Affordable Housing Policies

The City of North Vancouver recognizes the importance of housing to the quality of life and health of its residents, and therefore defines a facilitating and supportive role for itself in continuing to respond to the housing needs of City residents. The Affordable Housing Policies, in seeking to retain existing housing and facilitate the development of affordable housing, incorporate the objectives of earlier policies regarding social housing and affordability.

The Policies will be implemented in conjunction with the City’s definition of "affordability" (attached):

1. The City will focus primarily on development of affordable rental housing, due to the high proportion of city rental households and the significant proportion of low income City residents for whom increasing rents are a major concern.

2. In terms of affordable home ownership, the City will continue to encourage the private market to provide modest and more affordable units through the requirement of a proportion of smaller units, and through the support of modified ownership options such as equity co-ops.

3. The City will continue to make City-owned properties available for affordable housing projects and, where appropriate, for social housing through senior government housing programs. In addition, the City will facilitate affordable housing and non-profit development proposals on non-City sites. Consideration will also be given to exchanging City sites for other sites to promote affordable housing development.

4. The City will endeavor to retain rental housing stock with policies and practices to eliminate conversions and control demolitions.

5. Inclusion of community amenities in affordable housing projects is strongly supported, in conjunction with the potential needs of the targeted residents and the wider community.

6. Suitable locations for affordable housing have the following attributes: transit availability and access to services, shopping, and recreation and leisure activities.

7. Rental of a portion of City-owned residential properties at lower than market rates will be considered as part of the City’s leadership role in affordable housing.

8. A portion of the revenues acquired from non-tax sale lands will be utilized for affordable housing.

Adopted September 1996