B.C. takes note as New Zealand moves to ban single-family zoning in cities – Vancouver Sun

Breadcrumb Trail Links

New Zealand will allow three homes on formerly single-family lots in five major cities, a move B.C. should consider, say housing advocates.

Author of the article:

Publishing date:

New Zealands government has ordered an end to single-family zoning in its five biggest cities, drawing the attention of B.C. housing advocates and planning experts.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Housing advocates think it is an example worth considering in B.C.s most expensive markets, but others caution it might have unintended consequences.

Legislation introduced last week would require the New Zealand cities to apply medium density residential standards to single-family areas by next August. The new rules will allow property owners to build up to three housing units, to a height of three storeys, covering 50 per cent of what were typically single-family lots in cities including Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The idea is to encourage construction of more housing, perhaps as many as 75,000 units within eight years, according to consultant PwCs estimate.

I think thats a recognition that, you know, you should let people build some housing, said Tom Davidoff, director of the Centre for Urban Economics at UBC. I think what theyve done is totally appropriate.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

In B.C., Davidoff estimated a similar change would have the biggest impact in the more expensive neighbourhoods, such as Vancouvers Kerrisdale and Point Grey. While Vancouver allows separate suites and laneway housing in those neighbourhoods, the New Zealand rules would given homeowners far more flexibility to build larger, separate units to replace single-family homes.

While the New Zealand move does make single-family homes more expensive, Davidoff said, it would have a significant effect on prices by increasing the availability of other housing types, such as multi-unit buildings.

The change is recognition that New Zealands housing shortage is being made worse in our biggest cities by limits on the number and types of houses that can be built, said the countrys housing minister, Megan Woods.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

It holds lessons for B.C. where a similar measure by the province could accomplish a lot in terms of reforming local municipal powers, said Nathan Lauster, a sociologist at UBC. who has done research on zoning and housing.

Changing those powers would likely go a long way towards opening up a lot more housing development, said Lauster, something municipalities find difficult because of political blowback.

Some B.C. municipalities have taken steps toward similar measures, but are generally predisposed against them, because powerful constituencies oppose such change.

However, Lauster said he sees hints that B.C. may be amenable to intervening on those municipal powers.

Municipal Affairs Minister Josie Osborne was not available for an interview Friday, but said by email that greater density and mixed uses play a critical role in building more affordable, greener communities.

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Brent Toderian, a former Vancouver chief planner, noted Vancouver and Ontario have taken steps toward eliminating single-family zoning, but the New Zealand model offers homeowners a lot more flexibility in what they can build.

He agrees its perfectly reasonable for the province to get rid of single-detached zoning. There are climate reasons, affordability reasons, equity reasons, public-health reason, infrastructure-cost reasons, all sorts of public-interest reasons for doing that, Toderian said.

There are risks, however, that such a zoning change could result in a land rush as the new potential to build more increases the value of existing lots, said housing researcher Andy Yan, director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University.

Part of this issue is, ultimately, the land gets repriced first before a stick of housing gets built, said Yan, which was Vancouvers experience when it relaxed single-family zoning.

Yan cautioned that such a measure would have effects on infrastructure and transit that would have to be factored in before proceeding.

That ought to begin with research, because policy without research is guessing, Yan said.

depenner@postmedia.com

twitter.com/derrickpenner

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Vancouver Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Vancouver Sun Headline News will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Read more:

B.C. takes note as New Zealand moves to ban single-family zoning in cities - Vancouver Sun