Letter from Min. Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Re: Six-Month Housing Targets Progress Report

May 7, 2025
Reference: 186409

His Worship Sid Tobias and Members of Council
Mayor, Town of View Royal
45 Royal Avenue
View Royal BC V9B 1A6
Email: mayortobias@viewroyal.ca

Dear Mayor Tobias:

I am pleased to acknowledge receipt of the Town of View Royal’s six-month housing targets progress report.

I note that View Royal only delivered four net-new units, or 4 per cent of the Year 1 target. Although this is limited progress at the six-month mark, I note that the Town issued occupancy for 178 units two months before the effective date of the Housing Target Order and issued occupancy permits for 158 net new units following the end of the six-month reporting period. I also note that 548 multi-family residential units are currently under construction. I am hopeful that a portion of these units will be completed by the first annual reporting deadline and that View Royal will be successful in achieving its Year 1 target of 99 net-new units.

I am pleased to see that the Town has delegated minor variance permits to staff and initiated an Official Community Plan update, with the first phase on Housing and Land Use to be completed by the end of 2025.

I acknowledge that View Royal has complied with provincial Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) and interim Housing Needs Report requirements. However, further to my letter of January 10, 2025, I expect that the Town is reviewing its bylaws and considering updates to achieve better alignment with the SSMUH Provincial Site Standards to support meeting housing targets.

I encourage the Town of View Royal to implement a full suite of actions and initiatives to increase diverse housing supply in preparation for the subsequent progress reporting periods. I look forward to receiving View Royal’s Year 1 progress report in mid-September 2025.

Sincerely,

Ravi Kahlon
Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs

CC:

• Scott Sommerville, CAO
• Leanne Taylor, Director of Development Services
• Housing Targets Branch