Shifting towards the right supply of housing to meet the needs of people who live and work in Vancouver is a key objective of the Housing Vancouver Strategy.

To meet the right supply targets, we are looking at new opportunities to add housing choice across the city in our low-density neighbourhoods as a key building block of a future City-wide Plan.

The aim is to deliver housing that falls in the “missing middle”, between single-family homes and higher density apartments. This housing is 4-storeys or less in height, and includes duplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, and 3-4 storey apartments.

By making room for housing that falls in the missing middle, we can accommodate the needs of a range of households at all stages of life.

Early actions

At the public hearing on September 19, Council:

• Approved the proposal to allow duplexes in most RS zones and to limit the size of lock-off units  (1 MB). Enactment took place at the Council meeting on October 30, 2018.
  
  There was a notice of motion on the Council agenda on November 14 and 15, 2018, to reconsider and reverse the recently approved amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law approving duplexes in most RS zones.
  
  Following discussion, Council voted to instruct staff to report back on December 18, 2018, with draft wording of a proposed bylaw that reverses the effects of the recent changes.
  
  Staff were also instructed to report back on the costs of consultation and to outline time constraints and impacts the possible bylaw amendments would have on moving forward with a City-wide plan. Read the staff report from the December 18 agenda  (583 KB).
  
  On December 19, 2018, Council voted to allow duplex to remain as a use in RS zones as a trial housing option over the next year.
  
  For information about development options in most RS zones, see our housing options brochure  (785 KB)
  
  For permit enquiries, contact 604-873-7611.

• Postponed the public hearing for the proposed rezoning of the RT-7 & RT-8 zones to RT-5 and rezoning of the RT-10 & RT-10N zones to RT-11 & RT-11N  (4.5 MB) to a public hearing following the election.
  
  On December 4, 2018, Council considered a staff report  (470 KB) and approved a recommendation to rescind the motion adopted on July 24, 2018 to refer amendments to RT zones in Kitsilano and Kensington-Cedar Cottage along with various by-laws, policies and guidelines to a public hearing, and instead focus planning resources on advancing the Making Room Housing Program as a key building block of a future city plan.
  
  Kitsilano and Kensington-Cedar Cottage will be included in future planning for low-density neighbourhoods as part of Making Room.

Our focus over the next year

We are taking a city-wide approach with this program and are focusing on low-density neighbourhoods as a key building block of a future City-wide Plan. 

With the start-up phase of the program nearing completion, we are planning on launching the next phase of the program early in 2019.

This will involve engaging with residents across the city on what they want to make room for in our low-density neighbourhoods and creating a framework for change to expand housing choice in neighbourhoods across the city.

Stay tuned for further details to be circulated to our mailing list and posted on our webpage when they become available.

Over the next year, the Making Room program will:

• Map and research the current conditions in low-density neighbourhoods
• Analyze new housing options and types for consideration
• Explore ways to improve affordability
• Engage with residents on what they want to make room for in their neighbourhoods
• Develop principles and selection criteria to identify suitable locations for new housing options, considering factors such as proximity to transit, shopping, schools, parks, and amenities
• Evaluate where the greatest opportunities exist for increasing housing diversity with the least impacts
• Develop recommendations on changes beyond duplex and report back to Council in spring 2019