May 23, 2025 - Minutes (Special)

Date:

Friday, May 23, 2025

Place:

Anderson Room
Richmond City Hall

Present:

Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie, Chair
Councillor Chak Au (via teleconference)
Councillor Carol Day (via teleconference)
Councillor Laura Gillanders
Councillor Kash Heed
Councillor Andy Hobbs
Councillor Alexa Loo
Councillor Bill McNulty
Councillor Michael Wolfe (via teleconference)

Call to Order:

The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

1.

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN TARGETED UPDATE – PROPOSED STRATEGIC POLICY DIRECTIONS

(File Ref. No. 08-4045-30-08) (REDMS No. 8017551)

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation (Copy on File, City Clerk’s Office) staff provided an overview of the Official Community Plan Targeted Update.  

Discussion took place on (i) building height for all rental developments,
(ii) housing affordability, (iii) amenity spaces, (iv) secondary suites,
(v) meeting the goal of 2600 units per year, and (vi) incentivizing small builders.  

In reply to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) buildings exceeding six storeys typically require concrete construction, which significantly increases costs, (ii) the planning focus is on ensuring a diversity of housing types along the arterial road, (iii) the target of 52,000 new dwellings in Richmond by 2041 is based on a provincially derived formula, (iv) the strategy prioritizes residential development first to establish a population base before introducing commercial uses, thereby supporting local businesses; (v) maps can be enlarged to highlight specific neighbourhoods as needed; (vi) this update is targeted specifically at housing-related matters and does not encompass all planning aspects; and (vii) additional information regarding public consultation will be provided following the endorsement of this report.

It was moved and seconded

(1)

That the Proposed Strategic Policy Directions outlined in the staff report titled "Official Community Plan Targeted Update - Proposed Strategic Policy Directions" dated May 5, 2025, from the Director, Policy Planning, be endorsed for consultation with residents and interested parties as part of the Official Community Plan Targeted Update; and

(2)

That staff report back on the consultation results on the Proposed Strategic Policy Directions for the Official Community Plan Targeted Update.

CARRIED

ADJOURNMENT

It was moved and seconded

That the meeting adjourn (4:54 p.m.).

CARRIED

Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on Friday, May 23, 2025.

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Mayor Malcolm D. Brodie
Chair

Sarah Goddard
Legislative Services Associate