are “very clear” about the types of housing the municipality wants to see built in locations where it makes sense to densify and adding new residents.

“I think that clarity of expectations and certainty about how we want to grow is conducive to a process that can be much faster and is aimed at approving those applications that align with that vision.”

If communities are not meeting the goals, or have not made sufficient progress in achieving the goals, the province can appoint an independent advisor to assist them.

If that doesn’t work, the province could overrule the municipality with the power to rezone entire neighborhoods to create more density.

The province has said it will determine municipalities’ progress based on their net new units, policy actions, initiatives, innovative approaches and partnerships designed to increase housing supply.

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