Letterbox: Provincial housing policy will help build complete communities in Port Moody

On June 18, Port Moody council passed the provincially mandated bylaw related to small scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH), also known as Bill 44. (More details are included below.) At the time, city staff were critical of what they dubbed a: “broad-brush” approach to housing that can be “illogical and confusing.” Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Rick Glumac responds to those criticisms here.

Dear editor,

I am writing to help provide some clarity regarding recent comments surrounding the province’s new housing policy made at the June 18 Port Moody city council meeting.

In contrast to the concerns raised, provincial legislation does not prevent municipalities from creating and enforcing tree preservation bylaws and actually allows municipalities to create stronger bylaws to protect renters, secure affordable housing and traffic demand management measures.

Simply put, our legislation is intended to unlock housing opportunities so we can build the homes people need across the province while also providing new bylaw tools communities need to support strong and healthy communities.

Everyone knows we are in a housing crisis and as we build more homes, we need to create complete communities to improve the lives of everyone. This spring the province passed Bill 16 which allows municipalities to utilize bylaws as a stronger tool to accomplish this, rather than the previous practice of negotiating through rezonings.

By using these bylaws, homebuilders will know upfront what is required to support existing renters, how much affordable housing is required to be built in larger projects and what contributions they need to make towards amenities like childcare spaces, community centers and libraries to support our growing community.

One of the things I love most about Port Moody is our community’s unwavering love for nature, and I know that when it comes to housing and green space, it’s not one or the other.

For instance, tree preservation is essential to helping provide shade to people in our communities, combat climate change, and protect the local ecosystems that we all cherish. This is why the province made recommendations on building heights and setbacks that, if followed, can help ensure we preserve trees and enhance groundwater resources as we build the homes our communities need.

I also wanted to clarify that there is nothing in provincial legislation that stops the implementation of stand-alone tree preservation bylaws and reasonable “Development Permit Areas,” to be used to protect ecologically sensitive areas. Provincial density allowances that are intended to unlock more housing opportunities do not supersede or override city bylaws.

I hope this can clear up any misconceptions and I look forward to working together to build more homes for people in complete communities.

• Rick Glumac, Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA

Details on the legislation

SSMUH caused significant changes to the city’s zoning bylaw, effectively allowing nearly every owner of a single-family-zoned lot to build between three to six units, depending on proximity to transit.

Staff and several councillors raised concerns over tree preservation, which is typically negotiated through rezoning.

“With SSMUH zoning in place, the province has made clear as part of its guidance on Bill 44 that any attempt by a local government to protect trees on a lot as part of a development permit is not allowed if it results in a loss of development rights under zoning,” the staff report stated.

While the SSMUH regulation does limit lot coverage to create space for planting and amenities, staff said incentives for preserving trees need to be explored by the province.

Port Moody has already submitted resolutions to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association and Union of B.C. Municipalities, requesting the province to incorporate tree protection into its housing legislation.