Now that zoning for single-family lots has been altered by the BC provincial government, we’ll start to see significant structures on single lots that can accommodate three or four households. The new homes will naturally be more significant in scale than many detached houses. Here’s a photo of that happening in the Courthouse District in the City of North Vancouver.

This is great news, and here’s why:

The government’s small-scale multi-family zoning is a good step toward increasing our housing supply. It also signals that it might be time to make permissive zoning for townhouse developments more widespread across the shore. 

Developers create townhouse complexes by buying contiguous single-family lots in a land assembly. They then apply to the municipality for a zoning change to permit townhouses.  Altering zoning has been arduous in the past. If we want to increase our housing stock, we could think about ways to encourage developers to create new small-scale townhouse developments.

In 2023, Vancouver’s city council removed the requirement to re-zone land consolidations for townhouse developments in the Cambie corridor to encourage more homes for families and help maintain the neighbourhood's low-rise character as it tapers down from the towers at Oakridge. While the North Shore is no Oakridge, we can decide consciously whether to create neighbourhoods with higher density, lower taxes and more amenities by allowing more townhomes.

Why waive the re-zoning requirement?

Three reasons:

1. Like the government's reasoning regarding their mandated small-scale multi-unit homes, townhouses provide family-oriented, missing-middle housing options. 

2. Townhouse zoning allows stratification. Although still generally expensive to buy, townhomes do offer more affordability than single-family homes. Their initial selling price is lower, and due to the much smaller lot size, townhome residents pay lower property taxes than those in stand-alone homes. The small-scale multi-family plan does not spread ownership.

3. Townhouses are attached, so if a developer assembles a couple of lots or more, they can build across property lines to produce less jarring side-by-side massing. Also, they can make more efficient use of space - creating courtyards and other shared amenities for more residents. 

One among us at Better North Shore lives on a city block of townhouses and has found the neighbourhood attracts families with kids. Over 50+ kids on the block have tons more kids to play with than if the block was zoned for single-family homes. Time to play!

Natural environment

People argue that multi-family developments will reduce the green canopy. When you look at established townhouse complexes, many offer abundant natural environments, and most enjoy the benefits of professional gardening. Granted, when first built, they don’t. But, over time, they create green sanctuaries where people can sit and chat, enjoying each other and nature. Here’s a photo of a walkway through the Avondale townhouse development in the heart of central Lonsdale.

Here’s another photo of the Arbor Wind development on Baird Road in central Lynn Valley. Built in 2006, care was taken to ensure plentiful street trees lined the property perimeter to provide an oasis of green. Although the sidewalk here needs an upgrade for accessibility reasons, this design offers places for people to appreciate the natural world. The many trees surrounding these houses reduce daytime temperatures during the hot summer months. 

Seating areas like this one on the interior promote community.

The Townhouse Glory Days: greenfield complexes 

Any new large townhouse complexes are only possible in areas with available land. In the 70s and 80s, we built quite a few of them. Some of the older ones are pretty awesome, almost resort-like.

Residents get a lot more, including shared amenities. Pools, courtyards, fitness centers, clubhouses, BBQ pits, playgrounds, dog parks, tennis courts, car washing stations and playgrounds for kids are all made possible by pooling money for maintenance. These amenities enhance community by encouraging interaction among neighbours. 

Land is scarce in North and West Vancouver, so the chances of new significant townhouse complexes are slim—unless they come from existing complex upcycling—like at Baden Park in Seymour and Emery Village in Lynn Valley. Both of these new re-developments have added numerous community amenities. 

Unfortunately, while townhome complex recycling provides an overall increase in homes, it also displaces existing residents. By comparison, if a developer buys up four single-family lots with permissive zoning, new ground-level homes could be achieved with less displacement. Our scarce land would be used more effectively, and from a design perspective, it might even look better than one house, a coach house and a secondary suite on each lot.