The District of West Vancouver council has unanimously rejected a rezoning plan that would have aligned local bylaws with provincial legislation to increase housing density on about 200 residential properties. The provincial mandate, with a deadline of June 30, aimed to allow more coach houses and secondary suites to boost small-scale housing options.
Most single-family lots in West Vancouver already permit such developments, but this change would have impacted roughly 1.6% of properties in the district. Senior planner David Hawkins emphasized that the rules wouldn’t force property owners to build but would provide the option.
Councillors criticized the provincial government’s top-down approach, arguing it undermines local planning and the community’s character. They attributed the housing crisis partly to federal immigration policies and some labeled the provincial rules as extreme socialism. Council members highlighted ongoing housing developments, noting nearly 700 units are already in progress or approved. Despite the council’s resistance, if municipalities don’t comply by June 30, the province may enforce the changes through a ministerial override.
