MLA and Port Moody council joust on housing and the 20-year target

With the city’s 20-year housing target in sight, Port Moody is free to approve and reject developments as it sees fit, Port Moody-Burquitlam MLA Rick Glumac told council on Tuesday.

The statement was met with skepticism and criticism from some Port Moody councillors during an hour-long and somewhat testy conversation that also touched on tariffs, infrastructure, and wartime powers.

Based on population projections, Port Moody needs to build approximately 9,796 new housing units over the next 20 years. However, with 6,300 units already in the development pipeline and more density expected in single-family neighbourhoods, those targets are well within reach, according to Glumac.

“Basically, Port Moody has already approved, or pre-approved, their 20-year targets,” Glumac said.

With that hurdle cleared, the city is free to introduce more stringent requirements for developers to provide rental buildings, non-market housing, or to approve lower-density housing, he added.

“If you wanted to have townhouses along St. George, you can put that in your official community plan,” Glumac suggested.

It’s very unlikely a developer would buy property earmarked for eight storeys or more by provincial legislation and then build townhouses, responded Coun. Callan Morrison.

“It just will not happen,” he said, suggesting the discrepancy could result in nothing being built.

Morrison spoke at length about the provincial housing legislation and the “huge changes being thrust upon our community.”

“I hope you can be honest with your residents and our council,” Morrison said to Glumac.

Glumac emphasized that the province wanted to ensure the 20-year housing targets are met. Beyond that, he said, the city’s official community plan is in the hands of council and the community.

Morrison asked for Glumac’s comments to be expressly stated in a letter from his office or the provincial housing minister.

Morrison also criticized the provincial housing legislation for what he described as a “paintbrush approach” that concentrated density in concentric circles around transit hubs without regard for geography.

“We have these circles that expand all the way up the Chines and in areas that don’t make sense to have eight storey buildings,” Morrison said.

Those circles around SkyTrain stations might be needed in other cities that aren’t hitting their housing targets, Glumac said.

Coun. Diana Dilworth was also skeptical of Glumac’s logic.

“Just because something is approved in 2025 doesn’t mean it’s actually even ever going to get built,” Dilworth said, recounting delays around Newport Village and Suter Brook. “To say, once we meet our numbers we have to stop considering any applications is an over-simplistic approach.”

Dilworth added that it was “highly unlikely and highly unrealistic” the city would add 5,000 units of housing by densifying single-family neighbourhoods.

The province’s Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing legislation generally allows three or four units of housing on a single lot. However, when may residents calculate the cost of adding electrical and sewage capacity, they find it’s not worth it, Dilworth said.

Council had a range of questions for Glumac, noted Coun. Kyla Knowles.

“Perhaps if you come more often the questions will be less rapid-fire,” Knowles said.

“I haven’t been asked,” Glumac responded later in the meeting.

After explaining her disappointment that Glumac’s initial presentation to council focused solely on housing, Knowles discussed a possible change at Burrard Thermal.

Located on a 199-acre property, the station was shut down in 2016 in an effort to lower electricity rates. The closure also resulted in Port Moody losing about four percent of the city’s tax base.

With the property now adding about $300,000 a year to the city’s coffers, Knowles said the province’s attempt to appeal the valuation of the land could result in another significant loss of revenue for Port Moody.

“At a time when the province continues to download its responsibilities and costs to cities across this province, refuses to share cannabis revenue with municipalities, and is mandating housing targets that are stretching our staff to the limits, how does an appeal like this show good faith towards municipalities working desperately to keep taxes low for our residents while still providing all the services our residents expect?”

“It’s kind of a loaded question,” Glumac responded, noting instances of the province funding city infrastructure and working to support B.C. businesses amid the trade war. “We might have a difference of opinion on some of the things you said but I’m here to work with you guys.”

Glumac eventually added that he’d look into the reasons for the appeal.

Knowles also took aim at proposed legislation that could concentrate power in the premier’s office.

“These are wartime powers to change or repeal any law with a cabinet order, bypassing the Legislature,” Knowles said. “How do you justify these powers for your government when no other province is doing the same thing?”

Glumac replied that the bill had been tabled but not passed.

Asked about his role as Minister of State for Trade, Glumac said he’s been meeting with representatives in 14 different markets.

“One of my main priorities is to expand and enhance our already existing trade diversification strategy,” he said.

At the outset of the meeting, Glumac asked if his presentation could exceed the city’s five-minute limit.

“We’re going to try and stick to that five minutes,” Mayor Meghan Lahti replied.

A few speakers at Tuesday’s meeting were critical of the mayor’s decision and council’s questions.

“I was disappointed on how you treated our MLA,” said Nishka Valdez. “You prosecuted him, really.”

Glumac spoke about provincial housing legislation, “and you went off on every other topic,” Valdez added.

Former councillor and mayoral candidate Steve Millani agreed.

“It was unfortunate that council did not extend your presentation time by a few minutes when their talking time seemed unlimited. I found that extremely disrespectful,” he said.

Both Morrison and Knowles defended their questioning, with Morrison describing “some passion” in seeking answers and Knowles explaining many residents bring a variety of concerns and criticisms to city council.

“It’s part of our job to deliver the frustrations of our residents and try to find responses,” Knowles said.

Lahti thanked Glumac for speaking to council.

“I appreciate you being so forthcoming and I apologize if you took offense to any of the questions.”