20 Jul 2026 Council meeting Housing

Housing Target Progress Report 2025-JUL-01 to 2026-JUN-30

Motion

That Council receive the Housing Target Progress Report for the Year 2 reporting period 2025-JUL-01 to 2026-JUN-30 in accordance with Ministerial Order M203-2024.

Minutes, page 9

Sources

Agenda itemCity agenda, whole meeting

Staff reportPage 1

Purpose

To present to Council a Housing Target Progress Report for the Year 2 reporting period 2025-JUL-01 to 2026- JUN-30.

Staff report, page 1

Staff recommendation

That Council receive the Housing Target Progress Report for the Year 2 reporting period 2025-JUL-01 to 2026- JUN-30 in accordance with Ministerial Order M203-2024.

Staff report, page 1

DocumentsStaff report about Housing, Land Use & Urban Form

Leonard Krog Yes

We have gone in unit size bedrooms, uh, three bedroom plus from 11 percent in 2022, which tells me that the marketplace is responding to the growing number of families in our community. Uh, which is exactly the young demographic that we hope to attract who are full of vigour in producing children and buying goods and services. So there's a pop. There's a very positive slide in this deck.

▶ 1:57:46

Questions and answers

Councillor Sheryl Armstrong
Yes

asked

Thank you. Through you, um, two questions. If I may, please. Um, what I'm looking at the report and we're talking about that there's some, we're not making our, our, uh, things like on one bedrooms or whatever. Most people don't want to one bedroom because they can't afford it. Whereas you get a two bedroom, they can split it instead of paying 1500 dollars of paying a thousand because they're splitting it. Has that been looked at like also the sizes. I take a look at the condo buyout that they're doing between the BC Provincial Comment Federal government. 400 square feet. People can't live in 400 square feet or they don't want to. So are we actually looking at what is being built that's not being

City staff answered

sold and why it's not being locally. Ms. Brinkman. Thank you through your worship to Councillor Armstrong. I think what I've heard anecdotally that it's, you're right. Two bedroom units do tend to sell. There is a market for two bedroom units in Nanaimo. And I think that's why we see more of those being constructed. Um, historically information and just people closer to me do sometimes want a one bedroom unit because it is more affordable. So even if it's a couple wanting a one bedroom unit, that's lower rent for them as opposed to a two bedroom unit. So I think there's, there's a need for both for sure. Um, and, you know, how the housing target order has been established is a formula presented by the province. And so, and it's, you know, the same formula for all municipalities across BC. So I'm sure there's, um, variation.

followed up

And the Nanaima will be different than Vancouver, I suppose. So, um, so I just find local context is important. The condos that are sitting empty are all one bedrooms with less than 400 square feet, 2, 200 of them. Obviously people can't afford them because you can rent a two bedroom, a heck of a lot cheaper than a one bedroom when you share it. And then my last question. We're talking about we want to, we want to increase our affordable housing and below market housing. But how are we going to do that when the government has no more money to help nonprofits? Like we as a city certainly don't have the millions of dollars required to build these. Like when you look at the cost, there was just for the senior facility alone. So where did they expect the city to get the money to support the nonprofits to get these? We do our part by giving land. DCCs that we waive. How can we do that without their support? And we know that there's no money right now. Do you have any answers. Do you

▶ 1:54:55

Councillor Janice Perrino
Yes

asked

that out. Thank you. Councillor Prino. Thank you. Your worship. And just on that development approvals from 2021 to 2025, the units approved in development permits. So for, um, sorry, units proposed in development permits, 1, 501. What I'm wondering is, um, is that would you suggest that that would be attributed to the expanded authority to delegate more development approvals by staff. Is that been a helpful move? Because

J. Holm

answeredDirector, Planning and Development

I know that was new from 2025. Three of your worship to Council Prino. So, um, it's definitely been a helpful move. Good. Makes things, it makes it more efficient. Um, it improves timelines. And, but I don't think it's, it's not driving people to, to propose projects. I think it's partly, um, the response to, um, the changes in, in building code. There's been as Ms. Brinkman mentioned the vacancy rate in the NIMO. Actually, it almost reached three percent and then started to drop again. So the demand in Nanaimo. Definitely. And, and then we're, there's other factors, you know, at play as well, uh, we do see a number of applications coming in ahead of changes to development cost charges. Uh, but as well provincial code changes will drive people to move projects forward ahead of the

followed up

implications of the code updates. But yeah, the market is still fairly strong. Pretty hot. Yeah. It is. So the only other question, you know, just turning that back around, the fact that we've had so much trouble getting new planning staff, um, to help to get these going through the process and get them moving along. Has that slowed

J. Holm

answeredDirector, Planning and Development

down our system for us? Yes, three were shipped to Councillor Pino. Yeah. Undoubtedly it has, um, thankfully, as of, I think, I believe next week fairly well staffed. We've managed to hire a number of staff in planning. And Ms. Rowett, who sends regrets she wanted to be here tonight. But, uh, is, you know, working with a strong team there and some new staff to move those, uh, units proposed in development permit to approve. So just, just

A guest answered

Named after one of Nanaimo's most notable celebrities, Diana Crawl Plaza is an open public space in the heart of downtown in Naimo. The space is one with plenty of potential, but most days it serves as little more than a space to pass through or to access the credit union or public library that have entrances that face the plaza. In essence, Diana Kralplaza is a space that has yet to find its heartbeat. However, one event does make great use of the space each Thursday evening throughout the summer. The night market along commercial street brings food trucks, artisans, vendors. And entertainers in transforming down crop plaza into the lively destination it was always meant to be. As downtown Nimo is reimagined, the goal for this key plaza is to carry the energy of the night market forward in a way that sees the space used well throughout each day and every season. Diana Crawl Plaza was established in the late 1990s when the port theatre, the harbour front branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library, and the harbour front parcade were built. The plaza sits atop that parquet. This was a new approach to open space in Nanaimo, but the problem. The plaza was, and typically still is empty. As the roof of a parcade, the plaza suffers from structural load limitations. The plaza can't support big trees or heavy features. Blank walls on adjacent buildings and minimal art leaves the space feeling uncomfortable and uninviting. Over the years, design ideas were brought forward, but not realised. That, however, is about to change. In 2020, an advisory committee of volunteers, businesses, Vancouver Island University staff and students and the City of Nanaimo came together to read envision GianaCrawl Plaza. Their goal to create an actionable vision for the plaza that will lead to real change. Building on this groundwork, a project team held Community Workshops, a design surette, and put in many hours of volunteer effort to create realistic ideas that would animate the space and make it feel inviting. Features like warm lighting, intriguing art, comfortable seating and shade will bring the vision to life. The renewed space would also be a multi - purpose and ready for outdoor patio usage, informal play, and many different events, big and small. Now armed with ideas to greatly improve both the physical and social character of Diana Crawl Plaza, the design development for the first phase is underway and with it, a new rhythm is being created for the heart of downtown Nanaimo.

Lisa Bhopalsingh

answeredGeneral Manager, Community Services/Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

Gliding over cushions of air. Like the gentle crest and rough of ocean waves to find out in oblivion. All is quiet and still again. You send ripples through still waters of ponds, making them bliss. Like a thousand prisons, be it in the brilliance of a fall morning. Come dusk, you blow harder. And the leaves of the sprawling oak tree, pirouette and glide in the air. Like little ballerinas, then sink onto the ground below. And here your beacon call. Your breath. As you whisper sweet, nothing to the stately pines and conifers. You fly with your invisible cape, rustling through their slender branches to make stately bellows dance and sway. You gently rise your breath soft, like a lullaby. As you transform maple trees from green to occa to a flaming red, setting hillsides ablaze with the fiery plumes of cedars. You are sent to the grey sky to make wispy clouds play hide and seek with the setting sun. You send ripples through sterile waters of ponds, making them glisten. Like a thousand prisons bathed in the brilliance of a fall mourning. Come dusk, you blow harder and the leaves of the sprawling oak tree, pirouette and glide in the air. Like little ballerinas, then sink onto the ground below. A family of furry squirrels scurries down the rugged trunk of the old dogwood tree. To knows died into a pile of crinkled yellow leaves that were one scattering down the cobbled sidewalk. Welcome autumn. Cloud model sky. Shadow flecked mount Benson. Silver spangled long lake. Silent Creeks echoing shrill cries of a golden eagle. That resound far and wide. Sparkling streams mandorle lazily. They're mercurial waters networking. The lush green fabric of a city. Goln Nanaimo. Come summer, bushed heavy with blueberries and blackberries. Skirt trains that whine through forests of oak and age - old cedars. Ducks and herons play hide and seek. Among the tall swing bull rushes. Park marking store waters of a pond. Daisy smile and nod through overgrown ferns and nettle, all silently waiting and expecting see the hangs in the air. A yearning for something new. A new season. A new makeover of nature. It is fall.

Lisa Bhopalsingh

answeredGeneral Manager, Community Services/Deputy Chief Administrative Officer

In almost storm drain. This is also a city anomalous storm drain. The only thing that goes in this is rainwater. Anything other than rainwater. Ends up into the ocean, which is ultimately affects the marine life. There's many different styles of catch basins. These are just two. But they both collect rainwater. One has a fish stamped on it. That's tell me that it's unprocessed and it goes directly to an environmentally sense of area. This is the outfall. It's anything that you put in that catch basin is ultimately going to end up into the ocean. If you have any questions about where to take here unwanted wasted products such as paint products and petroleum products, you can contact the CityNomel at 75852. You can also go onto our website. You can also download the Nanaimo Recycles app. Please do not throw material down the catch basins.

City staff answered

Downtown and I'm always home to one of a kind shops, bustling cafes, and popular Community events like the commercial Street Night Market. But it hasn't always been this way. In the 1990s, downtown in Naimos Charm was fading fast.

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