The provincial government needs to prioritize and increase investments in municipal capital infrastructure if municipalities are mandated to build even more housing.
That’s the big ask up for debate at the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention as a motion by the City of Vancouver, as well as several other communities with similar motions, requests the UBCM to advocates for the province to invest in long term infrastructure programming.
The convention takes place Sept. 16 to 20 in Vancouver.
A Metro Vancouver staff report earlier this year outlined a series of concerns from member jurisdictions regarding the provincial government’s housing legislation including infrastructure, noting local governments have long advocated for adequate, predictable long-term funding from the provincial and federal governments for critical infrastructure. Concerns were conveyed that the legislation will exasperate the current infrastructure challenges in the region.
A Delta civic report notes that, based on updated Official Community Pan (OCP) policies and designations to support housing, there is a need for further infrastructure planning and investment, including utilities and services like sanitary sewer, drinking water, transportation, parks, recreation facilities and amenities.
Council this year approved updates to Delta's development cost charges based on known development activity and infrastructure needs, but the fees will need to be updated as plans are renewed.
Such planning efforts would also support pre-zoning initiatives to accelerate growth, ensuring that infrastructure is in place in key areas experiencing higher levels of development activity, the report notes.
In a letter to Mayor George Harvie last fall, Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon pointed out that earlier that year, the province launched the $1 billion Growing Communities Fund, providing grants to every local and regional government to deliver infrastructure projects.
In March 2023, the province announced that the City of Delta was granted $16 million from the fund, intended to give communities a one-time boost to support the delivery of services necessary to enable growth in their communities.
The City of Delta recently issued a request for bids for a consultant to help come up with three new neighbourhood servicing plans to prepare for future developments under the new OCP.
In Ladner, the servicing plan study area includes a section of Ladner Trunk Road and an extended area on both sides of the road, from just past Highway 17A to before Arthur Drive.
In Tsawwassen, the study area includes a section of 56 Street, as well the west side of the street, from 12 to 16 Avenues.
In North Delta, the study area includes an extensive portion of Scott Road, from just before 72 Avenue to 96 Avenue, as well as the neighbourhoods directly behind 120 Street to 118 Street.
The scope of work includes assessing Delta’s existing infrastructure and identifying water, sanitary, drainage and transportation upgrades that will be required to accommodate the additional density proposed in the new OCP.
The city earlier this summer also issued a request for proposals from engineering consulting firms with experience in water and sanitary modelling to prepare servicing strategies to accommodate upcoming development projects.
For each project, the consultant will produce a site servicing report that reviews water and sanitary system requirements and provides recommendations for utility upgrades where required, according to the city, noting the developers will pre-pay the city for the consultant’s services.
