A BC affordable housing advocate is asking the District of Squamish to join a “housing revolution” and create more affordable housing through its policies and bylaws.
Daniel Frankin, a former council candidate in Campbell River, is urging local municipalities to enable tiny homes, off-site prebuilt and modular homes and new policy initiatives to boost affordable housing.
“We only need a small number of municipalities, even just one, to get the ball rolling. Now using the word “revolution” may seem like hyperbole, but I do not believe it is,” he wrote in a letter to council.
Frankin said there was a massive pent-up demand for tiny homes and local governments could attract new citizens and businesses if they allow such housing.
Frankin, who also runs a Facebook page on the issue, says district should eliminate minimum building size and allow for smaller homes on smaller lots, housing types such as container homes and 3D printed homes.
Franklin called upon the district to find ways to open up new affordable land and lots for building and making subdivision of existing lots easier.
He urged the district to reduce barriers to building new homes, including barriers to inspections, municipal fees, specific zoning requirements, and general red tape.
He is also in favour of district regulating any short-term rentals that compromise housing affordability, although he adds that not all short-term rentals compromise housing affordability
The district has asked the province to make changes to the building code to allow tiny homes as permanent dwellings.
The district also gives priority to developments that have an affordable housing component.
Joann Daffern says
I would love to be one of the first recipients.