Housing availability and affordability have been ongoing challenges on North Pender Island for more than a decade. The North Pender Island Local Trust Committee (LTC) has taken steps such as permitting secondary suites and regulating short-term vacation rentals. While these efforts have resulted in some increased land use policy and regulatory support for a mix of housing options, housing issues are a growing concern on the island, as they are in many other communities.
To respond to these challenges, the LTC launched the Housing Access and Affordability Project in summer 2024. This project is focused on:
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Reviewing existing housing options
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Considering housing-related bylaw amendments
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Developing a community-driven Housing Action Plan
Work so far has included community consultation and input from a special Advisory Planning Commission (APC) on Housing.
Housing Action Plan Goals, Objectives and Actions
The Housing Action Plan is informed by the work of the Special Advisory Planning Commission on Housing, which has done an extensive review of available information resulting in two recommendation reports, and through community consultation as part of the Housing project, including three Community Information Meetings, several meetings with local community groups, and the completion of a Pender Islands Housing Needs Survey that received 478 responses. Survey results were largely consistent with the findings of the other reports described above in respect of housing needs.
In the Housing Action Plan, there are 22 Actions associated with the 5 goals and objectives to guide plan implementation.
The five goals of the Housing Action Plan:
- Updating and using available data
Inform where additional density and intensity of land use will likely have the least negative impact on the land - Diversifying housing options through zoning
Provide a broader diversity of housing options on North Pender Island through amendments to land use zoning and associated OCP policies - Increasing opportunities for non-profit housing
Increase opportunities for land to be made available for affordable housing by a not-for-profit organization, and to generate greater community interest and capacity to support this development - Increasing community education and outreach
Increase community education and outreach in respect of housing initiatives, improve the information available to the public, and make it more accessible to a broader audience - Incorporating First Nations interests in land use decision making
Foster collaborative working relationships with local First Nations who have an interest in housing initiatives on North Pender Island and to address housing needs of First Nations on the island
Get Involved
- Attend the next housing-related Community Information Meeting
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Date: October 25
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Location: Church Hall, 4703 Canal Rd, North Pender Island, BC
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Provide input on proposed bylaw amendments to the North Pender Island LTC.
- Aaron Campbell, North Pender Island Trustee, acampbell@islandstrust.bc.ca
- Deb Morrison, North Pender Island Trustee, dmorrison@islandstrust.bc.ca
- David Maude, Mayne Island Trustee, Executive Committee Vice-Chair: dmaude@islandstrust.bc.ca
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Attend LTC meetings: Meetings and Events
- Connect with Islands Trust staff: Brad Smith, Island Planner, (250) 405 5194, bsmith@islandstrust.bc.ca
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Subscribe for project updates to stay informed.
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1 - About the Project
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2 - Staff Reports
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3 - Proposed Bylaws-none
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4 - Public Correspondence
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5 - Community Consultation
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6 - Other Information-none
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7 - Advisory Planning Commission
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8 - Housing Action Plan