Housing Action Program

At the November 12, 2024 Regular Meeting of Council, Council received the Interim Housing Needs Report (HNR). HNRs describe the current and anticipated housing needs within the community.

As a result of provincial legislative changes municipalities must prepare an Interim HNR by January 1, 2025, using the prescribed HNR Method to identify the 5 and 20-year housing needs in their communities.

The District of Oak Bay's five year housing need is 1,215; whereas the 20 year housing need is 3,761 units.

Municipalities, including Oak Bay must update the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw by December 31, 2025 to accommodate the number of units identified using the new standardized HNR method.

At the September 23, 2024 Regular Meeting of Council, Council approved the scope of the OCP and Zoning Bylaw updates to respond to the provincial legislative requirements.

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At the September 23, 2024 Regular Meeting of Council, Council approved the Project Sign Off for the Official Community Plan (OCP) update and Zoning Bylaw updates.

The review and update to the OCP and Zoning Bylaw will focus on an updated land use and growth management framework, ensure alignment with the updated Housing Needs Report, incorporate recent District plans and strategies and a more robust approach to monitoring, review and implementation.

The OCP update will include community engagement around the OCP framework and an updated OCP and Zoning Bylaw that meets the provincial legislation as well as the needs of the Oak Bay community.

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On June 24, 2024 Oak Bay Council adopted bylaw amendments to create the Infill Housing Program and respond to the Provincial Small Scale Multi Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation.

The Infill Housing Program has been based on the three Guiding Principles from 2022:

Provide Diverse Housing Options: provides creating the opportunity for new housing options such as coach houses, triplex and fourplex across all existing single-family neighbourhoods in the District. Most properties are now eligible for up to four (4) units.

Ease of Implementation: The amendments to the Zoning Bylaw and Parking Facilities Bylaw provide flexibility by allowing for SSMUH Infill Housing, regardless of ownership or rental tenure, and with added flexibility for the retention of existing homes as well as for new build projects. Also, Development Permit review is not required for Infill Housing, only a Building Permit is required.

Cherish What the Community Loves: The amendments provide a range of options for infill, are respecting the community character through limited changes to regulations such as setbacks and height. Parking minimums have been reduced to support tree retention. A Live Landscaping requirement has been added to protect space for trees and gardens. Heritage designated properties have separate arrangements. and the flexibility required to support a greater diversity of housing options.

The Infill Housing Program Bylaw Updates are the first steps in the wider Oak Bay Housing Action Program (HAP). The District’s HAP combines Council Priority Projects and the Provincial Housing mandates and share the same goal of increasing housing supply, creating more diverse housing choice over time, and contributing to more affordable housing.

At the June 3 Special Council meeting Council received the report titled Zoning Bylaw Changes for Infill Housing and Provincial Mandate.

Council gave first and second reading to Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 4871, 2024 for an Infill Housing Program to meet Provincial requirements.

Council gave first, second and third reading to Parking Facilities Amendment Bylaw No. 4873, 2024 to support the implementation of the Infill Housing Program and Provincial requirements (by updating parking minimum requirements related to infill housing types).

Council directed staff to report back on options for various delegated authorities including variances for existing buildings, stratification of existing buildings, driveway access, design elements along residential frontages, and minor lot coverage variances.

Council also directed staff to report back on the implementation of infill housing program by the end of 2024.

Council will consider third reading and adoption of Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 4871, 2024 and adoption of the Parking Facilities Amendment Bylaw No. 4873, 2024 at the June 24, 2024 Council meeting.

On Monday, June 3, Oak Bay Council will discuss the Zoning Bylaw Changes for infill housing and the Provincial Mandate. The agenda for the Special Council Meeting on Monday June 3, 2024 at 7pm has been posted. The meeting is open to the public and you can attend the meeting in person, via Zoom or telephone.

Council will be presented with a report that documents Oak Bay’s Infill Housing Program’s approach to the Provincial Small Scale Multi Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation. The approach and preparation of the bylaws were developed based on the key directions from the Oak Bay Infill Housing Strategy, careful consideration of the Provincial Policy Manual and Site Standards and analysis in the context of the District’s land use, community feedback and Council direction.

The proposed Zoning Bylaw amendments and Parking Facilities Bylaw amendments provide flexibility by allowing for SSMUH with the retention of existing homes as well as for newly built projects. The amendments provide a range of options for infill, respecting the community character and the flexibility required to support a greater diversity of housing options.

Staff are recommending that Council give first and second reading to the Zoning Amendment Bylaw and first, second and third reading to the Parking Facilities Amendment Bylaw for the Infill Housing Program to permit SSMUH.

The Infill Housing Program Bylaw Updates, required by end of June 2024, are the first steps in the wider Oak Bay Housing Action Program. There will be further opportunity to review the Infill Housing Program elements through the comprehensive Official Community Plan review and the comprehensive Zoning Bylaw review required by the end of December 2025.

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who attended our community events regarding the District of Oak Bay’s Infill Housing Program Bylaw Updates. We heard from many corners of the community and appreciate every piece of feedback provided throughout the process.

Over 500 members of the community joined us for a webinar, open houses and a Special Committee of the Whole Meeting with Oak Bay Council. Feedback collected at these engagement events will be included in an engagement summary presented to Oak Bay Council.

Upcoming Meetings

The following meetings are open to the public and include:

• May 16 – Special Committee of the Whole: Follow-up Special Committee of the Whole to continue Council discussion from the May 6 meeting.
• June 3 – Special Council Meeting: Presenting the draft Zoning Bylaw to meet provincial requirements for Council consideration with a recommendation for First and Second Reading.
• June 24 – Regular Council Meeting: Council consideration of the Zoning Bylaw changes for Third Reading and Adoption.

As the District of Oak Bay continues to implement the Housing Action Program, there will be many opportunities to provide your input on Council Priority Projects related to housing.

In late 2023, the Province of British Columbia introduced sweeping changes to the Local Government Act to increase housing supply and create more diverse housing options in BC. Bill 44 - Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act requires municipalities to allow small-scale multi-unit housing in land-use zones that are otherwise restricted to single-family dwellings or duplexes.

Small-scale multi-unit housing is ground-oriented housing typically built at the scale of single-detached and duplex housing and could include secondary suites, garden suites and laneway homes, townhomes, triplexes, and house-plexes.

The District’s Housing Action Program (HAP) combines Council Priority Projects related to housing, while also responding to the Provincial housing initiatives. The HAP will be implemented over the next five years and aims to increase housing supply, create more diverse housing choices, and over time contribute to more affordable housing.

The first initiative of the HAP is to update the Zoning Bylaw and Official Community Plan (OCP) to establish an Infill Housing Program that also meets the new Provincial requirements (for small-scale multi-unit housing). The Infill Housing Program Bylaw Updates build on guiding principles and directions from the Oak Bay Infill Housing Strategy, to support infill best suited for the Oak Bay context.

Please join us at one of the following community engagement events to learn about the District’s HAP:

• Online Webinar l Thursday, April 25, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
• Open House l Wednesday, May 1 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at Windsor Pavilion
• Open House l Saturday, May 4 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at Monterey Recreation Centre (Garry Oak Room)

Please join us at the Special Committee of the Whole to learn more about the District's HAP and ask Council questions:

• Special Committee of the Whole l Monday, May 6 at 6:00 pm at Monterey Recreation Centre (Garry Oak Room)
  • Please note that there are capacity limits at Monterey Recreation Centre and there will be seating only, no standing room. The meeting is also available through live stream and phone at oakbay.civicweb.net
    
    

The Infill Housing Program Bylaw Updates, required by the end of June 2024, are the first steps in the wider Oak Bay HAP, and there will be many more opportunities to participate in the process in the coming years.

Please subscribe for project updates at the top of the page to stay informed of key project milestones and future engagement opportunities.

The District’s Housing Action Program (HAP) combines Council Priority Projects (CPP) related to housing and while also responding to the Provincial housing initiatives, which have become the District’s top priorities for the next 2 years. The District’s Housing Action Program elements are summarized below:

Housing Supply Act and Response to the Housing Target Order (2023-2028) Gives the Province the authority to set housing targets in municipalities, starting with those that are experiencing the greatest housing pressures. The District of Oak Bay target order is for a minimum of 664 net new housing units to be completed within 5 years. Housing targets will be measured after the first six months (March 31, 2024), then annually (September 30) by net new units completed and actions taken by the municipality to meet targets.

Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Interim Zoning Updates (June 2024) The Province is requiring municipalities to update Zoning Bylaws to permit a minimum of three to six dwelling units in areas zoned for single family dwelling units.

Official Community Plan (OCP) Interim Update (June 2024) While the District updates the Zoning Bylaw, amendments may also be needed to the OCP policies and Development Permit Area guidelines for Infill Residential Housing. The scope of this update will also include analysis work to signal and identify areas for higher density multi-unit residential, village areas and commercial areas.

Development Cost Charge (DCC) Bylaw and Amenity Cost Charge (ACC) Bylaw (2024/2027) Introduction of streamlined development finance tools to improve development cost certainty and to assist the District in helping to fund the costs of infrastructure renewal and amenities related to increased housing supply and growth. This will be implemented through a new Amenity Cost Charge (ACC) Bylaw and an expanded framework for Development Cost Charges (DCC). To balance these Housing Action Program priorities, preparation of an interim DCC Bylaw based on currently available housing target and housing need information will be developed in 2024 prior to development of an ACC bylaw (2027).

Housing Needs Report (HNR) (2024) The Province is requiring the District to complete an interim HNR by December 31, 2024. Proposed changes to the Housing Needs Report (HNR) include using a standard method for a more consistent, robust understanding of both local housing needs currently needed and over the next 20 years.

Official Community Plan (OCP) Review (2024-2025) The Province is requiring the District to have an updated OCP by December 31, 2025. Proposed changes for OCPs require an update every five years, with early and ongoing public engagement to plan for homes and growth over 20 years. In June/July of 2024, instructions will be provided by the Province to local governments regarding the OCP review.

Zoning Bylaw Review (2024-2025) In tandem with the updated OCP, the Province is also requiring that the District’s Zoning Bylaw be updated to accommodate the planned 20 year housing supply. These changes are required to be in place by December 31, 2025. In June/July 2024, instructions will be provided to local governments regarding the Zoning Bylaw review.

Optimize Development Processes (2026-2028) This project would review and provide recommendations for streamlining, enhancing, and modernizing department processes and systems. It would support the implementation of resulting recommendations, best practices, Information Technology and innovative approaches to improve development approvals processes.