July 2025 on the Shore
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes. 🌞
First, there’s some high-summer sizzle, then council meetings fizzle as our municipal governments take a break for summer during August. Enjoy these no-more-school days. We’ll tap at you again in September when we all reconvene, Duncan, Martyn, Greg, and Heather.
Summer sunshine over səl̓ilw̓ət "(Indian Arm). Photo: Ghislaine Courcelles
What’s going on at council: housing focus
District of West Vancouver
Upper lands: taller towers, no rentals 🤷🏼♂️
Council voted to eliminate the requirement for 275 rentals on district land in the Rodgers Creek development permit area. The density from the district lot will be transferred to condo towers at the developer's request and on staff recommendation, moving them their height from 16 stories to a potential 20 or 25. The district will retain the district-owned lot, which may be used in the future. However, since density was transferred, it’s unclear what might be allowed without a rezoning that will almost surely meet with objections from residents in the area. West Van will receive $13 million in community amenity contributions and $1.13 million in development cost charges. Councillor Sharon Thompson noted that she was happy to support the density transfer to the towers because this would allow the developer to build larger units that people in the community who are downsizing are looking for. This would then leave their single-family homes open for younger families. At a median price of $3 million, we are unsure how many young families will be able to afford to move in. Votes for: Cassidy, Lambur, Sager, Snider, Thompson, Watt. Votes Against: Gambioli.
City of North Vancouver
Gentle density passes 🎉🏘️
The city passed a new zoning bylaw to allow for more housing across the entire city rather than increasing the existing density along the Lonsdale corridor. The city is the first of our three North Shore municipalities to recognize that low-rise, gentle density everywhere can achieve improved livability for more people and provide much-needed missing middle housing in the form of multiplexes and townhomes. It is also the only municipality that has implemented zoning that embraces the spirit of the provincially mandated small-scale multi-unit zoning. New townhomes, multi-plexes and other forms of infill housing will now be possible on most lots. Votes For: Back, Bell, Buchanan, Girard, McIlroy, Shariari, Valente.
District of North Vancouver
Raising the roof in single-family land? 🌲🌞
At the June 23rd council meeting, staff presented five major changes to the zoning bylaw. The big one relates to basements when redeveloping a single-family lot into either a new single-family home, or one with a suite or one with a suite and a coach house. Staff are suggesting that, for sustainability, livability, reduced construction costs, and, in particular, stormwater management, new buildings should be on-slab with no basements, or, on sloped lands, only partial basements.
To compensate for the resulting loss of floor space, they propose increasing the main house height with a partial third floor, allowing for more usable building space in the front yard, where currently only garages are permitted. The idea from staff is to raise people out of basement suites and, at the same time, increase the buildable area, without making so many changes that there’s no space for trees or a garden in the back, and privacy between neighbours is maintained. Most councillors seemed to like the idea of lifting suites out of airless, windowless basements. Who can argue with that? With many questions, like “where do secondary suites go in a building without a basement?” council referred the item to a workshop where they could dig into more details. We’d like to see a missing-middle strategy as we outlined here.
Stories from betternorthshore.ca
Exploring liveability: Lynn Valley town centre
The combination of services, shopping, recreation, and many new homes, along with transit and active transportation options, is making Lynn Valley town centre an attractive place to live for families, seniors, and singles alike. The mix of nature, public services like the rec center and library, along with coffee shops, restaurants, shopping and medical services lends to a healthy, dynamic urban environment.
New low-rise and high rise multi-family homes in a forested setting in Lynn Valley town center, provide housing options. Photo: Duncan Wilcock
The combination of frequent transit and active transportation allows people to move without necessarily getting into a car or truck. Photo: Heather Drugge
Neighbouring Kirkstone Park and Karen Magnussen Recreation centre are accessible via trails and multi-use path network, making recreation opportunities readily available to residents. Photo: Heather Drugge
Council kudos!
Members of the LGBTQ2+ community and Councillor Catherine Pope gather after the vote.
Making our community more welcoming, safe and accepting, District of North Van council unanimously endorsed an anti-hate pledge, a commitment to be a welcoming community where hate is not tolerated. Members of the LGBTQ2+ community and Councillor Catherine Pope celebrate after the vote. Thanks to Councillor Pope for introducing the pledge to council, spurred by the regular appearance of hate messages on the Mountain Highway overpass in past years, which explicitly targeted trans and queer people.
Where on the Shore?
The first person to send us an email with the location of this image will receive a Better North Shore T-shirt. (Past winners are ineligible) hello@betternorthshore.ca
Photo: Martyn Schmoll
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If this newsletter and our stories resonate with you and your values, please forward this to a few friends, and suggest they join our email list. We're building a group of like-minded people who want to see the North Shore positively embrace and manage the many changes we face. Thanks, we really appreciate it. Heather, Duncan, Greg and Martyn.
