The plan to allow more people to live on the same piece of land that began in Vancouver is continuing to grow elsewhere in the Lower Mainland. The latest to take a serious look is the City of Burnaby, which this week voted to develop the process that will allow laneway homes.And that’s just a start.
In December, the city adopted what is called “HOME: Burnaby's Housing and Homelessness Strategy" and this week’s vote was the first step in implementing the strategy. Burnaby’s infill housing program creates room for “missing middle housing types like laneway homes, suites in duplexes, rowhouses, and triplexes.”
It starts with laneway homes, built in the backyard of main homes and facing a land or road that runs behind that property. Predictably, Burnaby believes this is its way of addressing the shortage of rental housing and housing choices by creating more rental properties that will generate income for homeowners with that type of outdoor space.
Before the process gets close to construction, Burnaby will develop the regulations and guidelines, with public consultation. Over 10 years, it will focus several concepts:
Before the process gets close to construction, Burnaby will develop the regulations and guidelines, with public consultation. Over 10 years, it will focus several concepts:
1. laneway homes in single family areas;
2.additional accessory dwellings in single family homes without a laneway home;
3. two suites in semi-detached homes or fourplexes in duplex zoned lots;
4. staff explore the affordability aspect of allowing increased densification in single- and two-family zoned areas
For parts of the Lower Mainland that don’t have similar densification plans, it’s likely to be a matter of time until they do.