The City of Maple Ridge has received $16.6 million in funding from the Government of Canada’s Canada Housing Mortgage Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to increase housing supply and meet the growing demand for homes.
Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan
As part of its comprehensive HAF Action Plan, Maple Ridge will implement 22 new and ongoing actions across seven key initiatives, aimed at making housing more accessible and affordable.
Key initiatives include:
- Streamlining Development Processes: Reviewing and improving processes for rezoning and subdivision approvals and building permits to make approvals faster and more efficient.
- Modernizing and Digitizing Permit Processes: Digitizing application processes to make permit applications easier, improve efficiency and reduce delays.
- Promoting More Housing Choices and Affordability: Simplifying and prioritizing the approval process for different housing types, introducing B.C.'s first housing concierge service to guide applicants, and new Certified Professional Program to expedite permits for complex projects.
- Providing Pre-Approved Building Plans: Making it easier for homeowners to add secondary suites and other accessory dwellings.
- Optimizing City Land for Affordable Housing: Strategically adjusting land use and zoning to support the development of more affordable housing.
- Exploring Incentives for Affordable Housing: Encouraging development of non-market and targeted housing options.
- Parking and Mobility Review to Support Transit-Oriented Development: Review parking requirements as a targeted financial incentive for affordable housing and purpose-built rental homes to reimagine the Town Centre.
Progress on Housing Priorities
The City has already made significant progress in addressing housing challenges through innovative policies and transforming its development and permitting processes to make building homes quicker and easier in Maple Ridge. The new funding will help accelerate the implementation of the HAF priorities, many of which are already underway. Through the Maple Ridge Moves Plan the City continues to advocate to other levels of government for crucial infrastructure improvements, including the widening of Abernethy Way, the construction of a new 240 Street bridge, and the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Lougheed Highway.
About the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF)
Launched in March 2023, HAF is a national initiative led by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to fast-track the development of 100,000 new housing units nationwide. The program funds local governments to help create walkable, amenity-rich communities with accessible public and active transportation. The first round of funding totalled $4 billion, and Budget 2024 added $400 million to this program.