PURPOSE

Municipalities will use this form to complete the requirements for progress reporting under the Housing Supply Act (Act). The information provided will be evaluated to determine whether targets have been met or satisfactory progress has been made toward meeting targets.

REPORT REQUIREMENTS

The report must contain information about progress and actions taken by a municipality to meet housing targets as identified in the Housing Target Order (HTO).

The progress report must be received in a meeting that is open to the public and by Council resolution within 45 days after the end of the reporting period.

Municipalities must submit this report to the minister and post it to their municipal website as soon as practicable after it is approved by Council resolution.

ASSESSMENT

The Housing Targets Branch evaluates information provided in the progress report based on Schedule B - Performance Indicators in the HTO. If targets have not been met and satisfactory progress has not been made, the Minister may initiate compliance action as set out in the Act.

REPORT SUBMISSION

Please complete the attached housing target progress report form and submit to the Minister of Housing at Housing.Targets@gov.bc.ca as soon as practicable after Council resolution.

Do not submit the form directly to the Minister’s Office.

Section 1: MUNICIPAL INFORMATION

Section 2: NUMBER OF NET NEW UNITS

Record the number of net new housing units delivered during the reporting period, and cumulatively since the effective date of the HTO. Net new units are calculated as completions (occupancy permits issued) minus demolitions. Legalizing existing unpermitted secondary suites or other housing types does not count toward completions.

Section 8 must be completed if a housing target has not been met for the reporting period.

Section 3: NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS BY CATEGORY AND TYPE (Unit Breakdown Guidelines)

Record the number of housing units in each category below for the reporting period and cumulatively since the effective date of the HTO. Definitions are provided in the endnote.

Section 4: MUNICIPAL ACTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS TO ENABLE MORE HOUSING SUPPLY

A) Describe applicable actions taken in the last 12 months to achieve housing targets...

Town of View Royal Community Amenity Contributions – Ongoing The Town’s approved Community Amenity Contribution Policy, adopted July 16, 2019, secures cash contributions to support the changing needs of the community and the impact of growth. Through this policy, Council is required that 10% of the funds collected are contributed to the Capital Regional District Housing Trust Fund. Over the course of 2024, the Town collected a total of $544,050, of which $54,405 would have been contributed to the CRD’s Housing Trust Fund.

Transit Oriented Area (TOA) Designation Bylaw – May 21, 2024 In May 2024, the Town adopted a bylaw to designate a Transit Oriented Area (TOA), located on Hospital Way, adjacent to Victoria General Hospital. The TOA is made up of an area that extends 400 m outward from the bus stop, and is further classified by two sub-areas, one that extends 200 m, and another that extends between 201 m and 400 m. The permitted density and height for those lands within 200 m of the TOA may support a minimum of up to 10 storeys and 3.5 FSR, and lands between 201 m and 400 m of the TOA may support a minimum of up to 6 storeys and 2.5 FSR.

Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) Update – June 18, 2024 In June 2024, the Town adopted Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No 1135, 2024, to allow 3 to 6 units in all restricted zones that only permit single-family dwellings and duplexes, in accordance with Bill 44. The Town also introduced garden suite as a new use in the Zoning Bylaw. Through the introduction of garden suites as a permitted use, the Town has allowed for a more diverse range of housing types and tenures.

Official Community Plan Amendment In July 2024, the Town amended the Official Community Plan by adding new development permit requirements. This includes a new Intensive Residential Garden Suite Form and Character Development Permit Area. A lot that permits a single-family house is permitted to have a garden suite and/or a secondary suite.

Official Community Plan Amendment – June 18, 2024 In July 2024, the Town amended the Official Community Plan’s Form and Character Schedule (map) by adding all Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) parcels to the Mixed Residential Form and Character Permit Area.

Delegation Bylaw Amendment – July 16, 2024 In July 2024, the Town amended the Delegation Bylaw by granting delegated approval authority of garden suite development permits, and the approval of environmental terrestrial and watercourse and shoreline area development permits to the Director of Development Services. In addition, the Town authorized the Director of Development Services to renew development permits for residential and commercial form and character development permits, as well as environmental development permits. All variances require Council approval.

Zoning Bylaw Amendment – July 16, 2024 In July 2024, the Town amended the Zoning Bylaw was amended by removing Lot Coverage and Impermeable Surface Area as a provision of density. Each Zone has a heading: Lot Density and Impermeable Surface Coverage. If a proposal exceeds the maximum requirements in the zone, then a variance would be required instead of a rezoning.

Official Community Plan Update – July 22, 2024 In July 2024, the Town initiated its update of the Official Community Plan by starting with an engagement survey, asking participants how they would like to be involved, and what is important to them moving forward. The official launch of the OCP was in January 2025 and will be broken into three phases, the first of which is a focus on Housing and Land Use, which must be completed by December 31, 2025. The update of the OCP will allow for the modernization of the Town’s land use designations, which may permit additional densities, alternative forms of housing and development, and the formation of new housing, planning, and land use policies, that all may work together to support the development of housing in the community.

Interim Housing Needs Report (IHNR) – September 3, 2024 In September 2024, the Town completed an update to its existing Housing Needs Report which was completed in 2019. The interim report was updated to ensure that all municipalities have a consistent approach in understanding their 5-to-20-year housing needs, which will be used to inform updates to the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw.

B) Please provide any information about First Nation partnerships...

The Town, in collaboration with the Province and the Capital Regional District, are involved with the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations on any housing developments on their lands that tie into Town’s servicing or infrastructure.

The Town also provides fire protection service for the Esquimalt and Sonhees First Nations.

Section 5: APPROVED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS

Report the number of approved applications issued by type since the effective date of the HTO. Each project should only be recorded once for the most current application type. Provide the estimated number of net new housing units to be delivered for each application category. NOTE: units issued occupancy permits should be recorded in Section 2.

Section 6: WITHDRAWN OR NOT APPROVED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS

A) Indicate the number of applications and the estimated number of proposed units...

B) Provide a description of each application...

Development Variance Permit: 2023-06 The applicant’s requested variance was to increase the maximum height of a retaining wall from 1.2 m to 3.2 m, for the purpose of providing retaining and support of soils around their home after blasting and excavating their property to construct a single family home. Staff worked with the applicant for approximately one and half years to process their development variance permit; however, staff were never provided with the required information to process the permit. The file was closed by the applicant because they decided to sell the property.

Section 7: OTHER INFORMATION

Provide any other information not presented above that may be relevant to the municipality’s effort and progress toward achieving the housing target.

Occupancy Permits * The first two occupancy permits for apartment building are included in this report to provide the Province with an accurate picture of the Town's progress as they occurred within sixty days of the initial date with the later occurring less than a week prior to the reporting date.

• May 31, 2024: 89 Units – Purpose Built Rental, Market Units – 15 Erskine Lane (Partial Occupancy) Studio – 4; 1Brd – 45; 2Brd – 30, and 3Brd – 10)
• July 26, 2024: 89 Units – Purpose Built Rental, Market Units – 17 Erskine Lane (Partial Occupancy) Studio – 4; 1Brd – 45; 2Brd – 30, and 3Brd – 10)
• February 26, 2025: 158 Units – Purpose Built Rental, Market Units – 21 and 23 Erskine Lane Studio – 8; 1Brd – 70; 2Brd – 60, and 3Brd – 20)

Units Under Construction – Approximately 548 New Units There are approximately 548 multi-family dwelling units under construction in the Town. The projects are expected to receive occupancy in subsequent reporting periods. Some of the larger developments included of the total noted, include: 181 Island Highway (82 units); 7 Erskine Lane (79 Units), 258 Helmcken (55 Units), 2000 West Park Lane (48 Units), 1449 Burnside Road West (234 Units), and 244 Island Highway (37 Units).

Rezoning Approved The Town has also approved rezoning applications for approximately 250 new units. Prior to building permit application, the applicant will require development permit approval, which is subject to Council’s approval. The projects include:

• 339, 341, 345 Island Highway; 238 Purpose Built Rentals (Rezoning File 2022-05) Rezoning approved on June 18, 2024.
• 294, 296 Eltham and 242 Helmcken Road; 12 Townhouse Units (Rezoning File 2023-01) Rezoning approved on October 1, 2024. Development Permit in-stream.

Tenant Assistance Policy – July 18, 2023 In 2023, the Town adopted a Tenant Assistance Policy to mitigate the negative impacts on residential tenants in the Town that are displaced because of substantial renovations or the redevelopment of their home. The policy offers further support to tenants and requires additional responsibilities of landlords beyond the Residential Tenancy Act. The Policy requires the following be completed where a tenant is being removed from their permanent place of residence: a tenant assistance plan, a tenant relocation coordinator, a letter to the tenants communicating their rights per the policy, relocation assistance, right of first refusal, moving expenses and assistance, rent compensation, and a tenant relocation status report.

Secondary Suite Permits – November 21, 2023 In November 2023, the Town adopted amendments to the Zoning Bylaw and other supporting bylaws, to make it easier to have a secondary suites. The changes included removing the requirements that a secondary suite was only permitted where the residence was owner occupied, and that an annual permit would be required. The Town no longer requires Secondary Suite Permits for new suites; these are included in a building permit. This avoids double permitting fees and ongoing annual fees.

Section 8: SUMMARY OF PLANNED ACTIONS TO MEET TARGETS

If the housing target has not been met for the reporting period, please provide a summary of planned and future actions in line with the Performance Indicators...

NOTE: THIS SECTION IS NOT APPLICABLE FOR INITIAL SIX-MONTH REPORTING.

STAFF HAVE INTENTIONALLY LEFT THE BELOW INFORMATION BLANK FOR THE FIRST REPORTING PERIOD

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¹ If needed due to data gaps, it is acceptable to report “Three Bedroom” and “Four or More Bedroom” as one figure in the “Three Bedroom” row. ² Rental Units include purpose built rental, certain secondary rentals (secondary suites, accessory dwellings) and co-op. ³ Below Market Units are units rented at or below 30% of the local Housing Income Limits (HIL) per unit size. ⁴ Below Market Rental Units with On-Site Supports are units rented at the Income Assistance Shelter rate providing permanent housing and on-site supports for people to transition out of homelessness.