Langford and Courtenay Set to Build 4,300 New Homes by 2028

The British Columbia government has outlined ambitious housing targets for municipalities Langford and Courtenay, mandating the construction of a total of 4,300 new homes within the next five years. Langford is tasked with building 2,993 net new homes, while Courtenay’s target stands at 1,334 homes. These municipalities are part of a fourth cohort selected for their housing development potential.

Langford, along with other municipalities such as Burnaby (10,240 homes) and Coquitlam (6,481 homes), is recognized for its proactive approach to addressing housing needs. The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs highlighted that many of these municipalities are already leaders in home construction. This recognition comes as part of a broader initiative to tackle housing shortages across the province.

Langford’s city council has expressed some frustration regarding the targets set by the province. In a recent interview, Councillor Kimberly Guiry emphasized the city’s commitment to housing development, stating, “Langford has a very pro-housing council and we prioritize being efficient and effective while removing red tape wherever possible.” This sentiment reflects the city’s ongoing efforts to meet and exceed housing demands.

In response to concerns about the targets, former Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon conveyed surprise at Langford’s reaction. “We did signal to them that we thought they would not have an issue meeting their targets,” Kahlon stated. He reiterated that the targets align with housing reports that the city has previously provided.

The provincial government has implemented housing targets for all major communities to synchronize federal and provincial goals. Kahlon noted, “It was important to ensure that all 47 communities that were on the initial list will eventually get on, and that’s what we’re doing here.” This approach aims to balance housing demands across various regions.

To ensure transparency and accountability, municipalities with set targets will be required to report their progress annually to the province. This progress is measured based on the number of completed net-new housing units, with interim goals established to monitor development efforts. Should a municipality fall short of its targets, the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs holds the authority to appoint a special advisor to assess progress and recommend strategies for improvement.

For example, Oak Bay was among the first municipalities to have its targets set, aiming for 664 units. However, it has struggled to meet these expectations and had a special advisor assigned earlier this year. The advisor found that while Oak Bay is unlikely to meet its targets, it is making strides towards increasing housing development. In July, Kahlon issued two binding directives to Oak Bay to accelerate housing supply, streamline approval processes, and reduce minimum parking requirements.

As Langford and Courtenay gear up to meet their housing targets, the success of these initiatives will depend on effective collaboration between municipal leaders and provincial authorities. With the pressing demand for housing, the outcomes of these targets are crucial for addressing the needs of residents and the broader community.