Housing Needs Report Update
The City is updating the Housing Needs Report to better understand the current and future housing needs in Maple Ridge. It will be used as a foundation for planning and decision making for the next five years.
For information on the public engagement opportunities that were offered for the public to provide input, visit the Housing Needs Report Update page on Engage Maple Ridge.
Summary Video
Project findings are summarized in this short video:
Why did we do this?
The primary purpose of this process was to identify and describe the key needs and gaps in Maple Ridge's housing system to inform future policymaking. A Housing Needs Report is intended to strengthen the ability of local governments to understand what kinds of housing are most needed in their communities, and help inform local plans, policies, and development decisions. The assessment process and report itself will not result in specific new policy but will be used to support and inform future changes (to Official Community Plans, Housing Action Plans, Zoning Bylaws, and others).
As of 2019, every local government in BC is legislatively required to undertake a housing needs assessment by April 2022, and every five years thereafter. You can find detailed information about this legislation and the report requirements on the provincial government's website.
This work was led by CitySpaces Consulting on behalf of Maple Ridge, with key involvement of city staff and the public.
What was the process?
This assessment process took place over four months, with a final presentation to council in February 2021. The key stages of the project are outlined below.
The primary objectives of the housing needs assessment were to prepare a report that would:
- Assess the local housing market conditions
- Identify the current and emerging housing needs within the City
- Compare housing supply with housing demand to determine the ability to meet future needs
- Identify short, medium, and long-term actions to meet the housing needs across the housing continuum in the City
- Meet the provincial requirements for Housing Needs Reports
The Final Housing Needs Report was presented at the February 9, 2021 Council Workshop. Please find the report here (Item 4.2). The conversation with Council was recorded and is available after the Council Workshop meeting here.
Other Housing Projects in Maple RIdge
The Housing Action Plan was endorsed by Council in 2014 with an intent to expand housing forms within the community. A Housing Action Plan implementation framework was endorsed by Council in 2015 and since that time, several pieces of work aimed at increasing housing choice have been undertaken, including:
- Review of regulations for secondary suites and detached garden suites
- Removal of the owner occupancy provision for secondary suites and detached garden suites
- Creation of a new R-4 Single Detached (Infill) Urban Residential zone during the July 17, 2018 Council Workshop
- Reduction of the RT-1 Two-Unit Urban Residential minimum lot size; and February 26, 2019 Council Agenda and Reports pg. 69
- Adoption of Ground-oriented Residential Infill Guidelines for triplexes, fourplexes, and courtyard units.
In addition to the above work, the City completed a Housing Needs Report which was endorsed by Council during the February 9, 2021 Council Workshop Meeting. The Report outcomes are providing the City with a better understanding of our current and future housing needs and is being utilized as a foundation for planning and decision-making for the next five years. Housing for families and seniors are two key areas of local need identified through the assessment.
Have Questions?
If you have questions, please contact the Planning Department:
Email: planning@mapleridge.ca
Phone: 604-467-7341
Fax: 604-466-4327
Visit City Hall at: 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 6A9