Housing bill oversight could cost municipalities tens of millions: mayors

The B.C. government’s plan to boost multi-unit housing contains a significant oversight that could force municipalities to forfeit tens of millions of dollars from developers used to pay for parks, child-care facilities, community centres, libraries and other services to support higher-density neighbourhoods, some B.C. mayors say.

Woodward said that for his community of 145,000 people amenity contributions bring in tens of millions of dollars each year. “The only thing we’ve been told is we expect municipalities to supply the infrastructure needed,” Hurley said. “So how is that going to happen?” However, mayors are still in the dark about the specific details on setbacks, height restrictions, parking and lot coverage. Those details will be released next month through regulations after the legislation becomes law.

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon wasn’t available for an interview Thursday but his ministry confirmed that density bonuses can’t be used for small-scale, multi unit housing except in cases where such bonuses are used to secure affordable or special-needs housing.

Source: Real Estate Daily Report (realestatedailyreport.net)

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