The District of Squamish plans to eliminate or reduce parking requirements and create permit-based on-street residential parking in select areas as it works to create more housing in the community. Residents must brace themselves for these changes as the District works on a housing action plan guided partly by Bill 44, which ushered sweeping changes to housing regulations to increase housing supply.
The district also plans to implement actions in the funding agreement with the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). As part of the provincial requirement, the District has updated Single Family Zoning to permit four units on all RS-1 and RS-2 lot. Next year, it plans to ‘explore parking solutions, including eliminating and reducing requirements and a permit-based on-street residential parking in select areas.’
It will also pursue as-of-right zoning for six-plexes along frequent transit networks and in 2026, it plans to integrate commercial zoning into new housing areas and existing neighborhoods to support complete and walkable communities. The 2023 District of Squamish Housing Needs Report estimates that 9,600 new housing units are needed in the next 13 years, with an estimated 6,840 units needed by 2031 to address the community’s housing challenges.
Squamish Housing Action items
Administer $300,000 in Pre-Development Funding to Housing Squamish to support non-profit housing development on District identified sites for affordable housing.
Adjust public hearing requirements for affordable housing developments when aligned with OCP and long-range planning objectives.
Pre-zone selected sites identified for affordable housing (in collaboration with Housing Squamish).
Allow for affordable housing on public properties with Institutional Zoning and allow affordable housing in all residential zones.
Enable permit-based on-street residential parking in select areas of Downtown to reduce pressures on off-street parking in apartment and townhouse complexes.
Update Single Family Zoning to allow for Duplex, Triplex, and Cottage Cluster
Establish Downtown Zoning to allow for multiunit housing with density bonus for affordable or market rental.
Reduce the number of projects that require Advisory Design Panel (ADP) review.
Remove development permit requirements for triplex and fourplex infill developments.
Develop building permit design guidelines to address DP guidelines, reduce the number of applications requiring variances to improve efficiencies and reduce processing timelines.
