Saanich Council Debates Housing Targets

Saanich Council Debates Housing Targets: A Shift from Occupancy Permits to Development Permits

Saanich council spent ninety minutes debating a motion to push the provincial government to scrap or rethink its housing targets. The targets focus on occupancy permits for new homes, but councillors want a shift to tracking development permits instead. They couldnt reach agreement Monday night, so the motion heads to the mayors housing affordability committee for more discussion.

The province set these targets for British Columbia cities in twenty twenty-three to boost housing supply in high-need areas. They aim for seventy-five percent of each areas estimated needs. In Saanich, just eight hundred ten net new homes got occupancy permits over the first two years, short of the one thousand forty-one goal. By twenty twenty-eight, the district needs four thousand six hundred ten net new homes.

Councillors like Judy Brownoff and Susan Brice argued the targets ignore factors outside city control, such as a slowing economy from U.S. trade issues and provincial funding cuts. Their original push to fully remove Saanichs targets got voted down. Others, including Teale Phelps Bondaroff, worried it would signal less commitment to housing.

A reworked idea gained traction: measure success by approved development permits, building permits, and rezonings, which the city can influence directly. Mayor Dean Murdock called this more fair, since cities cant control when developers finish projects.

Meanwhile, the province offers perks like funding for parks and bike lanes to those who hit targets. Miss them, and they might appoint advisers or force density rezonings. Advisers are already helping Oak Bay, North Saanich, and West Vancouver.

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