November 5, 2024 - Minutes
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Planning Committee
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Date: |
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 |
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Place: |
Anderson Room |
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Present: |
Councillor Bill McNulty, Chair |
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Also Present: |
Councillor Michael Wolfe |
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Call to Order: |
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. |
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MINUTES |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on October 16, 2024, be adopted as circulated. |
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CARRIED |
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PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION |
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1. |
(File Ref. No. RZ 21-936275) (REDMS No. 7810614) |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500, Amendment Bylaw 10614, |
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(a) |
for the rezoning of a portion of 5300 Granville Avenue from “Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RSM/L)” zone to “Medium Density Townhouses (RTM3)” zone; and |
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(b) |
for the rezoning of a portion of 5300 Granville Avenue from “Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RSM/L)” zone to “School & Institutional Use (SI)” zone; |
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be introduced and given first, second and third reading. |
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CARRIED |
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2. |
(File Ref. No. RZ 23-028712) (REDMS No. 7666516) |
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Discussion ensued with respect to tree removal and stratification of units. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500, Amendment Bylaw 10574, to create the “Two-Unit Dwellings (ZD9) – Williams Road (Steveston)” zone and to rezone 5120 and 5140 Williams Road from the “Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RSM/L)” zone to “Two-Unit Dwellings (ZD9) – Williams Road (Steveston)” zone, be introduced and given first, second and third reading. |
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CARRIED |
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DEPUTY CAO’S OFFICE |
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3. |
Updating the Low-End Market Rental (LEMR) Program to Support the Delivery of Affordable Housing (File Ref. No. 08-4057-05) (REDMS No. 7783121) |
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In response to queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) the recommended option of 10% below Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) average would index changes annually to CHMC market averages, allowing rent increases to be benchmarked against local rent changes and not those limited to any rate of increase in CPI, (ii) Bill 47 does not require parking minimums in transit oriented areas in City Centre, |
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(iii) parking reductions outside of City Centre are being considered through the Official Community Plan (OCP) review, (iv) current LEMR rates were set in 2017 at 10 percent below 2016 CMHC average market rental rates, and (v) the proposed update would bring rental rates in closer alignment with current market conditions, offset operator costs and improve feasibility for future LEMR developments. |
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Dea Knight, spoke as Chair of the UDI Liaison Committee and on behalf of the Lansdowne Phase 1 Project, expressing her support for the staff recommendations on the LEMR policy, noting that LEMR rents are substantially below the original average and are misaligned with growing costs making LEMR units unfeasible to build or operate. She further noted that since the pandemic, the building sector has been experiencing unprecedented pressures including rising construction costs, escalated interest rates, increases in municipal fees and increases in operating costs which has hindered the ability to provide new housing and any forms of affordable housing. |
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Cynthia Chow, representing SUCCESS, spoke to SUCCESS being one of the largest social service agencies in Canada with an affordable housing portfolio comprising of over 1000 units operating in the Lower Mainland. She further spoke to the need for updating the LEMR rental rates and realigning them to CMHC average market rents to allow for annual increases to address inflationary and market conditions and to consider funds to address capital replacement reserve needs to address aging infrastructure. She noted that this will improve the financial viability of the developments that include LEMR units as well as the long term sustainability of maintaining such units. |
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Correspondence from Az-Zahraa Housing Society, dated November 5, 2024 was distributed on table (attached to and forming part of these minutes as Schedule 1). |
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In response to further queries from Committee, staff advised that (i) any LEMR unit that is currently occupied would not have a rent adjustment, the existing tenants are protected under the residential tenancy act, this policy would only effect new occupants, (ii) the new housing legislation under Bill 16 requires a financial feasibility assessment to justify the percentage of affordable housing that the City requires, and (iii) staff will review data on available unit types in Richmond, and how they are owned, operated and occupied in the market place. |
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It was moved and seconded |
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(1) |
That, as described in the report “Updating the Low-End Market Rental (LEMR) Program to Support the Delivery of Affordable Housing” dated October 16, 2024, from the Director, Housing Office, the proposed Low-End Market Rental Maximum Rent and Income Thresholds as outlined in Option 2 be endorsed; |
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(2) |
That staff bring forward amendments to the City of Richmond Affordable Housing Strategy, 2017 – 2027, to recognize the Low-End Market Rental Maximum Rent and Income Thresholds endorsed by Council; |
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(3) |
That the Low-End Market Rental Maximum Rent and Income Thresholds be used in housing agreements for any conditionally approved rezoning applications, being those for which a zoning amendment bylaw has been given third reading and an associated housing agreement has yet to be executed as of November 12, 2024, notwithstanding the terms of any executed rezoning considerations letter; and |
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(4) |
That the Low-End Market Rental Maximum Rent and Income Thresholds be used in any future housing agreement associated with a new or in-stream development application for which conditional approvals have yet to be granted. |
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CARRIED |
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As a result of the discussion the following referral motion was introduced: |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That staff look at the free parking provision for Low- End Market Rental (LEMR) units in transit oriented development areas and report back. |
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The question on the referral motion was not called as discussion ensued with respect to staff bringing forward options for a below market parking rate. |
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The question on the referral motion was then called and it was CARRIED. |
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1. |
MANAGER’S REPORT |
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(i) |
BC Code Building Code Updates- Radon Gas |
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Staff advised that the BC Building Code is now requiring that all construction, particularly residential construction, take measures to mitigate the accumulation of radon within homes. The City enforces this code measure, however staff note that radon levels in Richmond soils are generally low. The building community has advised that mitigation measures are estimated to add approximately $10,000-$15,000 in additional costs in a typical residential construction. |
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(ii) |
BC Code Building Code Updates- Ministerial Order |
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Staff advised that the Provincial government has introduced an exemption allowing residential projects that have been considered before March 8, 2024 to be grandfathered from the significant seismic and accessibility provisions to come into effect March 2025. The exemption applies to projects that have either a development permit, rezoning application, building permit or completed drawings submitted before March 8, 2024. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
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It was moved and seconded |
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That the meeting adjourn (4:45 p.m.). |
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CARRIED |
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Certified a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee of the Council of the City of Richmond held on November 5, 2024. |
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Councillor Bill McNulty |
Raman Grewal |