The Villages Plan: Will the city’s latest big rezoning push actually make housing more affordable?

Whenever hundreds of people sign up to speak at a public hearing, it’s usually a sign that these petitioners feel our local government hasn’t taken their view into consideration or provided them with enough information.  

That certainly appears to be the case with the city’s Villages Plan, which would rezone over 13,000 parcels of land – primarily single-family lots – in 17 so-called village areas in more suburban parts of the city.

Over 300 people have registered to speak at the public hearing, which is now scheduled for a third session later this week, though it will likely take five or six sessions to complete at the current pace. Council has also received over 2,000 written comments opposing the plan, as well as about 500 in favour. 

The sweeping rezoning would allow townhouses and multi-unit buildings up to six stories to be built in these villages, which are clustered in Marpole, Dunbar, Killarney, along Nanaimo Street, and 33rd Avenue.   

But the stronger indication that important information about the sweeping plan was unavailable or inscrutable was the 80 minutes of questions city councillors had for staff following the plan's presentation to council. 

Councillors across all parties seemed genuinely uncertain about various elements of the plan. Philosophically, councillors questioned why this idea wasn’t being piloted in a couple of areas first, and expressed concern about a one-size-fits-all approach.