Housing in Pemberton is getting a boost thanks to the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund.
On Wednesday, March 6, MP Patrick Weiler was in Pemberton to announce more than $2.7 million for local housing initiatives.
The announcement took place after Pique’s weekly deadline, but an accompanying press release explained the agreement will fast track 98 housing units over the next three years, while Pemberton estimates the deal will help spur the construction of more than 1,995 homes across the community over the next decade.
“This investment will help build the diverse range of housing that families are seeking in this community, while proactively planning for infrastructure and launching an e-permitting system,” Weiler said in the release.
“Through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), we will continue to cut red tape, adopt innovative practices and spur the construction of hundreds of thousands of urgently needed new homes across the country.”
Accessing the HAF marks a “significant step forward” for Pemberton, said Mayor Mike Richman in the release.
The HAF enables Pemberton to “embark on a series of initiatives aimed at addressing our housing needs effectively and foster a vibrant and inclusive community,” he said.
“In our commitment to supporting a diverse range of housing development, we recognize the importance of balancing and managing growth. That is why our approach will include the development of a comprehensive Housing Strategy to serve as a guiding framework for future decisions, as well as infrastructure planning to ensure there is more than enough capacity in our water supply and sanitary treatment systems to accommodate a growing community.”
Pemberton’s “Action Plan” commits to eight initiatives, including streamlining zoning bylaws to allow medium-density duplex and multi-family housing such as townhouses and multiplexes, and higher density as-of-right in specific areas.
“Pemberton will undertake proactive infrastructure planning to accommodate accelerated housing growth, reduce or eliminate parking minimums, create new incentive programs for accessory dwelling units and purpose-built rentals, and set up new e-permitting software to speed up development approvals,” the release said.
Pemberton’s growth pressures are well-documented. The village grew from a population of about 2,500 in the 2016 census to just over 3,400 in 2021—an increase of 32 per cent.
According to the latest provincial population projections released at the end of January, Pemberton is expected to see the most significant growth in the corridor in the coming years, percentage-wise, going from 3,661 in 2023 to 6,250 in 2046—an increase of almost 71 per cent over 23 years.
Launched in March 2023, the Housing Accelerator Fund is a $4 billion initiative from the Government of Canada that will run until 2026-27.
As of Sept. 30, 2023, the Government of Canada had committed more than $38.89 billion to support the creation of almost 152,000 units and the repair of more than 241,000 units.
“With federal funding and federal leadership we are changing how cities let housing get built in their municipalities,” said Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser, in the release.
“Today’s announcement will help incentivize 98 additional housing permits for Pemberton. By working with cities, mayors, Indigenous partners and all levels of government we are helping to get more homes built for Canadians at prices they can afford.”
