The City of Surrey is taking significant steps to expedite housing delivery and enhance the development approval process through innovative new initiatives.
That’s according to the city following Surrey council last week approving a one-year pilot project aimed at simplifying the development permit process for houseplexes and the terms of reference for a Development Approval Process Improvement Task Force to further streamline approvals across the city.
Houseplexes are multi-unit residential buildings with up to four dwelling units.
The pilot program for houseplexes will ensure that those new homes are designed to fit with existing neighbourhoods but with a simplified, staff delegated review and approval process, which is to significantly reduce wait times and facilitate quicker project starts, according to the city.
The application fee will drop from $5,014 to $389, making houseplex development more accessible, the city explains.
The task force, meantime, is to provide recommendations aimed at significantly reducing timelines associated with rezoning and development approvals as well as examine existing processes for inefficiencies and engage with key stakeholders to identify best practices from other municipalities.
Meanwhile, Delta council last week received a staff update on Delta’s “completeness” to identify opportunities to increase housing, transportation and services.
The city last year applied for funding to the province’s Complete Communities program to undertake a land use assessment to inform housing initiatives and Official Community Plan (OCP) updates.
Delta was successful in its application and was awarded $150,000, provided by the BC Ministry of Housing and administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).
A report to council notes that across Delta, patterns of better walkability and transportation align closely with the patterns of housing density.
“This means that in areas where there are denser forms of housing, there are also better opportunities to walk and take transit to access daily needs. This indicates the link between housing, services, and transit access. Where there is more housing, more services and transit can be supported. Simultaneously, areas with good transit and lots of services are suitable for denser forms of housing development,” the report notes.
The report adds the information will be helpful for developing a list and/or master plans of priority amenities and investment projects for neighbourhoods, which can be used to support development applications that require an amenity contribution.
They can also support initiatives aimed at increasing housing options, such as pre-zoning and expanding small-scale multi-unit housing provisions, the report notes.
