Saanich failed to meet housing target but could reach it next year

Saanich will fall short of provincial housing targets this year, but could be poised to more than meet the target next year after issuing more than three times the normal number of building permits in the 12 months ending Sept. 30, its mayor said.

The provincially required housing goal progress report, released Monday night at Saanich council, showed the district issued occupancy permits for just 338 units between Oct. 1, 2023 and Sept. 30, 2024.

The provincial target was 440 in the first year, with a net of 4,610 new units to be completed within five years.

But Mayor Dean Murdock noted that the district issued 1,081 building permits in the same 12-month period, more than three times the number Saanich normally approves in a year. “These will translate into occupancy in next year’s report.”

Saanich’s goal is October 1, 2024-September. 30, 2025 is 1,041 houses.

Nearly a third of new construction permits issued last year were for below-market housing, Murdock said. “These are affordable homes that people can afford to move into our community.”

The mayor said Saanich is working to streamline its processes and eliminate red tape to increase the pace of development, and the report showed the area is “making good progress.”

“We are seeing a faster recovery in the number of planning permits and building permits issued.”

The report, which the district must submit to the province at the end of each year, says Saanich is updating its official community plan to identify areas that support higher density and is undertaking an interdepartmental review of zoning and rezoning. application process to reduce review and processing timelines.

Saanich is also said to be increasing staff and offering better technology.

Last year, the province B.C. It set housing targets for the surrounding municipalities. Municipalities that meet the targets are expected to receive provincial funding for amenities such as parks, bike paths and recreation centres.

Murdock said it’s important to ensure the district has land use policies, a formal community plan and bylaws that are “very clear” about the types of homes the city council wants built in places where it makes sense to densify and add new residents.

“I think the clarity and certainty of expectation about how we want to grow is conducive to a process for approving practices that can be much faster and that align with that vision.”

If communities do not meet the goals or do not make sufficient progress toward approaching the goals, the state can appoint an independent consultant to assist them.

If that doesn’t work, the state can override the city’s authority to rezone entire neighborhoods to create more density.

The province said it will determine municipalities’ progress based on their net new units, policy actions, initiatives, innovative approaches and partnerships to increase housing supply.

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