Duplexes in single-family neighbourhoods 'a success' after first year, city says
Credit to Author: Dan Fumano| Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2020 21:42:01 +0000
After the first full year of duplexes being legalized across 99 per cent of Vancouver’s low-density residential neighbourhoods, city staff have reported a “modest level of uptake” in the building type but strong public support.
A new staff report responds to council’s request in late 2018 for a report on duplex zoning after the 2019 trial period, recommends no further changes so the duplex regulations remain in place.
The duplex zoning was approved by Vancouver’s previous Vision-majority council in September 2018, near the end of their last term in office, and it drew considerable backlash from some corners at that time. A guest op-ed in The Vancouver Sun described the duplex zoning as part of a “Chainsaw Massacre,” warning of the inflated land values that would accompany such a rezoning.
But the staff report, on this week’s council agenda, says there has not been an increase in land value following the introduction of duplexes in “RS-zoned areas,” the lower-density neighbourhoods dominated by detached houses which make up most of Vancouver’s residential land. Instead, the assessed value of detached residential properties in Vancouver declined by 11 per cent between 2018 and 2019, says the report, citing “a range of factors including municipal, provincial, and federal policy and changes in the local and global economy.”
During 2019, the city received 86 applications for duplexes, which is about 23 per cent of the total number of permit applications in RS-zoned areas, the report says, adding: “This modest level of uptake is in line with what was anticipated given that the duplex option was intentionally introduced in a modest way offering the same floor area that is possible for a house.”
“Duplexes are providing twice as many dwelling units as one-family dwellings,” the report says. “The introduction of duplex in RS zones has been a success.”
The city also conducted further public engagement on duplexes over the last year, the report says, citing a survey completed by 3,400 participants indicating 88 per cent of respondents agreed with allowing duplexes in single-family neighbourhoods.
Shortly after the October 2018 municipal election, newly elected NPA Coun. Colleen Hardwick introduced a motion at the earliest opportunity, seeking for council to reconsider the recently approved zoning changes to allow duplexes. But when Hardwick’s motion was amended on the floor of council, she expressed frustration, calling it a “stalling tactic.” Eventually, in December 2018, council directed staff to report back in a year on the duplex zoning, so the information could inform discussions and decisions as the city headed into a recently launched city-wide planning process.