The Village of Pemberton officially adopted its new housing strategy at a council meeting Nov. 5.
The strategy is a guiding framework for future housing development in Pemberton, and work for the program is paid for by the federal government's Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). The fund granted the VOP $2.7 million for a housing action plan to “permit almost 100 new housing units above the current growth trends,” according to a release by the VOP.
Work on the strategy ran from April to October and is focused on six principles:
- Choice and Accessibility: mixed housing development for varying income brackets;
- Balanced Trade-offs: accept trade-offs are part of the process for diverse housing;
- Responsible Growth: focus development to match community needs and sustainability;
- Proactive Compliance: adhere to current and future provincial legislation;
- Collaborative Solutions: use partnerships for housing options;
- Long-Term Planning: proactively plan for the future.
The plan’s strategic direction includes sweeping updates to regulations and development approval processes, has a focus on delivering high-priority housing types, and builds partnerships while advocating for housing needs.
Mayor Mike Richman said some of the milestones already completed include the housing needs assessment in addition to the housing strategy, pre-zoning for density, removing barriers for development while ensuring housing types meet community needs, a new e-permitting system, and assessing the village’s water and sanitary infrastructure for future growth.
Patrick Weiler, member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, said in the release the HAF will greatly benefit Pemberton.
“The Government of Canada is committed to work in partnership with local governments to get the housing they need built faster," Weiler said. "The Housing Accelerator Fund partnership with the Village of Pemberton is helping fast track almost a hundred additional new homes in Pemberton over the next few years, and almost two thousand additional homes over the next decade. This investment is creating the conditions for a range of housing types from rental, to co-ops, to missing middle to supply the diverse range of housing that families are seeking in this community, while proactively planning for infrastructure and launching an e-permitting system."
The strategy was announced soon after Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre announced he would scrap the HAF program if he takes office in the next federal election. Numerous Conservative MPs seem to disagree with the stance, as they wrote letters to the federal government advocating for their communities to receive funding, according to reporting by CBC and numerous other news outlets.
On Oct. 30, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser sent a letter asking Richman about what impact a culled HAF would have on Pemberton.
Richman said because they have responded swiftly to meeting targets for the HAF, and because they receive funding as milestones are reached, he’s not worried about a potential change in federal policy should the Conservatives form government in the upcoming election.
“I did receive the letter, and I paid a little attention, but I'm not too concerned, selfishly, because we are moving along at a really good pace with our work, and we're hitting our targets," Richman said. "So, I'm pretty confident that we'll get hard value here in Pemberton out of the HAF fund, no matter what happens at a federal political level next."
